Lily and the Octopus

by Steven Rowley

The very best thing about dogs is how they just know when you need them most, and they’ll drop everything that they’re doing to sit with you awhile.

“Today me will live in the moment, unless it’s unpleasant, in which case me will eat a cookie.”

“Everything. Monday’s always Monday, but at least it’s the start of something new. Wednesday is hump day, Thursday’s almost Friday, and Friday brings the weekend. But Tuesday? Nada.”

Because dogs live in the present. Because dogs don’t hold grudges. Because dogs let go of all of their anger daily, hourly, and never let it fester. They absolve and forgive with each passing minute.

“If you spend your entire life trying to cheat death, there’s no time left over to embrace life.”

The Law for the Wolves (continued) When Pack meets with Pack in the Jungle, and neither will go from the trail, Lie down till the leaders have spoken; it may be fair words shall prevail. When ye fight with a Wolf of the Pack, ye must fight him alone and afar, Lest others take part in the quarrel, and the Pack be diminished by war. —Rudyard Kipling

Why am I driven more by revenge than by forgiveness?

we were probably equally neglectful of what we had. So why was there so much anger when it was time to walk away?

Yours is by far the harder lot, but mine is happening to me.

It feels weird that we use our names—names are for people who are less acquainted than we are.

Midnight encroaches and I want to stop the clocks. Tomorrow will be the first day that Lily never saw.

Be present in the moment. Give spontaneous affection.