Earlier this month I was apart from my little dog Hudson for 7 nights, the longest we’ve been away from one another in the two years since I adopted him. He stayed with my friends who absolutely adore him so I knew he was well taken care of but still – I missed him! I missed feeling his warm little body against mine in the night. I missed his morning kisses. Mainly I missed seeing his cute little face waiting for me every time I walked into a room.
The feeling of “missing” is not typically regarded as a positive one. After all, by definition, it’s a sensation of longing for something you don’t currently have. But within this unpleasantness, there is a tremendous gift that lies ahead: that oh-so-sweet feeling you’ll experience when at last you’re reunited once again.
And sure enough, when I hopped into the backseat of my ride at the airport to find Hudson waiting for me, our reunion was even sweeter than I’d imagined! And now a week later, I feel that our fondness for one another is still on high. And what a gift it is.
Amidst this human experience, we can miss all sorts of things: people, animals, places, things. The week after I came home to Hudson, I came down with a bad stomach bug and was limited to eating rice, bananas, and applesauce for a whole week. Yes, it was terrible. But I’ll tell you something else: the night I decided my stomach was okay to go and ordered a pizza from my favorite place with all my favorite toppings … have I ever enjoyed food so much? I’m not sure! It was a truly blissful eating experience! And even now days later I’m finding my appreciation for and enjoyment of food is still heightened. I’m savoring every bite.
So the next time you’re missing something – be it your significant other, the ability to eat freely, or anything else – remember the gift that lies ahead waiting for you. For what a sweet gift it is.
