I have been pondering this seeming paradox, having a dog with me actually makes me more independent. I’m willing to go farther, explore places I might otherwise skip, take the trail that disappears into the woods, and spend hours somewhere without another person around.
My dog doesn’t restrict my solitude, she makes solitude possible. Devi, whom you see here with me on our recent trip to the Catskills, accompanied me for 7 days. Most of the time it was just the two of us.
There’s something wonderfully paradoxical about that. We often think independence means doing things entirely on our own. But, perhaps, real independence comes from having the right kind of companionship, the kind that gives us enough confidence, connection, and comfort to venture farther than we would by ourselves.
“I would rather walk with a friend in the dark than walk alone in the light.” – Helen Keller
