Is This All There Is?
Dear Frankie,
I understand I live a lovely life. I have a loving family and friends. The doggie daycare and the dog park I go to are state-of-the-art. I have never been sick, abused, or neglected. My parents are healthy, kind, and considerate.
But every day is like every other, same old, same old. Nothing ever changes; nothing exciting ever happens.
I talked to Lionel about how I was feeling, and he said I was suffering from, “Is this all there is?”
Is that what I’m suffering from?
Alfred
Dear Alfred,
First, you are not suffering; you are bored and in a slump. It happens to the best of us. You have a choice: you can either continue to “suffer” or see these feelings as a wake-up call and decide how you can put more spice in your life.
An exciting life is lived by those who have interests. You might ask yourself, what are mine? Then pursue them. Have you thought about working part-time? My friend Hector works at an indoor tennis club as a ball retriever. He says the money’s good. However, on the days he works, he can hardly hold his head up or think of anything when he gets home except a good night’s sleep.
I did wonder when I read your letter if you were aware of how many dogs would kill to live the life you do. America is filled with thousands of street dogs who live paw to mouth, wondering where their next meal is coming from. There are also millions of dogs, 3.1 million, in fact, Alfred, in shelters who wait for months, in some cases years (if they are allowed to live that long), for a loving family to adopt them.
If you think your life is boring, consider what it must be like to live in a cage and sleep on a concrete floor surrounded by barking dogs, all of whom hope day in and day out that someone will rescue them. Volunteering at a shelter might be just what you need to get your life in perspective and help you be grateful for your good fortune.
Best, Frankie
© 2023 Geneva Woodruff
Comments and letters can be sent to Frankie at dearfrankiecolumn@gmail.com. The Fairhaven Neighborhood News publishes the Dear Frankie column. To receive a free online subscription, readers can email neighbnews@comcast.net, request their name be added to the email list or visit www.neighbnews.com to read the paper online or to download the latest issue.
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