Today’s piece is dedicated to two of my dear friends, Steve and Heather.

One has found love recently and one is letting love go. Through the joy and pain, I am sending them light and love, as well as anyone else who needs it today.

An old love ends,

a new love begins.

An old love dies,

a new love is born.

An old love is lost,

A new love is found.

The world of love truly does

go round and round.

—Carolyn J. Braden, 12/26/18

Love is never taken away without it circling back. It’s a fact. Our nurse at our vet’s office, Nikki, was the last person to say something like this to me and for whatever reason, it really stuck in my mind. I know others have said it to me before her and I know I have read it, but that time, it clicked.

She said it last year when we had to put our dog, Joey, to sleep. Strangely enough, within days of putting him to sleep, Tommy got a raise at work. The same exact day, a photograph I took of my cat Monica won a “Pet of the Week” contest, which prized us with some money towards our next order of pet food.

I know money does not replace a life, but both were very nice events to occur on such a hard day. lt also confirmed, to me, the concept of love coming back to you no matter what. It may come back to you in different ways, but it does come back.

Keep your heart open for the possibility of love being returned to you when you feel a loss.

You just have to use the magic potion called love to get you through the pain.

Pain is inevitable, but love will get you through it.

After the loss and pain, love is all there is.