“He puts his cheek against mine
and makes small, expressive sounds. And when I’m awake, or awake enough
he turns upside down, his four paws
in the air and his eyes dark and fervent.
“Tell me you love me,” he says.
“Tell me again.”
Could there be a sweeter arrangement? Over and over
he gets to ask.
I get to tell.”
— Mary Oliver, “Little Dog’s Rhapsody in the Night”, from Dog Songs
You need to understand the difference between someone who actually values you and someone who just wants access to your energy, feed off your intense emotions, and take advantage of your generosity.
“As time goes on, you’ll understand. What lasts, lasts; what doesn’t, doesn’t. Time solves most things. And what time can’t solve, you have to solve yourself.”
