There’s a great line in one of my favorite movies that states “I’d rather be in a corner by myself with a puppy and a goldfish and be happy then be sitting in my house with someone wondering why in the world are they still here”.  Although a little crude, the image is funny to me, a puppy and a goldfish.  Who would ever think of those two pets in the same sentence?  They are worlds apart.  A puppy is soft and cuddly and happy and friendly and needy and loving and full of life.  A goldfish is, a fish.  It eats and swims and, well, that’s about it.  Complete opposite pets.  Yet, are they?  Is there a reason this movie put them together?  What image is created in your mind when you think of sitting in a corner with a puppy and a goldfish? To me it’s kind of fuzzy, and up for interpretation.  But that’s what good storytelling is.  I guess to me it says that it’s okay to be alone, as long as you have something to love, no matter what it is.  I envision the same thing when I hear the words in the song I Am A Rock by Simon & Garfunkel, “I have my books, and my poetry to protect me”.  It’s what we have near to us that comforts us when we want to be by ourselves or are alone for whatever reason.   Some of us have books.  Some have movies.  Some have their phones or computers. Some have picture albums.  Some have paint and an easel. And some have puppies and goldfish.

As we move forward in 2017, let’s stop to reflect on what our ‘puppy and goldfish’ are.  In this world of constant communication and instant contact and texting and snapchat and all things that go along with social media let’s realize that it’s okay to have time to ourselves. It’s healthy.  It’s normal.  It makes us reflect and recharge.  I love my friends and family and all things social.  Yet down time, quiet time, is necessary.  Let’s take the time to find our books, and our poetry, and our puppies, and our goldfish.  Keep in mind that being alone from time to time can be a good thing, maybe the best of things, for if we can’t enjoy being alone how can we ever enjoy being with someone else.

Puppies and goldfish.  Makes sense to me.

With love from Grand Haven,

Julie