Why Sometimes You Need to Take a Chance in Life

A little while ago I was given the opportunity to take a chance – something that would change my life to some extent – and I wondered whether I was doing the right thing (as you do).

The life-changing opportunity: To get a dog (my first, not counting our family dog when I was growing up).

The worry: Am I doing the right thing, will I be too restricted in the things I like to do in life, what will I do if we go on holiday, is my house big enough, blah blah blah.

I’m sure it’s a familiar story to most dog owners: They change your life for the better and are absolutely worth it, 100%… Nothing but undivided love and devotion in exchange for food, shelter, exercise and a whole heap of attention and love.

To cut a long story short, Riley – a gorgeous Saluki (AKA Persian greyhound) cross – became a member of our family yesterday after much many months’ discussions with a friend who realised that he just couldn’t have the attention he deserved after she expanded her own family with a small and wonderful human being. My husband and I had always loved Riley every time we visited and we even discussed getting a dog “if only we could get a dog that was like Riley”.

Fate intervened and the end result was him coming to live with us.

I did try and talk myself out of it with all the practical objections, and we discussed how going away for the weekend or a day out shopping would become more difficult. We discussed whether he would be happy in a smaller house than he was in before. And lots of other silly things.

The basic facts were this: Were days out shopping really better than taking a dog we adored on long walks in the country every weekend? Were one or two weekends in a hotel a year better than the love and adoration we’d get every single day from Riley?

Well it’s been a little over 24 hours in, and it’s safe to say I’m so in love with him it’s untrue. He follows me round the house, he puts his paw on me if I stop stroking him, he trots alongside me very close when we’re out walking.

If I’d listened to all the naysaying in my head we wouldn’t have this joy in our lives, but we would be able to go on a weekend break without worrying about what to do about our dog… Woop-de-dooh.

So whether it’s getting a dog, moving house, looking for a new job, starting a blog, joining an online dating service, even buying that little red dress you saw today when out shopping – DO IT, and do it now. Take a chance. You have nothing to lose except the chance to make your life richer, more interesting and more wonderful – who knows what exciting things may happen as a result?

I now have two long-legged, grey-haired boys in my life whom I adore. My father said that surely if you count him too that makes three – I said “boy” was stretching it a bit (he’s 87), but I’ll say three men to make him happy…!