I dropped the ball to get this post up in a timely manner with the spirit of Thanksgiving, though I suppose it’s in time for the American Thanksgiving! One of the benefits of being an American living in Canada is that I end up celebrating both. In any case, it is never too late to reflect on things to be thankful for. Especially in these stressful times with the US election, the pandemic, and reminders how life is short. It’s insane to me how much can happen in five years, one year, a month… even in a day. Moving to Winterpeg, one of the coldest cities in the world, wasn’t ever on my mind until Matt got an offer for a PhD program. It was only a few months into our relationship when this happened, and we both took a leap of faith in each other to continue being in each other’s lives. Now more than three years later, in a different country and career path, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

My biggest dream throughout my life was giving a rescue dog a home. Five years ago I adopted my first dog, a fluffy big boy named Jax. While his scars told painful stories of his past, his eyes and temperament showed he was still a sweet boy after everything he had endured. He and I worked hard on his emotional baggage from when he was a stray, and with the help of professional dog trainers we made lots of progress. I was incredibly proud of how far we came over six months and so happy to call him my boy. But one thing that didn’t improve was the relationship between him and my then-boyfriend. Without the capability to move it forward by myself, I found myself in a situation where I had to choose between the two of them. One of the most difficult decisions of my life. I ended up deciding to rehome the dog instead of the boyfriend, and it was my biggest regret. Jax’s story ends on a happy note though, where he got re-adopted into a good home, and I am forever thankful for the people who helped find his true forever family. Before I was ready to adopt another dog, I got myself a rebound gecko and learned some more about how I was with the wrong guy. So I made a few major life changes while keeping my boys (Olive 🐦, Opal 🐦, Magellan 🦎). Even though my heart broke for Jax, life had a way of working it out for the best, and I’m thankful for the time with him and what he taught me. I like to think of my experience as fostering him and bringing a rescue dog to a home, even if it didn’t end up being mine, and remembering the story this way helped give me peace after struggling with regret and guilt. A few years later, I was ready again for a furry companion, and this time with the right person, which is how Matt and I adopted Mocha – the greatest thing to me in the world.

Along with Matt, Mocha, and the boys, I find myself very fortunate to have met so many extraordinary people in Manitoba. I’m continually learning how time is fleeting and gaining greater appreciation for time with family and friends. I lost a couple great friends this past year; Brittany from a sudden car accident in the winter last year, and Luke from a long and hard battle with cancer at the end of this summer. Both of them were the epitomes of living in the present, and I try to follow their vibrant ways of life. I’m so thankful to have known them, thankful for our shared love for science and animals, for memories with games, dogs, and good company, and for teaching me to live in the moment and to make time to do the things I love. While I understand that youth does not provide invincibility, it still shocks me how quickly and unfairly some lives end. The reminder of how short and fragile life is pushes me to become a better person and to be grateful for all the relationships with people and animals that bring so much joy into the world. I’m thankful for the old friends I’ve had since childhood and the new friends I’ve made along the way, and for all their perspectives, their energies and kindness, and for their time to include me in their lives.

I guess the message I’m trying to convey through some of my experiences and rambles is that sometimes hard decisions can lead to great things, and it’s important to treasure the connections with people and let the important people in your life know you love them.

-Evelien