Rule 8 for Flourishing: LOVE someone or some being

I love my grandson, Lachlan.  He is 7.  Since he was 2 he has come to California from Minnesota for two weeks in the summer.  He is an only child and used to getting all of his Aunt Blake (who lives nearby) and his grandma’s attention. I love to listen to him talk to my husband and love to hear him laugh.  I love to watch him run on his awkward, 7-year-old legs. When his father or mother, my husband or my other daughter disciplines him, I have to turn away because it breaks my heart.  He is mostly such a good boy and so precious to me.  I love him wholeheartedly and unconditionally, as my grandmother loved me, and as my mother loves Lachlan’s mother, her first grandchild.

I loved my cat Solomon.  I never intended to have a cat.  I was a dog person.  But my second husband was a cat person and we had his and her cats.  When I left him, he asked me to take my cat, Solomon.  No one but me loved Solomon.  He had no personality.  He was a 16 pound, long-haired, black cat.  But he loved me, and I loved him.  When I was sick or sad, Solomon would curl up between my collar bone and my chin and purr.  When I traveled, even though I would have someone visit and feed him, he’d pay me back for leaving him by pooping all over my house.  As I said, no one but me loved Solomon.  My present (las) husband does not like or understand pets.  Yet he was smart enough to know that if he wanted me, Solomon was part of the deal.  He never complained and drove me to the vets with Solomon when Solomon had to leave this world.

I love my husband, and my daughters and step-daughter.  I love my step-sons, my brothers and my mother.  These are more complicated relastionships, though.  Even so, I consider myself very, very fortunate to have been able to love each of these someones, or beings, and know that they are the major reason I flourish.