I’m walking around a lake in Marin County today, watching my dog Maya discover the world with the boundless enthusiasm that still catches my breath. She doesn’t just walk – she dances through life, prancing like a reindeer at Christmas, bounding like a bunny when she solves a puzzle or masters a new understanding. Each success, each moment of connection sends her into a celebration of life itself. It’s hard to believe this radiantly alive creature began her journey in a meat market in China, destined for a fate I can barely bring myself to contemplate. Thanks to No Dogs Left Behind, she was rescued, though COVID meant she spent 18 months in their shelter before finally flying to California in January 2021.
When she’s working something out during training, her entire being engages in the puzzle – eyes bright with intelligence as she looks up at the corners, studies the ground, reads my subtlest cues. Every “yes!” is met with an explosion of pure delight. She’s not obeying – she’s discovering her own power to understand, to choose, to create. To watch her figure something out is to witness the transformation of fear into triumph, of hesitation into pure joy.
Just six months after arriving in Fairfax, Maya embarked on a journey that would seem remarkable for any being, let alone a dog who’d started life in a meat market. We flew to Alaska, then boarded a tiny float plane that carried us over what looked like the Andes rising from the tundra – jagged peaks and glaciers stretching endlessly below us. We landed in Lake Clark National Park – 4,000,000 acres of roadless wilderness, where the only human presence is a simple airstrip at the edge of forever.
We backpacked into this vast wild, and there, at Kontrashibuna Lake, came a moment I’ll never forget. Maya stood at the edge of deep turquoise waters that mirrored the mountains, clouds, and endless Alaskan sky. Time seemed to freeze as she gazed into nature’s mirror, and something profound shifted in her. It was as if she suddenly recognized the full scope of her freedom, her possibility – a recognition that has burned bright in her ever since, transforming every day into an adventure waiting to be discovered.
I’m sharing Maya’s story today because tomorrow I’ll be stepping away from my usual activities for a while. I’m having cervical fusion surgery, and as I prepare for this challenge, I find myself drawing inspiration from this remarkable creature who shares my days. She reminds me daily that we are not defined by what happens to us, but by how we choose to respond.
In these times of personal and collective challenges – as many of us face our own trials and our country navigates complex cultural and political waters – Maya’s journey from trauma to joy offers a powerful reminder. Every day, she shows me that fear can transform into curiosity, that trust can be rebuilt, and that joy can come from the most unexpected places.
I recently published a book about navigating change and living without regrets (now available at theWayfindersGuide.com), but today, my greatest teacher is sharing this lakeside path with me, embodying everything I’ve learned about resilience and transformation. Her journey from a frightened rescue to this beacon of irrepressible joy reminds me that perspective is everything.
While I’m recovering, I’ll be holding onto this truth that I’ve learned from both writing and living: we shape our experience of life through how we choose to see events, ourselves, and each other. Sometimes, like today, that truth depends upon a walk around a lake with a very special dog who knows more about resilience than any book could teach.
I’ll be back when I’m healed. Until then, take care of each other, find joy in unexpected places, and remember – there’s always hope for healing, always room for transformation, always a path forward, even when the way seems unclear.
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Gina Farr is an expert in reframing perspectives with over 35 years of experience. She’s the author of ‘Wayfinder: 7 Simple Ways to Navigate Change and Live Without Regrets,’ and she believes that our power lies in how we interpret our experiences and respond to life’s challenges. Learn more at thewayfindersguide.com.