Welcome to Bay Woof, November 2023

Welcome to the Gratitude Issue!

With all that’s going on in the world today (or any day), it can be difficult to find things for which to be grateful without sounding like Pollyanna Pekingese. But just like training a dog, all it takes is a bit of practice to make progress. 

A few years ago I started a daily practice of gratitude: thanking the universe (or  any deity in your personal deck) for this beautiful life, including my eyes, my hands, my heart; my loving friends and family; the roof over my head; the blue sky above; and the earth below. Those are the big items on my daily list, which I often supplement with smaller - but no less impactful - things like my work, my ability to cook my own food, the shopkeeper who sells me groceries, the support of my neighbor on a big project, the color of that gorgeous blue flower over there, and so on.  

The more I practiced, the easier it became to make thankfulness a daily routine. I found that even on the hardest days, there were always things to be grateful for. And that being able to hold both truths at once could help me get through the most difficult moments. 

One of the things I’m most grateful for is my beautiful dog, Stella, whose company over the last 15.5 years has surrounded me with unconditional love and companionship. Stella is the latest in a long line of canines I’ve been lucky to live with, and I’m sure she won’t be the last. I wish she could be here for another 15 years, but as long as she has time left on this planet, I am grateful for every second I get to spend with her. 

Seeing the world through the eyes of a dog is all about noticing the goodness in the here and now. When I can focus my gratitude on the gifts already surrounding me, the troubles of the world seem less overwhelming. And for that, I’m endlessly grateful.

All around the U.S., November is the traditional month to pause and give thanks. But why limit our gratefulness to one holiday? I hope you find Bay Woof’s Gratitude Issue inspiring, uplifting, and comforting and that you carry that spirit of thankfulness with you throughout the year. 

Happy November,

- M Rocket
Publisher

About the cover: Stylized Stella, photo illustration: M Rocket