By Linda C J Turner Therapy
I never thought I’d enjoy living on my own as much as I do now.
But here I am—just me and my dog—and I can honestly say… I love it.
Truly, wholeheartedly, peacefully… love it.
No chaos.
No judgment.
No walking on eggshells.
Just slow mornings, shared smiles, and the sound of paws padding across the floor.
Every day, we swim together in the pool.
Well, I swim — she does her version of floating, splashing, and showing off.
And honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way. The pool isn’t just a luxury for her—it’s a lifeline. As the summer heat creeps in, that water becomes her cooling sanctuary. I watch her glide, shake, and sunbathe with such contentment, and I think to myself…
This is what healing looks like.
We take slow walks downtown in the evenings, just the two of us. She loves the attention—tail wagging, ears perked, eyes sparkling like she owns the place. We stop at our favorite ice cream shop, and yes, she gets her very own little scoop (vanilla, of course). It’s become our thing—our little ritual of joy.
And in those moments, I don’t feel lonely.
I feel free.
I feel full.
I feel home—in my own skin, in my own space, in this quiet life I’ve built after the storm.
There was a time I never imagined I could live like this.
For years, I was told that being alone meant being unlovable, or unwanted, or not enough.
But now I see the truth:
Being alone can be the greatest act of self-love.
Because I’m not alone at all.
I have peace. I have presence.
And I have this beautiful creature by my side, reminding me every day to play, to rest, to savour the sunshine and enjoy the ride.
To anyone wondering if they’ll ever be okay on their own:
You won’t just be okay.
You’ll thrive.
You’ll laugh out loud at the quiet.
You’ll find magic in the mundane.
And you’ll realise that happiness doesn’t have to be loud or crowded or complicated.
Sometimes, it’s just a swim, a sunset, and a scoop of ice cream with your best friend.
And that… is more than enough. 💗
🐾 Follow @LindaCJTurnerTherapy for more gentle reminders that healing is possible, peace is real, and joy often lives in the smallest things.
#HealingJourney #LifeAfterAbuse #SoloButNotAlone #PetLove #EmotionalRecovery #PeacefulLiving #SimpleJoys #IndependentWoman #NewBeginnings #PostTraumaticGrowth
