.300 | to Darwin, from Stephanie

I know some people will roll their eyes at the idea of thanking a dog. But to be honest, I have too many people in my life to thank, and Darwin isn’t your average dog.

The whole 7 years I’ve had him, since I was a dumb 25 year old bringing home a wiggling, spotted blob of responsibility when I was barely navigating my own life post-college, there was a phrase I would always say to him. “It’s you and me, Darwin. You and me against the world.”

Darwin has been my side-kick for seven years, of which we probably never spent more than 2 or three weeks apart. This dog has seen me through some of the hardest and happiest times of my life, and knows my daily habits down to a tee. He was with me when I first lived alone, in a tiny one-bedroom bungalow where we would literally get stuck in the hallway together because it was too narrow. He saw me navigate the years of fumbling towards a career in climate policy, never judging when I questioned if I was on the right path, always there to offer a cocked head or lick to the face for encouragement.

He was with me when I moved across the country to Washington, D.C., knowing close to no one and being completely miserable in a half empty apartment in the blazing heat for the first few weeks. He was the awkward silence breaker when I met new people, the comforting excuse when I wanted to go home early from socializing (thanks, introverted self) and the always up for an adventure buddy when I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone.

And he was with me when I met the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, giving many approving jumps to the face and cuddles on the couch to someone I was still getting to know, but who Darwin seemed to have already decided was meant to be in our lives forever.

And it was hard and incredible to watch this dog, my dog, who had been my constant shadow for all these years, know that this person needed his love a little bit more than I did. Their bond was immediate and it was as if Darwin knew that being this person’s shadow might do all the good it had done me to someone who really needed it. Darwin became his emotional support dog, and though it started as a joke and a way to take Darwin with us more places, it became very clear that he was filling a very specific role in helping him navigate the world again after leaving the military.

So you see, Darwin isn’t your average dog. He’s now traveled the country with me twice over, moved and lived in 4 cities and 6 homes, made friends with every person who lets him lick them, and still knows when someone needs just a little bit of extra love. I thank myself every day that I adopted him, that he wandered into my life and became my side-kick. He’s made me laugh till I’ve cried, made me a more responsible and empathetic person, and has made me look at excitement and reveling in the world in a way only a dog can.

Thank you Darwin, for being the best dog I could ever ask for. Thanks for continuing to show patience with our newest fluffy addition, for being super stubborn when it comes to all things food and comfort, and for being absolutely, full-body, to the moon happy whenever you meet a new human. I strive to be as open, friendly and optimistic to the world as you are.