A love letter to forrest

I got Forrest when I was a sophomore in college. He was already full grown and a crazy rescue with way more energy than I knew what to do with. Honestly, I had no clue how to take care of a dog. I was still figuring out how to take care of myself.

Forrest is wild and stubborn but also really loving in his own way. He’s not the kind of dog who cuddles on demand or begs for belly rubs. But we get each other. There is this unspoken connection between us that goes beyond the usual puppy love.

A few months after I got him I transferred schools and moved across the country for the first time completely alone. That move was one of the biggest changes I have ever faced and Forrest was my constant through all the uncertainty.

He came everywhere with me. The gym, sometimes class, friends’ houses, even backpacking trips. He is a little psycho sometimes and that taught me patience in ways nothing else could. He pushed me to slow down, be present, and realize that some things just take time.

One thing I learned is if people don’t learn to love Forrest, they are probably not good people for me. My closest friends are the ones who loved him too and Forrest loved them right back. How people treated him showed me a lot about who they really were. It was like a test. If you could love Forrest, you could love the real me.

Forrest has been with me through the hardest years and the biggest changes. He has seen me at my lowest, curled up beside me when I felt alone, and nudged me to get outside when I needed it most. He is not flashy or needy but his loyalty is the kind you can count on.

I know it is cliché but Forrest rescued me. I have never felt alone with him by my side.

Looking back I am amazed at how much we have grown together. He taught me patience, unconditional love, and the power of simply being present. He is more than a dog. He is family, a best friend, and a lifeline.

So here is to Forrest, the wild energetic rescue who has been by my side through every chapter, the quiet heart who taught me to keep going even when things felt impossible. Life is unpredictable but with Forrest I know I am never running alone.