Memior: All Dogs Go to Heaven

Originally I was going to focus on owning a rescue dog and the struggles that came with that, however, over the week I have chosen to focus on the moment he passed. This dog was my whole world for 3 years and when we found out he had cancer it was extremely tough not only for me but for my whole family. I feel like this event is not only more focused but also teaches a greater lesson.

Cathartic Statement: Sometime we need to put the needs of others before the wants of ourselves.

1. What I hope to learn
• Thinking about this event is not the happiest thing for me but it is important to know that putting down my dog when he was in pain was the right decision. More so, I hope to make people realize that the thing that you want may not always be the best solution. In some ways I feel that talking about him gives me a sense of peace. Being able to explain my experience gives me a sort of comfort knowing I did the right thing for him. 
2. What I hope my readers learn
• I hope that my readers learn that death is not something to be afraid of. While some events may be sad it doesn't mean that it was the wrong choice. Sometimes we need to think about other people and their before our own wants, which can be very hard for many. I want my readers to know how much this event meant to me and I hope that the love I had for this very special animal comes through in my writing.
3. What I don't need to tell
• I realize that people don't need to know every moment of my time with my dog. I don't need to tell them blatantly that my dog meant a lot to me because I feel that it comes through in my writing and my choice to share this moment. I feel that the emotion of the moment is more important and makes a greater impact than the specifics of the event and telling every single moment perfectly. I don't need to include what we had for dinner that night, because it isn't relevant to the story or to any of the emotions i was feeling at the time.

Memior Ideas

1. Panic: Living with Anxiety
• The first time I ever had an anxiety attack. I was in the Church choir when I was a child and we had a performance during mass one morning, my first ever, and before the song could even start I burst into tears. From then on any time I had to get in front of a crowd I had severe panic attacks. I didn't learn to start to control them until I was in my late teens. Most of my family never believed they existed and it was a struggle to get them under any sort of control. 
• Cathartic Statement: I learned to know my own mind and trust my own judgement. When something feels wrong, something is wrong. I also learned how not let my brain get the best of me.
2. Dogs are a Girl's Bestfriend
• The first time my family rescued an animal. He was a large Rottweiler with aggression issues and had a very difficult time adjusting to his new life. He was already a year old and never wanted to listen but over the 4 years we had him he became my world. We did everything together. Even though I saw this sweet side to him everyone else was terrified of him. He was misunderstood, hated by many of my friends, hated by most of our neighborhood. But he will always be my puppy. 
• Cathartic Statement: Things are not always what they seem. What we see on the outside is not what is always on the inside, never let someone else's views cloud your own judgement. 
3.  She is My Person
• The moment my bestfriend had our first fight, but made it out stronger than ever. She called me her bestfriend for the first time, something that had never bothered me because I realize it is okay to have a bestfriend that does not consider your theirs. I have never been so close to a human, never trusted anyone more. I am extremely grateful she is in my life and to be able to have the connection that we have.
• Cathartic Statement: Its okay to be vulnerable and let someone into your life.