Some stories you never want to write. Not because they aren’t important, but because writing them makes them real. Saying goodbye to Freya is one of those stories.

As we step into the new year, I want to reflect not on loss alone, but on love, courage, and the lessons our little lady taught me. Lessons I intend to carry into 2026 and beyond.

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Living With Grief

On 1 December 2025, we said goodbye to our girl Freya after a short battle with hemangiosarcoma. We made sure to give her the most beautiful farewell, having her pass away peacefully in our backyard surrounded by love.

Grief is a strange beast. It doesn’t follow a schedule or a linear flow. Some days I can breathe around my grief and get through a walk, make dinner, or smile at a memory of her. Other days it hits unexpectedly. The sight of a blanket with her fur, a photo, or even a sound, song or TV show that reminds me of her and our life together knocks me down and has me curled up in tears.

Even now, a month after saying goodbye, I feel her absence like a quiet hum. Sometimes it’s barely noticeable, other times it’s all-consuming. I know that this grief will always be part of me. Loving a dog as deeply as I loved Freya comes with that cost. And after all, didn’t Queen Elizabeth say that “grief is the price we pay for love”? But I also know that over time, the edges of my grief soften and that some day it will feel lighter and the heaviness won’t be quite so sharp.

But living with the grief of losing Freya has taught me to embrace the ebb and flow of emotion, to give myself space to feel, to remember that missing her doesn’t mean I’m being overdramatic, and that moving on with my life doesn’t mean I’m forgetting her.

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Lessons Freya Left Me

Freya’s seven years of life, though shorter than I ever wanted, was full of little pearls of wisdom. She taught me lessons about joy, courage, presence, and love. It’s these lessons that I vow to carry with me into every day.

1. Always Speak Up for What You Want

Freya was never shy about letting us know what she wanted. Whether it was a blanket tucked over her, a meal slightly earlier than usual, or simply being close to us at midnight, she communicated clearly through grunts, whines, or barks.

Watching her made me realise how important it is to express my needs, no matter how small or seemingly trivial they might be. Life is easier and richer when we give ourselves permission to ask for what we want, just as she did every day. After all, if you never speak up or ask, the answer will always be no.

2. Be Present for Joy, Even in the Little Things

Freya had a way of finding joy in every moment. She would wag her tail and smile as she trotted on our walks, stopping to sniff flowers, or even pausing to inspect something stinky on the ground. She was fully immersed in each moment, no matter how ordinary it seemed to us.

Her joy was contagious. It has reminded me to slow down, notice the world around me, and savour life’s simple pleasures. Remembering how she would delight in the little things, whether that’s a patch of sunlight, a familiar smell, or even a game of tag in the backyard, reminded me that happiness isn’t always grand or planned. It’s often found in the details we overlook in the moment that only become evident when the moment has passed.

3. Have Courage, Even When Scared

Freya was a very timid and shy girl. New people in our house would make her retreat to a corner, unsure of what to do. But even in her fear, she found a way to move forward. Slowly, cautiously, she would approach, sniff, and sometimes allow a gentle pat.

Her bravery wasn’t loud. It was quiet, persistent, and meaningful. From her, I learned that courage doesn’t mean the absence of fear, it means taking steps forward despite it. That lesson is already shaping the way I’m choosing to approach my own life going forward with a mantra inspired by Freya “do it scared”. It’s to remind me to back myself in moments of doubt, take chances, try new things, and meet challenges with gentle resilience – just like Freya.

4. Love Fully and Unconditionally

Freya’s love was soft, constant, and unwavering. She greeted us with excitement, leaned into our laps, pressed her head gently into us, and offered comfort without expecting anything in return. Her ability to love completely, without judgement or conditions, reminded me that love is about presence, patience, and giving freely.

Even in her final days, her love didn’t falter. She taught me that the most meaningful way to honour someone, or any living being, is by embracing them fully while they’re here and carrying their spirit forward once they’re gone.

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Carrying Freya With Me Into the New Year

As 2026 begins, I will carry Freya’s lessons with me in everything I do. Her spirit reminds me to:

• Speak up for what I want.
• Pause and notice life’s small joys.
• Do it scared and face fears, however small, with courage.
• Love endlessly, fully, fiercely, and in every moment.

Grief will always be part of loving a dog, and some days I know it will still bring tears. But these lessons will give me direction in times I feel lost, joy in moments of sadness, and purpose when life feels uncertain. These lessons are a way of keeping Freya alive in everything I do as I move forward and have her continue to walk beside me even though she’s no longer here.

Freya, thank you for every soft nuzzle, every tail wag, every excited vocalisation, every lesson, and every moment of joy. You live on in how I move, love, and embrace the year ahead and beyond.

Much love,
Lara X

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