My Inner Dog

Most people carry an inner critic.
A sharp voice, made of shadows, whispering at the edges of thought. It tells them they are not enough, that they fall short, that they do not deserve the light.

But not me. I do not carry an inner critic. I carry an inner dog. Close your eyes and step with me into this dream.

My inner dog is more than flesh and bone. He is spirit and breath, woven from starlight and fur. His eyes hold galaxies, deep and endless, and when I look into them, I see myself reflected as something whole, something worthy.

When fear circles me like wolves in the dark, he appears without a sound. His presence is a lantern. His fur glows faintly, like moonlight caught in mist. He presses close until my trembling stops, until my heartbeat remembers the rhythm of peace.

When sorrow sinks me like a stone in deep water, he rests his luminous head on my lap. The glow of his spirit soaks through my skin, warming me from the inside out. Tears fall, but he never moves. He stays until the river of grief slows and I can breathe again.

When the world wounds me with sharp words or silence, he does not attack. He does not roar. He simply grows brighter. His body becomes a shield of light and love, a barrier that cruelty cannot pass through.

My inner dog does not keep records of my failures. He does not carry the weight of yesterday. At dawn, he greets me as though I am the only soul that has ever mattered. His tail becomes a streak of joy across the air, his body shimmering with delight, his gaze telling me I am the best part of the universe.

His voice is not a bark, but a whisper that reaches the heart. You are doing beautifully. I am proud of you. You are exactly where you are meant to be.
His words are soft winds moving through the trees, never cruel, never cutting, only gentle as a prayer.

And when the night is heavy, when my world feels too dark to bear, he does not leave. He curls around me like a circle of firelight, his warmth steady, his glow unshaken. In silence, he speaks the truest vow: I chose you. I will choose you again. And again. And again.

So let the inner critic haunt other hearts. I carry something holier.
Something eternal. carry unconditional love in the shape of a dog, a guardian stitched from fur and spirit, a companion who walks beside my soul.

Tell me, what does your inner dog look like?