Heart Prints are like foot prints which last forever. As the years go by we accumulate the prints  as we learn to cherish each of them in their own special place in our hearts.   Each memory, each person we have loved , our precious babies now grown and on their own life's journey collecting their own special collection of heart prints, even our precious pets,  all leave their own special mark. Each distinctive in its own right and each so very dear to us.

 As children it is our pets which first teach us unquestioning love and devotion and the heartache which we must learn comes with love.  Does one ever forget the pain we experienced when we had to say goodbye to a special unique furry friend  whose devotion and unquestioning loyalty we had so often taken for granted ?  Did any of us believe that the pain would pass and only the wonderful memories would remain of all the hours of happiness  that precious relationship had provided ? A valuable lesson and one which we never forget.

 Even now so many years later I still feel a lump in my throat when I recall  the loss of that first special companion. But even though the sadness is easily recalled so are the lovely memories which the recollection of that sweet tiny friend brings. 

One lesson learned early. My first reaction to his loss was that I must never again allow myself to love so deeply and leave myself so vulnerable to hurt. Time soon taught me that  life demanded more courage than that if one was to survive. And that it was worth the pain one might encounter to share your heart and give of one's self to others.

Nothing in life is easy but the joy  one finds in trusting  and sharing is well worth the price paid for such vulnerability. As someone once said  ... "You've got to dance like no one's watching, and love like it's never going to hurt." Hard lessons to learn but, if one is to fully experience life, it is absolutely essential  that we apply those lessons learned as we travel through the months and years of our lifetime always gathering more of those precious heart prints remembering that every day is a new beginning.

At times we may feel  those heart prints weighing heavily on our hearts and  will indeed experience tears and heartache as a result of them but always remember for each tear there is a memory which you will carry with you always and which shall sustain and comfort you for many years to come. Memories stay with us always. Collect as many of them as you possibly can ! When good things come to an end don't cry because they are over, smile and give thanks because they ever happened.

Heartprints  ... how sad and empty our lives would be without them! Yes, sometimes  they can be very painful but try to remember even the loveliest of roses has thorns.  Don't ever  be afraid to open your heart to life. I truly believe this  Barrie quote says it all.