The Three Dogs of the Self | An Essay

How a fragile old man, a serene matron, and a chaos engine in hound form taught me who I really am

“The Three Dogs of the Self”

In this audio essay, I reflect on how three very different dogs became mirrors of my inner life.

Steve, the fragile old sentinel, shows me what it means to age, to slow down, and to live gently inside a body that no longer obeys without question.

Izzy, white and serene, teaches presence — the kind of grace that isn’t earned, just lived.

And Henry, loud, chaotic, and impossible to ignore, reminds me that some parts of the self refuse to go quietly — and maybe shouldn’t.

This is an essay about love, identity, and the strange way the soul can scatter itself into the creatures we care for. It’s also about time — and what happens when life continues after the words are already written.

🎙️ Includes an addendum recorded after the essay was completed.

If this resonates, you’re welcome here.

Music: “Cylinder Five” by Chris Zabriskie | Creative Commons license

Release date: January 2026; originally published May 2025

Approx. Length: 9 minutes