Recently, I faced one of the hardest moments of my life.
My beloved dog, Guinness—the first baby girl of our family—was diagnosed with cancer.
The photo above is the last one we took together.
Hearing the news was devastating.
I was shocked.
Then came the painful realization: Our time together will now be heartbreakingly short.
For weeks, and even now, I’ve been struggling to function.
I’m also struggling with the decision to let her go.
After all, she is still connecting with us and showing so much zest for life.
In these moments of struggle, I realize how much Guinness means to me. More than just a pet. She is family.
Isn’t it true that only through living—through letting life happen to us—do we uncover what we truly value?
Guinness has been my greatest teacher in this with her love, her presence, and now her illness and loss.
The existential concepts I spent years researching shifted from head knowledge to heart knowledge … almost immediately!
To be, to exist, is to open our hearts fully to this world—to live deeply, to love fiercely, even when it inevitably brings pain …
In our response to grief, we discover what holds meaning in our hearts.
We discover what truly matters to us.
Holding love and pain together,
Magdalen “life is happening” Cheng
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About the Author
Hi, I'm Mag: a UKCP-accredited counselling psychologist and founder of Singapore’s first ever existential practice. My care philosophy is not to diagnose, label, or categorise but rather to work with the individual in front of me in the here and now.
My clinical credentials certainly play a significant role in defining my professional identity. But to foster a deeper connection and authenticity, I invite you to discover my other “Selves”, the various facets of who I am.
