Feb 23, 2025

A Year Ago: Homeless and Grieving

February 23, 2025. Today marks exactly one year since the day I saw Jihan’s picture on Facebook—another major turning point in my life.

A year ago, I was homeless, staying at my friend’s off-grid cottage. I was still grieving the loss of my beloved dog, Jersey, who had passed away on February 21, 2023. Her absence weighed heavily on me, and though a year had passed, the grief hadn’t faded. I often spoke to Jersey like she was still with me, asking if she would send me another dog when the time was right.

A Dream That Felt Like a Message

Then, in January 2024, I had a dream. In it, I was searching for Jersey and my other dog, Oren. Suddenly, I saw them. Jersey ran towards me and jumped into my arms. At first, we were in a town area, but then the scene shifted—I was lying in bed, holding her close. It felt so real, as if she was truly there with me. Then, I blinked, and Jersey turned into another dog. This new dog looked different but familiar, almost like a version of Jersey herself.

And then, I woke up. I was in the same position as in the dream, but there was no dog beside me.

That dream filled me with a strange sense of hope. I believed it was a message.

The Moment Everything Changed

Two days after the first anniversary of Jersey’s passing, I saw her. Jihan. A small, scrappy-looking puppy on my Facebook feed. The moment I saw her picture, something inside me ignited. I couldn’t sit still. It was like my heart already knew—she was meant to be mine.

But reality hit me fast. I was homeless. I had no income. I didn’t even know if my friend would allow me to bring another dog into their space. The logical part of me screamed that it was impossible. But the feeling was too strong to ignore.

Taking a Leap of Faith

I reached out to the rescuer anyway, asking if Jihan was still available for adoption. She was. The rescuer told me that many people found brindle dogs like Jihan “ugly” and overlooked them. If no one adopted her, she would go to the shelter.

I told her my situation honestly—I wasn’t sure if I could adopt her yet, but I needed to meet her. That decision—just deciding to meet her—set everything in motion.

A Turning Point

That day changed everything. Before seeing Jihan’s picture, I felt like I had nothing to look forward to. I had stopped wanting things, stopped believing that I had a purpose in life.

But in that moment, I wanted something again. And because I wanted her, I found the strength to manifest everything I needed—money, a home, and a new life with Jihan by my side.

The Lesson

Life can change in an instant. If you’re still breathing, it means there’s something amazing still waiting for you. Never lose hope, because sometimes, all it takes is one moment, one decision, to turn everything around.

Jayden Jihan -Feb 23, 2025