.png)
Before and after, Scarlett Joanne Hogan Golden
Close
.svg){kind=icon}
On July 30th, Facebook showed me a memory that stopped me in my tracks: a photo from 2018, the day I helped rescue my dog, Scarlett Joanne.
At the time, I didn’t know she would change my life. But now, I see clearly that day marked the beginning of a major shift.
Just months before, I had gone through a painful breakup. It ended not only my relationship but also the companionship of a dog I thought of as my own. I felt lonely and unsure of myself. One day in therapy, I half-joked, “Maybe I should adopt a puppy.” My therapist didn’t brush it off. He said, “I think that’s exactly what you should do.” That felt like a light in the dark.
A few months later, while volunteering for New England Lab Rescue and helping create social media graphics to raise funds, I got a late-night call. Two dogs had less than 24 hours before being euthanized, and we needed to raise money quickly to save them. Scarlett, then called “Summer Time,” was one of those dogs, small, scared, and in desperate need of a chance. The moment I saw her, I knew I was signing up to help, but she would help me in ways I hadn’t expected.
When her foster placement fell through, the rescue asked if I could take her. If I didn’t say yes, she would be left behind. Though still living with my parents, I promised it was short-term. My mom and I drove three hours to pick up four-month-old Scarlett. That short-term plan turned into forever.
Caring for Scarlett gave my days structure and purpose. She looked at me like I was the most important person in the world, and I started to believe I could be. I learned to value myself, knowing I had to be okay to care for her. Slowly, I put my health, peace, and joy at the center of my life. When I met my now-husband, he understood Scarlett already had the top spot in my heart.
Looking back, rescuing Scarlett taught me more than how to care for a dog. She showed me how to prioritize what really matters and to pause and recognize my own worth. When life feels messy, it’s easy to forget your value. Scarlett helped me remember mine.
If you’re reading this, I hope you don’t wait for a moment like mine to see your own strength and goodness. Look in the mirror today and know you matter, you are enough, and you deserve to put what makes you whole at the center of your life.
_c5b2cd7d-7f75-454c-8db0-b63e18b4a19e.png)
.png)
On July 30th, Facebook showed me a memory that stopped me in my tracks: a photo from 2018, the day I helped rescue my dog, Scarlett Joanne.
At the time, I didn’t know she would change my life. But now, I see clearly that day marked the beginning of a major shift.
Just months before, I had gone through a painful breakup. It ended not only my relationship but also the companionship of a dog I thought of as my own. I felt lonely and unsure of myself. One day in therapy, I half-joked, “Maybe I should adopt a puppy.” My therapist didn’t brush it off. He said, “I think that’s exactly what you should do.” That felt like a light in the dark.
A few months later, while volunteering for New England Lab Rescue and helping create social media graphics to raise funds, I got a late-night call. Two dogs had less than 24 hours before being euthanized, and we needed to raise money quickly to save them. Scarlett, then called “Summer Time,” was one of those dogs, small, scared, and in desperate need of a chance. The moment I saw her, I knew I was signing up to help, but she would help me in ways I hadn’t expected.
When her foster placement fell through, the rescue asked if I could take her. If I didn’t say yes, she would be left behind. Though still living with my parents, I promised it was short-term. My mom and I drove three hours to pick up four-month-old Scarlett. That short-term plan turned into forever.
Caring for Scarlett gave my days structure and purpose. She looked at me like I was the most important person in the world, and I started to believe I could be. I learned to value myself, knowing I had to be okay to care for her. Slowly, I put my health, peace, and joy at the center of my life. When I met my now-husband, he understood Scarlett already had the top spot in my heart.
Looking back, rescuing Scarlett taught me more than how to care for a dog. She showed me how to prioritize what really matters and to pause and recognize my own worth. When life feels messy, it’s easy to forget your value. Scarlett helped me remember mine.
If you’re reading this, I hope you don’t wait for a moment like mine to see your own strength and goodness. Look in the mirror today and know you matter, you are enough, and you deserve to put what makes you whole at the center of your life.
On July 30th, Facebook showed me a memory that stopped me in my tracks: a photo from 2018, the day I helped rescue my dog, Scarlett Joanne.
At the time, I didn’t know she would change my life. But now, I see clearly that day marked the beginning of a major shift.
Just months before, I had gone through a painful breakup. It ended not only my relationship but also the companionship of a dog I thought of as my own. I felt lonely and unsure of myself. One day in therapy, I half-joked, “Maybe I should adopt a puppy.” My therapist didn’t brush it off. He said, “I think that’s exactly what you should do.” That felt like a light in the dark.
A few months later, while volunteering for New England Lab Rescue and helping create social media graphics to raise funds, I got a late-night call. Two dogs had less than 24 hours before being euthanized, and we needed to raise money quickly to save them. Scarlett, then called “Summer Time,” was one of those dogs, small, scared, and in desperate need of a chance. The moment I saw her, I knew I was signing up to help, but she would help me in ways I hadn’t expected.
When her foster placement fell through, the rescue asked if I could take her. If I didn’t say yes, she would be left behind. Though still living with my parents, I promised it was short-term. My mom and I drove three hours to pick up four-month-old Scarlett. That short-term plan turned into forever.
Caring for Scarlett gave my days structure and purpose. She looked at me like I was the most important person in the world, and I started to believe I could be. I learned to value myself, knowing I had to be okay to care for her. Slowly, I put my health, peace, and joy at the center of my life. When I met my now-husband, he understood Scarlett already had the top spot in my heart.
Looking back, rescuing Scarlett taught me more than how to care for a dog. She showed me how to prioritize what really matters and to pause and recognize my own worth. When life feels messy, it’s easy to forget your value. Scarlett helped me remember mine.
If you’re reading this, I hope you don’t wait for a moment like mine to see your own strength and goodness. Look in the mirror today and know you matter, you are enough, and you deserve to put what makes you whole at the center of your life.
On July 30th, Facebook showed me a memory that stopped me in my tracks: a photo from 2018, the day I helped rescue my dog, Scarlett Joanne.
At the time, I didn’t know she would change my life. But now, I see clearly that day marked the beginning of a major shift.
Just months before, I had gone through a painful breakup. It ended not only my relationship but also the companionship of a dog I thought of as my own. I felt lonely and unsure of myself. One day in therapy, I half-joked, “Maybe I should adopt a puppy.” My therapist didn’t brush it off. He said, “I think that’s exactly what you should do.” That felt like a light in the dark.
A few months later, while volunteering for New England Lab Rescue and helping create social media graphics to raise funds, I got a late-night call. Two dogs had less than 24 hours before being euthanized, and we needed to raise money quickly to save them. Scarlett, then called “Summer Time,” was one of those dogs, small, scared, and in desperate need of a chance. The moment I saw her, I knew I was signing up to help, but she would help me in ways I hadn’t expected.
When her foster placement fell through, the rescue asked if I could take her. If I didn’t say yes, she would be left behind. Though still living with my parents, I promised it was short-term. My mom and I drove three hours to pick up four-month-old Scarlett. That short-term plan turned into forever.
Caring for Scarlett gave my days structure and purpose. She looked at me like I was the most important person in the world, and I started to believe I could be. I learned to value myself, knowing I had to be okay to care for her. Slowly, I put my health, peace, and joy at the center of my life. When I met my now-husband, he understood Scarlett already had the top spot in my heart.
Looking back, rescuing Scarlett taught me more than how to care for a dog. She showed me how to prioritize what really matters and to pause and recognize my own worth. When life feels messy, it’s easy to forget your value. Scarlett helped me remember mine.
If you’re reading this, I hope you don’t wait for a moment like mine to see your own strength and goodness. Look in the mirror today and know you matter, you are enough, and you deserve to put what makes you whole at the center of your life.
MaxClass is a woman-owned company, and we're offering MWLC members 65% off your continuing education when you use our code WOMENWIN.
MaxClass is a woman-owned company, and we're offering MWLC members 65% off your continuing education. Become a member for our unique code.
A letter from the editor
A surprisingly powerful break from the chaos of grown-up life.
From Charmed to the mortgage industry
MaxClass is a woman-owned company, and we're offering MWLC members 65% off your continuing education when you use our code WOMENWIN.
MaxClass is a woman-owned company, and we're offering MWLC members 65% off your continuing education. Become a member for our unique code.
.jpg)
Build self-assurance, project confidence in any setting, and communicate with authority without second-guessing yourself
How mortgage women can achieve Non-QM mastery
One woman’s solution for achieving work/life harmony
Women leaders are molding the mortgage industry with tech-driven transformation
How veteran mortgage professionals are thriving in a changing industry
.jpg)
.jpg)
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.