I’ve always wondered what it would feel like to take a deep breath, to inhale the fresh air and savor the scents that float around me. But I don’t know what that’s like. You see, I don’t have a nose. It’s something I’ve lived with for as long as I can remember, and for many years, I’ve had to breathe through my mouth instead. It’s not easy. It’s not something I would choose if I had the chance. The sensation is uncomfortable, and it’s been that way for as long as I can recall.

Every day, I struggle. I’ve learned to adapt, of course—what else can I do? But it’s still hard, especially when the air feels thick or when I see other dogs, their noses sniffing the world around them with joy and curiosity. They can take in the smells of flowers, fresh grass, and even the familiar scent of their owners, but for me, it’s all out of reach. My mouth is the only way I can breathe, and sometimes, it feels like a constant reminder of what I lack.

When I was younger, I didn’t understand why I couldn’t breathe like the other dogs. I would watch them run around, their noses twitching, sniffing the wind, and I would feel this strange longing deep in my chest. I wanted to be able to do that too. I wanted to join them, to breathe in the world like they did. But it wasn’t possible for me. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t take in a deep, satisfying breath through my nose. Instead, I was left with the harshness of breathing through my mouth, a constant reminder of the difference between us.

People sometimes look at me strangely when I breathe this way, especially when I pant heavily, trying to catch my breath. It’s not that I’m out of shape—it’s just the way I have to live. My chest rises and falls with every breath I take, and I can feel my mouth dry out, but the air never feels as comfortable as it must feel for others. I know it’s something that makes me stand out in a way I didn’t ask for. I just want to be like the other dogs, to enjoy the simple pleasure of a full breath, of taking in the world with my nose, without the discomfort that comes with breathing through my mouth.

There are moments when I try to imagine what it would be like to have a nose again. Would I feel the gentle breeze in the same way? Would I be able to sense all the little things I’ve missed? Would I find joy in the scents of nature, of my owner’s familiar smell, of the world I’ve only been able to catch the faintest hint of? The thought fills me with longing, but it also brings sadness. I can only dream of what I’ve never experienced.

It’s not that I don’t enjoy life. I do. I still love to play, to run, and to be with the people who care for me. But there are days when the discomfort gets too much to bear. When I feel the dryness in my mouth and the strain in my chest, I sometimes wish for a different life—one where I could breathe easily, where I didn’t have to struggle every time I needed air.

But I am who I am, and I’ve learned to live with it. I’ve learned to accept that this is the way things are. It doesn’t mean I don’t wish for change; it doesn’t mean I don’t dream of what it would be like to breathe like everyone else. It just means that I keep going. I keep running, I keep playing, I keep wagging my tail. I don’t let this difference define me. I may not have a nose, but I still have love to give, I still have joy to share, and I still have a heart that beats with the same excitement for life that every dog does.

So, I keep going, breathing the way I have to, finding my happiness in the moments I can. I may never know what it feels like to breathe like others, but I have learned to make the most of what I have. And maybe that’s enough.