It was cold outside, really cold. That didn’t stop my dog from whining for an hour straight to get her walk. So, I bundled up and trudged through the snow, wind and ice to walk her around the block. Interestingly, I noticed that she didn’t seem to mind the cold. In fact, she was having a grand old time sniffing and digging, not to mention pulling excitedly on the leash as usual (and yes, dog training was supposed to cure her of that). That’s when it hit me, dogs have no stories.
The problem with being human is that we have too many stories. We’re too short, too unattractive, we’re not funny enough, smart enough, weren’t born with a silver spoon in our mouths like so and so. Our stories dominate our lives. There are big stories, such as I was born with the wrong body or to the wrong family; and there are small stories such as I hate being in traffic, or my clothes are too old so I can’t be happy.
Even before leaving the house for the walk, my story was set - it was too cold, it was going to be unpleasant, and there was no possible way that I was going to enjoy myself. My dog had no preconceived notions. Whether 10 degrees or 100 degrees, she is just happy to be outside.
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Once I recognized my story mid-walk, I decided to re-write it on the spot. My new story was that it was pleasant being outside and I could enjoy it. I noticed the beautiful snow- covered trees, and enjoyed watching my dog’s innocent pleasure. It was still cold, but when I focused less on the cold and more on the positive aspects of being outside, I actually enjoyed the walk.
Living in Michigan these days means we are surrounded by stories. We’ve seen the numbers and statistics on the news and we all know that our state is last in this and highest in that and we believe. We all have a friend or family member who is down on their luck and down on our home state. And yes, it has been hard, but that doesn’t mean the story can’t be rewritten at any moment.
I know people who have lost their jobs and started their own businesses, gone back to school, or found a job in something they were passionate about. They didn’t let the negative story prevail. So, be like the dog - forget the stories, and enjoy the walk.
Jeffrey Mindell can be reached at jmindell@gmail.com |
