March 10, 2010

"We have to fight them daily, like fleas, those many small worries about the morrow, for the sap our energies." - Etty Hillesum, author

 

Thankfully, most of us no longer wage a daily battle with fleas, but we probably spend a good deal of our time worrying.  My dogs have helped me see how useless and truly uncomfortable this activity is...

 

I live with three dogs.  One is a worrier, ever vigilant about the people walking by our house, the leftovers on the kitchen counter, and the dog treats that he KNOWS are in the bureau drawer just waiting for him to eat.  I find myself attempting to calm and comfort him quite often as he seems to get upset over silly, little things.

My second dog never worries about a thing because she is clearly in charge.  She sleeps the day away and, when she wakes, begins barking orders at those of us who are her minions.  She has nothing to worry about except keeping the rest of us in line.  Frankly, she can be a pain in the you-know-what and she probably should worry a bit more about what others think of her!

Our third dog doesn't know what worry means.  He is always joyful and simply shows up for whatever the other two dogs have in mind.  "We're going outside?  Okay!  There are food scraps in the kitchen?  I'm there!"  He is a worry-free soul and I want to be like him.  Even though he never worries, he never misses out on anything .  And, if he did, I think he'd take it all in stride.  After all, how can you miss something you didn't really have in the first place?

Observe your pets' 'worry' habits.  What can you learn from them about your own worry?  Doesn't it make life more painful and uncomfortable than it should be?