Michael - Facing Fears

Written October 4, but posted today.

There have been amazing changes in Michael. After 5 1/2 years in the confines of a kennel with only ocasaional times outside in the free light of day, Michael was a timid dog seemingly afraid of unknown sights and sounds, and certainly afraid of people he did not know. This approach and attitude evidenced itself in many ways from the barking to the running away ever seeking of shelter often in a corner seemingly protected on all sides, but also boxed in from all directions.

Somehow, however, Michael has learned to trust and, on doing so, he has seemed to find more peace. While he still barks at unknown noises, the barks stop when he recognizes the source and his body language changes from the stiff yet shaky panic to an exciting shimmy with the tail wagging the entire back half of his body. What a diference learning to trust has made in Michael's life and in our lives.

Thought of the Day: Like Michael's owners kept him in a closed area separated from those who would have cared about him and would have given him what he needed - companionship, playmates, attention, and more, we so often close ourselves off and, in doing so, we miss so many opportunities. Sometimes we believe that in closing ourselves off, we are protecting ourselves from some unknown hurt. In fact, we often are simply putting ourselves in a corner from which there is no seeming escape. In fact, the escape is to simply walk toward that which scares us and, in most cases, we will find that there is nothing to fear or that the consequences of facing our fears is less than we thought. In the end, we can be like Michael - still reacting when necessary, but then moving forward. Perhaps we too can wag our tails!