Title: Puppy Power
Author: Gary Crow
Puppy Power
I'm sitting here watching our puppy bark at his reflection
in the window in the door to the back yard. His goal is to
get outside but he has a problem. There is a guard dog on
the other side of the window, staying right with him, bark
for bark, preventing his exit. He first runs up to the
other dog, tries to get past him, then backs away to
analyze and evaluate. They go back-and-forth like this for
a few minutes until pup is distracted by some unseen and
unheard temptation in the kitchen.
Dumb, dumb dog. That is certainly not anything you would
ever find me doing: barking at my shadow in the window. I'm
sure you never behave like that either. After all, we are
mature, responsible adults who can distinguish reality from
our reflections in the window. The things that frighten us
are definitely there and absolutely justify our fear. The
barriers to our success are substantial and certainly not
products of our imaginations or in anyway self-made.
There is that puppy again. What is he up to this time? He
is running around in circles, jumping up and changing
directions, yipping at only he knows what, and having
himself a right good time. He is having way too much fun.
That pup makes three minutes of silliness seem like a day
at the circus. There is no point to it. He is just running
around like a…, well, like a puppy.
There comes that pup again. What is he up to this time? He
has been in the bathroom and now he is in the living room,
proudly pulling the TP along behind him. Do I get upset
with him, laugh at his antics, or just sit back and
appreciate his cleverness? How did he manage to pull the TP
out of the bathroom, down the steps, around three corners,
and into the living room in one piece? Maybe I will try
that just to see if I am at least as clever as a pup; but
alas, someone might see me. After all, I'm a responsible,
mature adult who has his image to consider.
Wonder when we lost our puppy's view of the world? Maybe
the pup knew that it was his reflection in the window or
maybe not. It likely does not matter either way. He is now
playing the same game with me. Run up very close, bark, and
then scoot back, just out of reach. Do it again, and then
again. Woops, there he goes. He is off to other more
interesting activities. No, he wasn't distracted after all.
He simply tired of the game. For him, every situation has
the potential for fun be it seeing his reflection in the
window, taking time to run around in circles, or indulging
in the great TP pull.
Look at him, lying in my favorite chair where he is not
supposed to be, just resting it seems. I'll bet he is not
there because he is tired, though. He is conserving his
energy for his next escapade. Cute puppies!
That pup may have something to teach us, not that he cares
whether we learn the lesson or not. He is only being a pup,
doing puppy stuff. Still, the lesson is there. If we are
open to it, we can learn the lessons of puppy power.
• Puppy power is recognizing our reflection in the window
and giving it a good bark, knowing that if we shake it off
and walk away, it will walk away too.
• Puppy power is stopping for three minutes of pure fun,
time to run around in circles and jump for joy.
• Puppy power is finding out if we really can pull the TP
through the house in one continuous pull.
• Puppy power is stopping to rest, not because we are tired
but so we will have the energy we will need for our next
adventure.
I'll be dog gone if that's not one smart pup. Hot dog! my
friend; here's to puppy power.
About the Author:
For more articles by Gary Crow, visit
http://www.Leadersh
or http://www.StuffWor
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