The Art of Letting Sh*t Go

Over the weekend I journeyed to the Humane Society to meet Theodore. I noticed him on the website and thought he could use a visitor and a little love. As an 11-year-old, he had been abandoned and left with nothing but heartworms and a skin infection which had caused some of his fur to fall off. Upon arrival, I was informed that Theodore was not handling the shelter life (prison) well and currently had to be medicated with anti-anxiety medication. I was also the first person to ask about him.

The staff took us both outside for some fresh air and walking through the wooded paths we made our way to a grassy area and laid down in the sun. His anxiety was evident from the constant panting and peering around, but whenever he would look my way, his tail wagged and I could see what I thought was a smile as he would nuzzle up to me. He needed a bath and the patchy hair around his rump and tail looked odd, but Theodore was a good boy and had me thinking about all the difficulties he'd experienced. A senior dog abandoned in his golden years currently living in a loud kennel while receiving heavy doses of heartworm treatment. How was he able to wag his tail and trust another human? In all his wisdom, Theodore had learned to let sh*t go! Animals seem to have a skill set we humans try to reach - not trying to control what is out of their control. He wasn't out to seek revenge on the humans who put him in this spot but had chosen to move on and make the best of his current and present situation.

As humans, we try to control everything in our lives. I'm guilty but aware of when it happens, which has taken years of personal reflection and work on my part. It's scary how many times per day I need to stop and reset before I go down a rabbit hole of self-loathing, fear, or anger, but that's human nature. My dude Theodore wakes up each morning and wonders what amazing thing will happen today; instead of a human waking up and thinking about all the negative things that will "probably" happen today. Shift and think about those positive vibes; because for the most part, you can't control the negatives. When humans are involved, you can expect things to slip and go wrong, but you can control how you fill your time and thoughts along with how you will react to any less-than-ideal outcomes throughout life.

Try halting the stories in your mind before you sink into a negative mood. I think each one of you will be amazed at how often the brain will start with the "If I could just get xyz completed, I'd be in a better spot". Believe me, once xyz is complete you will then move on to abc needing to be completed to feel better; and on and on it goes. Smile, enjoy the journey, enjoy the people in your life, and know that everything will be okay. Theodore would love to know he could make a difference in at least one person's life!

I'll leave you knowing that Theodore is unable to be fostered at this time due to the heartworm treatment over the next month, but his skin condition has been improving, which is great.

Andy