Open Emotion

my pretty girl

 

THROUGH the door. NOW!

I'm searching through my daily goods to see if I could possibly have a quote that would fit this post...haven't found it yet, but if the quote appears at the bottom, I've obviously found it. ...or I gave up and chose a random.

I can teach. I can.

I once taught little children their sounds to be able to read...and they read. They showed progress. They were at the beginning stages of reading.

I taught a child what the proper behavior was for a school desk. Although the student was in total brat mode, Ms. D. remained calm and collected. She TAUGHT the student how to properly sit without ever raising her voice.

Yes, Ms. D can remain calm...when at work. For knowledge way beyond me, I have the utmost patience for my students. I sometimes walk away from a situation and go, "wow, did I really just turn that into a learning experience...for both of us...and not raise my voice or even an eyebrow?!" Basically, I amaze myself that when at work or with children, I can be absolutely calm.

...BUT...

yes, of course there is a but. Without a "but" this post would not be.

...but, I cannot. CANNOT get my damn dog to go through the gosh darn DOGGY DOOR. I have tried. I have taught. I have bribed. I have begged. I have pulled. AND pushed.

Guess who is NOT absolutely calm in this situation after the first hour. After the first week. After many weeks.

ME!

I do not know how to get that darn dog (Yes, I still adore everything about her...) to go THROUGH the door. Does she not know the freedom that knowing how to open and go through the doggy door allows her. It allows her FREE ...WITHOUT ASKING...access to the backyard: to sniffing at one's own poop, tearing branches from the trees, digging holes (even though I have told her many times to stop), and even lounging in the sun. OHHHH, but no. Lilly will not have it.

Nope, she hates that door. Hate is a strong word, but I couldn't find anything stronger. Because she does not like it and it does not like her, and they will never touch. NEVER. Not even if the finest slab of fresh bacon is sitting on the other side. Or the largest, juiciest treat was propped on the other side. That girl is not budging in her resistence to the horrid doggy door.

Okay, so I can teach humans. I can teach the damn dog to sit, but I can't make it walk through a door. WHAT am I to do?! It's not like the extra steps are killing me...THAT is not the point. Point: FREEDOM for the dog!

...maybe this one works: enjoy!

Enjoy the journey, enjoy ever moment, and quit worrying about winning and losing. --Matt Biondi, e-mailed from www.charityfocus.org or www.dailygood.org.