{"id":11965,"date":"2013-01-15T10:37:33","date_gmt":"2013-01-15T18:37:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/momservations.wordpress.com\/?p=11965"},"modified":"2013-01-15T10:37:33","modified_gmt":"2013-01-15T18:37:33","slug":"open-letter-to-my-dog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/momservations.com\/index.php\/2013\/01\/15\/open-letter-to-my-dog\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Letter to My Dog"},"content":{"rendered":"

Momservation: <\/b>The first ingredient in Humble Pie is cleaning up someone else\u2019s poop.<\/p>\n

\u263a\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u263a\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u263a<\/p>\n

\"IMG_0440\"<\/a>In the ongoing effort to change my perspective to a positive one, become grateful for the little things, and not waste energy hanging onto anger and disappointment I have turned to an expert in these matters.<\/p>\n

My dog.<\/p>\n

After coming home to yet another mess\u2014the result of a Yellow Labrador convinced she hasn\u2019t eaten in her entire three year lifespan\u2014I had an epiphany. As Darby hunkered by the door, clearly repentant for being unable to resist impulse, she could not contain the wag of her tail and body wiggling joy that I was home. Despite knowing the penalty for her transgression was to throw her mischievous fuzzy butt outside, the last place she wanted to be\u2014away from me\u2014I could see in her eyes that she still adored me and already forgave me for the anxiety I was about to inflict on her.<\/p>\n

Instead of scolding her and throwing her out, I quietly picked up the shredded gift bag, the now empty box of Junior Mints, and the movie gift card with a bite out of it because it dared to get in the way of a chocolate prize.<\/p>\n

Coming back to stand in front of Darby with my hands on my hips, Darby\u2019s averted gaze told me she was sorry. Again, she could not contain the joyous wag of her tail as she peeked back at me, clearly hoping we could let this whole lapse in judgment go and move on.\"IMG_0739\"<\/a><\/p>\n

And in that moment I decided I could learn a lot from Darby. I could hang onto my anger and waste energy being mad, or I could harness the positive energy of forgiveness to propel myself forward instead of being rooted in resentment.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d I told her as I moved forward to scratch her behind her ears. \u201cIt feels better to forgive.\u201d Darby surged forward delighted with my decision, prancing around under a barrage of pets as if to say, See? Doesn\u2019t this feel better?<\/i><\/p>\n

And it did. And I wanted to thank her for it and all the other simple life lessons a dog can teach us. So I composed this letter:<\/p>\n

Open Letter to my dog:<\/strong><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you for teaching me that even when I can be so mad at someone for something they\u2019ve done that giving in to forgiveness feels so much better.\u00a0<\/strong>\"IMG_0329\"<\/a><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you for showing me how to go after every task with unbridled joy and exuberance.<\/strong><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you for keeping me humble by having to pick up your deposits.<\/strong><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you for making me think about someone other than myself.<\/strong><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you for reminding me that how you greet someone can make all the difference in a bad day.<\/strong><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you for showing me the value of being an eternal optimist.<\/strong><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you for making me feel relevant by acting like the absence of my presence is the end of the world.<\/strong><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you for reminding me of the simple joys in life like wind on your face and cozy place to curl up.\u00a0<\/strong>\"IMG_0778\"<\/a><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you for teaching me that sometimes all someone needs is a quick pat on the back.<\/strong><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you for showing me that unfaltering loyalty is a priceless gift.<\/strong><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you for teaching me that when your basic needs of food, shelter, and affection are met everything else doesn\u2019t really matter.<\/strong><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you for your unconditional love even when I know I don\u2019t deserve it.<\/strong><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you for all the times you quietly and patiently sat beside me even though I know you really just wanted to play.<\/strong><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you for making me walk you even when I didn\u2019t want to, but then realizing it was exactly what we both needed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you for letting me put silly costumes and headgear on you just so I could laugh.\u00a0<\/strong>\"IMG_0790\"<\/a><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you for showing me that sticking to a routine can be very comforting.<\/strong><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you for giving me the security to \u00a0be absolutely ridiculous in showing my affection for you with baby talk and silly love names.<\/strong><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you for reminding me to live in the moment enjoy the journey.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A thank you letter for the simple life lessons a dog can teach us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[165],"tags":[424,2,86,3,872,873,874,875,5,28,876],"class_list":["post-11965","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-parenting-humor-2","tag-dogs","tag-family","tag-kelli-wheeler","tag-kids","tag-lessons-in-forgiveness","tag-life-lessons","tag-life-lessons-from-dogs","tag-love-of-dogs","tag-momservations","tag-parenting-humor","tag-things-i-learned-from-my-dog"],"yoast_head":"\nOpen Letter to My Dog - Kelli M. 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