SO there was no big "Kaboom!"
The world did not explode nor implode on Dec. 21. We are all here. Were the Mayans wrong, did someone interpret their calendar incorrectly?
Does it really matter?
To me, it doesn't matter. I find it a waste of precious time looking at the negative experiences of the past in an attempt to predict any kind of a future. In doing so you completely overlook the present.
When I look back at my life, I am grateful for my experiences, especially the ones that involved working with dogs. As I have said many times before, dogs have taught me many life lessons, some of which I have shared in this space.
The biggest lesson I have learned from my dogs is to let go of the past.
It seems like it's human nature to dwell on negative past experiences but even though it tends to be the way we allow our brains to work, it isn't in our nature. Like dogs, or any creature really, we are not born with the desire to seek out negative experiences and then dwell on them. We are born innocent, hopeful and open to the highs and lows of life. By being open and innocent we allow ourselves to be programmed by our experiences one way or the other.
Unfortunately we are so overrun with repetitive negativity throughout the day that we tend to lean more in the direction of the negative than the positive. Dogs are gloriously innocent and simple. They look at each day as a new day, and the only things from the past that they take into the new day are the good, joyful experiences (unless humans continually remind them of a negative past). In contrast to dogs, we are unique in the sense that we are addicted to negative experiences and the past that holds them.
When I work with a dog from a questionable past, I only seek information about their past that will help me determine my best course of action. I take that information and use it as a tool to help the dog recover from that experience, instead of making excuses as to why it is the way it is. I never say, "Oh this dog was kicked by a man and is now afraid of all men."
To me that experience is in the past, it is over and since it was a negative experience I will never bring it up again. Instead, I simply say, "True, this dog has had a rough start in life and now I am showing it a new way to view its entire life." I don't focus on the abuse, I focus on positively changing how the dog views its life in general, sort of like a canine life coach!
There is a wonderful story credited to the Cherokee First Nations that goes like this:
An Cherokee elder is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.
"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego." He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. The same fight is going on inside you and inside every other person too."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed." As we step into this new year, take a moment and ask yourself how you want to spend the rest of your life. Do you want to spend it immersed in negativity or do you want it immersed in joy?
Breaking the negative spiral takes work, starting with becoming aware of your thoughts and how they are feeding your actions.
Take a tip from your dog and just let it go.
Joan Klucha has been working with dogs for more than 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation. Contact her at k9kinship.com.
