Current Inspiration

Perspective

Today is Wednesday, which means it’s time for the Inspirational word of the week.

Perspective: (noun) a visible scene, the state of existing in space, the state of one’s ideas and a mental view or prospect.

100_0020 I wish I knew how to put this video directly onto the face of the post, but this is the best I can do. I appreciate your patience.

When you click the link titled 100 0020 above, you should be directed to a video I took while on my walk in Brasil last year. It’s of two dogs barking and snarling at me and my dog Tootsie as we passed by them.

Every day, as soon as these dogs heard or saw us, they would start barking and would sometimes even attack each other!!! At first, this display of aggression scared the hell out of me, but eventually it just became annoying. One day I decided to stop and tape them, and a funny thing happened. They calmed down. Apparently, they were so totally confused by my standing still and staring at them, that they eventually just quieted down and paced back and forth. I didn’t get close to them, but I did talk to them in a calm manner and ask them what they wanted. They just looked at me, with their heads cocked to one side. I continued on my walk and from that day forward, although they still barked, the anger and aggression seemed to be gone from their voices.

Which brings me to the lesson I learned from that experience.

“Just because someone says or does something nasty and mean, doesn’t mean I have to take it personally.”

Quite simply, these dogs didn’t have anything better to do. They were behind their fence every day, without any mental stimulation. Their owners didn’t take them for walks, so they had no way to burn off their aggression.

Here I come with my lovely chocolate lab, cruising past them, giving them something to focus their frustration and anger onto.

It’s not surprising then,that from their perspective it was my fault. My walking past them was a reminder of what they were missing, which made them even more frustrated and angry!

I feel sorry for these dogs, as well as the rest of the dogs that bark as Tootsie and I go walking past. They don’t have control over their exercise schedule and they can’t communicate what they need.

Too many people neglect to think about their dogs physical and emotional needs, so it isn’t surprising when you figure they probably don’t think too much about their own needs either.

There are always people who just don’t have anything better to do than bark, bitch, whine and complain about how terrible life is. They simply have nothing better to do (or they’ve chosen not to learn a different way to communicate).

If I allow their anger to upset me, then we’re both going to be frustrated and angry.

The only thing I have any control over is my own attitude.

I hope this post has helped give you a fresh perspective, my friendly blog reader.

I’d love to read your thoughts in the comments!

xoxo

Pam