From Indy

When I was a puppy and still with my canine family, I had lots of arguments with my brothers and sisters. We were always fighting over the attention of our mom, the best place to sleep, and the most advantageous location at the fence to bark at people walking by. At the time, those things seemed important.

By all accounts, it appeared that we fought a lot. But looking back, I realize none of it matters that much. Those arguments were just our way of learning about life, learning how to socialize with others, and finding our place in the world.

One day, one of my sisters wanted me to move out of her way, so she bit me hard on my ear. It REALLY hurt!

I was very angry. I bit her back as hard as I could. We started fighting in earnest and both got hurt. Our mom was very upset at both of us and told us to stop. I felt mad at my mom, because it was my sister who started it. I thought my mom was being very unfair.

My mom took me outside and explained something to me that I’ve never forgotten: She told me that what happens in my life does not matter nearly so much as how I react to it. She told me she believed I had the wisdom to find that balance between standing up for myself, and letting things be. She said there was no black and white answer to this problem, and it would be an issue I would continue to dance with my entire life.

Since then, I’ve learned that most of the time I can let go of my need for things to be a certain way. I’ve learned to accept that others have their own path and their own opinions. Sometimes I have to take a stand for what I believe is right and create a boundary that I’m not going to let anyone cross. But most of the time I can accept the fact that we all have a different point of view.

Just for today, is there some issue that’s getting under your skin where you can decide to agree to disagree? It’s a great way to find peace of mind. And my mom would be proud of you.

Love, Indy