Grant's Lessons: Part 3

As I wrote about in one of the earlier lessons, Grant didn't like males very much when I first met him. He still doesn't (at times he will bark and get upset about a male walking by for no discernble reason) but he has learned that some males are actually kind of cool to hang out with. When my dad comes to visit, he and Grant are best friends.

With the combination of time, treats, lots of play, belly rubs, and even more time, Grant and I have gotten to a really good place. I never felt closer to Grant than I did last summer when I found out he was a beach dog! He has learned that he can trust me and that I will take care of him.

Now I can turn him upside down, cuddle with him, and even play rough with him and he doesn't mind (I don't think I am supposed to say that he actually likes it!). He knows me. He trusts me. His trust me in me overrides anything else in he might have experienced in his life.

That is the power of trust, when your belief in someone overrides experiences that we have had. We humans have a tough time with that one. Even if someone proves themselves over and over again, we have that nagging thought in our mind...what if I can't trust him/her? But is an incredible moment when someone/something gets to that point where Grant and I have gotten to. I could look at him and say "Grant, let's move to North Carolina/Timbuktu/The South Pole and his response would be: "Are there treats there? If so, let's go!" He trusts that I look out for what is best for him.

That is the truest power in the world because it makes me even more determined to do what is best for him. It is my privilege to do that for him, Maizy and, most importantly, Marybeth.

I hope that I can learn from Grant and believe in the power of trust. I have much to learn from my beach dog. Thanks G, you are the man!

Maizy's Lessons Part 3

After getting married and Marybeth moving in to the place I owned, the question of bathrooms and closets became a big issue. My wife claimed the closet in the second bedroom and the second bathroom because my stuff was already in the master bedroom and bath.

There are many times when each of us is in a separate area to get ready. Maizy thinks this is very interesting. She will stand in the hallway between the two areas watching.

I, at times, wonder if she is thinking "If Mom or Dad needs me, I have to be ready! I will just stand here in the middle and watch!" And she does watch moving her head back and forth to see what Marybeth and/or I are doing. Most of the time we don't need her for anything but we are happy to pet her whenever she would like!

Maizy has chosen the exact best place she can to make use of an opportunity when it comes. Yet she doesn't rush to one side or the other unless the opportunity comes her way.

How many of us put ourselves in less desirable positions to take advantage of an opportunity that might come our way? What can we do to put oursevles in the 'sweet spot" like Maizy does every day? How many times have we been out of place and miss that possible opportunity because of what we do?

At times in my life, I haven't had this balance. What Maizy can teach us is to be in that sweet spot whenever you can and open your eyes! She doesn't lock into one thing until the opportunity presents itself and then she goes for it.

I hope that I will be like Maizy in the exact right spot watching for the next great thing.

Maizy, thanks for focusing me on things...I have much to learn.....

Grant's Lessons: Part 2

I was reading an article the other day about how pets are playing a bigger role in dating. Many are considering more strongly how their pets react to someone they are dating.

One of my favorite memories with my wife was the first time that she brought her dogs over. It was very early on in our relationship and she told me that Grant doesn't like a lot of men. He was abused severly by a male previously so it was understandable. She also warned me don't be upset if he doesn't like you at first! While I appreciated her kind words, I was apprehensive about meeting him even though I really love dogs. I wasn't sure how much Marybeth would like someone that Grant didn't like even though I didn't tell her that at the time!

When Marybeth showed up at the door, she had Grant and Sparky under her arms. Sparky was blind so he could smell me at that point but Grant being still young could see me also. At that moment I looked at him and said "Hi!" I was wondering how he would react.

I tentatively put my hand out to pet him and he didn't lunge toward me which was a good thing. After a few seconds, I put my face down towards his. (Which I now know probably wasn't the best idea with a rescue dog!) Grant sniffed me for a second and then did the coolest thing in the world: he licked my nose. I think that was the moment I was accepted into Grant's family. The only thing I can imagine Grant saying when I proposed to Marybeth was: "I get two humans? Two? Why didn't we do this before?"

Life can be rough and deal us a tough hand like it did to Grant. Once we are given this tough hand, we get shy and, at times, unable to accept new people and things into our lives. Grant had every reason to feel that way about me.

But he didn't...he found someone he liked and licked his face.

I am not suggesting that we go around licking people's faces but I do think that those new people/things/situations that come into our lives we should at least give them a chance to see if we could lick its face.

I think we would be amazed at how wonderful of a family we would have. I will be eternally grateful that Grant accepted me the way he did. Thanks buddy for showing all of us what the licking of a nose can lead to. I hope to lick someone's/something's nose this week.....

I have much to learn......

Maizy's Lessons Part 2

I think Maizy is a great dog (I'm quite biased about both of my dogs!) and her newest trick is closing doors.

Yes, you read that right she can close doors. She uses her nose on the flat side of the door and pushes it closed. It is very funny to watch but there is only one problem:

She hasn't figured out yet how to open the door she closes!

She will close the door and then cry because she can't get out of the room she locked herself in. Usually her buddy Grant will go over to Marybeth or me and alert us that she is stuck behind the door so we can let her out. Then and only then all is right with the world. Until she decides to close the door again!

I think we are a bit like Maizy....it is easy for us to close doors. It is easy for us to say, I don't want to do that and close that door but it is much harder for us to open doors (especially new ones!). Whether opening the door is moving to a different place, starting a new relationship, apologizing to someone for something we did or embarking on that next adventure, it is much easier for us to sit there with the door closed. And, at times, when about it!

Maizy has one pivotal thing: a friend. Grant will always come find Maizy when she needs him. It is important for us to have friends that will encourage us to open the doors around us when we don't know how to, who will find the right people to come get us and always be happy to see us. Grant does all those things for her and her life is better.

Thanks Maizy and Grant....we have much to learn!