It's not often that I wander outside to the front of my house (I'm usually on the patio out back or leaving in the car through the garage) but I happened to be out front yesterday and spotted a little, tan Chihuahua alone in the middle of the street.
An unattended dog here means someone's pet has gotten loose or someone has dumped an unwanted animal in hopes that someone else will take it in.
When I was still working for the bank I have to admit I might have looked the other way - if I'd even noticed a dog at all.
My life was just WAY too hectic to give any thought to an animal. I had kids, a ton of house cleaning, and I traveled for work sometimes as much as once a week.
My husband would mention getting a dog and I'd immediately shake my head no. (Partly because we'd tried that and ended up with a puppy that turned into a horse...fortunately re-homed to a woman who was much better equipped to deal with such a massive creature!)
A pet was going to end up way at the bottom of my priority list and if that pet managed to take what little time I had because it made a mess on the carpet I knew I'd have started to resent the poor
thing.
Which seems odd since I grew up with dogs, wanted to be a veterinarian when I was in grade school and have always had a soft spot for animals but when you're already
busier than you'd like it forces you to keep your priorities in order. Family first, job second - no time for anything else. Done.
I realize now that when I started
working for myself, my attitude changed considerably. I could be more myself. My lifestyle changed. The woman who used to rack up 100,000 flight miles a year hasn't been on a plane now in ages. If we're going to go across country, we drive. At our own pace. Taking whatever route we want.
This might explain why when hubby found a stray puppy on our street four years ago, I kept him without hesitation once we couldn't find the owner.
My kids were older, I wasn't nearly as busy and I was home all the time. That little puppy has been my constant companion ever since and I wouldn't have it any other way. (He's sitting on his own patio chair next to me as I write this - say hi, Rocky!)
So, yesterday, this new stray caught my attention and it struck me as such a reminder that I am so very thankful that my life is different today.
Years ago, I would have looked the other way because I couldn't take on any more of anything. You know what it takes to help a lost animal? That most precious of life's ingredients - TIME!
In the past two days I've checked with neighbors, I've created and posted "found dog" signs, I've put her picture on lost/found dog websites, I've taken her to the vet to get her scanned for a microchip to find her
owner, scouted out "lost dog" posters at local stores, and I've coddled her (and my slightly jealous Rocky).
It's a small thing, really, but only because I've completely changed
my life am I able to do these things at all. That was the big revelation for me.
I'm just very thankful today and thinking that maybe this story will help
motivate you to keep doing what you're doing, keep building what you're building, and keep pushing forward on your dreams. One day I want you to be the one who just stops for a second with the sudden realization that you took control of your destiny, changed your life and are able to do more of the things you really want to do.
