This post is a little self-indulgent because the featured subject of today's post is my beloved dog, a Bichon Frisé named Normand.
I do love him so, so much (as will be evidenced by the number of adoring nicknames I'll shamelessly sprinkle throughout this post).
Normand loves to play. Currently, his favorite toy is a small, blue ball.
Normand is also terrified of air vents.
During fetch this morning, Norm's ball landed squarely on an air vent set into the living room floor. Normand ran after his treasured toy but stopped abruptly before the grated, black mouth in the floor could swallow up his paw or any other part of his admittedly petite frame.
Glancing back, he released a wimpy little whimper as if to say, "You can't possibly expect me to grab it from there."
The Norm Trooper was scared.
"Get some courage Normand," I cheered. "Go on! You can do it!"
"Go on," I urged him, clapping excitedly to further kindle his puppy flame.
"Go on Norm! Get-your-ball. Go on and get it!"
The Norminator started barking. He'd lunge precariously close to the grate before hopping a safe distance back. Back and forth he'd creep. He'd bark back at me like, "Come on lady. Can't you tell what I want you to do? Get that ball for me. That thing is scary."
This went on, with me encouraging Norm to grab the thing right in front of him and Norm coming within inches of grasping the object of his desire.
"Bark!" Creep. Retreat. "Bark!" Creep. Retreat. Back and forth, back and forth, until finally, he got just riled enough to snatch his prized possession from the much feared floor jaws of the terrifying air vent's grasp.
Pride welled in my chest as I watched The Norm Nugget walk towards me with blue ball in mouth and satisfaction in his stance.
He'd done it.
"Good for you Norm. Good for you."
Being scared of an air vent seems silly because we have the perspective and understanding to know that what Norm fears will in no way harm him.
I don't begrudge him, belittle him, or look down on him because of his silly fear of floor vents. I'm delighted to see him face and conquer his version of life's obstacles however trivial those may be in his small, dog world.
As much as I'd like to think it's not true, I know I have fears that are equivalent with some of Mr. Puffers'. I'm fearful of fill-in-the-blank (insert what applies to you). I'm not even entirely sure why I'm fearful or how I got that way. I just know that sometimes, in certain situations, there's a tightening in my chest or a quickening of my heartbeat that sounds the alarm bells in my head that scream, "Go no further."
But often, it's only my limited perspective of unfounded fears that keeps me from lunging forward and going after the things I want most. It's forgetting that I have people in my corner ready to encourage me to, "Go on and get it" that sometimes hinders me from creeping, even ever so cautiously, into territory that may seem terrifying to me in the moment.
So in the spirit of encouragement, I just wanted to say today, "Go on and get it!" Whatever "it" may be!
Have courage because "You can do it!"
Affectionately,
Rachel and Mr. Puffers
