Some time ago my daughter K was in a car in Los Angeles when she came
upon a dog. It was hard to tell at the time just actually what kind of dog she
found, the creature was in such a desperate, starved state. The car stopped, K
got out to investigate, and the dog mustered the strength to get up, circle
round her and get into the vacated car, where she promptly curled up and went fast asleep.
At about the same time, C, her current partner, was riding his bicycle on
LA streets, when he saw a car swerve, slow down and then, at a crawling speed,
deposit a tiny pet onto the asphalt. C came upon the dog, a Chihuahua,
and before taking him to an animal clinic, took a shoelace off one of his boots and looped it around the little dog’s neck, in order to better keep a hold on him, as
he peddled off to the vets.
So started the stories of Stella, the most gentle of blue pitbulls, and
Shoelace, or Shoey. For years now these grateful, winning animals have been
bringing joy into our family life.
A lot is said about the importance of ambition and hardheadedness when it
comes to getting what you want. This, of course, is true. But as these stories
suggest, don’t lose sight of how the possibilities in life, in enriched soulful
experiences, can come from narrowing your focus on what you truly want. Perhaps,
when we acknowledge we have done the work – both on ourselves and on what we
consider the product of our endeavors – maybe we can stop chasing and allow things
– from pets to lovers to finished manuscripts – to come to us.
Next: Running for Your Life: 21 Days Under the Sky
