a lesson from dogsh*t.

Wisdom comes at me from the oddest angles, sometimes. I was involved with a person – animal interaction that had me literally ridiculing my dog one minute, and then taking it all back and praising his brilliance the next.

Step Seven: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

Next up on my Character Defects List: Judgement.

True story: I’m taking my dog for a walk. He’s clearly got to go number two. We’ve just had pounds of snow dropped everywhere. He won’t go on cement. It must be ground. Each time he ventures onto a front lawn he’s engulfed; the snow hides his tall legs and cools his belly. He jumps out and we keep searching. Finally, he gives in, stops at the end of driveway, backs up to a 5’ pile, and starts the process. His spine is super-arched as he keeps scooting into the drift. He looks like Golem. It’s awkward and embarrassing.

For me. So I start to tease my own dog. “Look like an idiot,” I say. “Real manly.” I emasculate him. I look aound.

The waste comes out smooshed when it hits the layer of fluffy snow, sinks in and creates a cooling tennis ball. Exactly at hand level. I didn’t have to bend down. It was right there, perfectly sized and shaped for plucking with a plastic baggie. It was the next generation in dog pooping.

See, I did not wait for the play to develop.

So much judgement goes away, given enough time. In this case, the length of a crap.

Today’s Mission: Wait. Do not predetermine or suppose or “have an idea.” See what happens, and note how often it’s nothing.