Taking Risks

Right now, Scout is lying upside down on the end of my bed with all four paws in the air, sleeping.  She is sleeping so thoroughly that she's dreaming upside down.  This is the most vulnerable position for any animal to be in, belly exposed and asleep.  Considering that 5 days ago, no human could get within 5 feet of this dog, this is quite amazing to me.  This is the pose, though taken earlier today.

 

I've relived Tuesday several times and am amazed by Scout's ability to trust and take risks. She had to give up her life to get another life and she did not know what she would get. When Scout chose to jump into the back seat of my car, she chose the unknown over the known. It was very important to me that she get in the car of her own volition. Somehow that confirmed to me that she wanted this change, no matter how scared she was.

My lesson from Scout is that we have to let go of one life to get another. She let go of that "old life" when she screwed up every last bit of courage she had and followed me into the back seat of that strange car.
We have to let go of one life to get another.  No matter how good or bad that "old life" is - we have to let it go if we want something else and that's a risk.  Maybe after we take that risk we get to sleep on our backs with our paws in the air dreaming - for the first time in a long time.

We have to let go of one life to get another.  Scout had total freedom and unlimited Wendy's food all day long - perhaps a dream life for some dogs :)  Scout chose to make a change - I've promised her a good life whether with us or another family.  I will never forget her lesson in bravery and what can happen when we take the risk to trust - and jump into the unknown.

Thanks for the lesson, Scout.  Welcome to the rest of your life...