Friday, June 01, 2012

Finding Contentment via My Dogs

My doggies are asleep on the carpeted floor beneath my desk chair as I write, one on either side.You'd think the tap-tap-tapping of the keys would keep them wide awake, but the opposite always happens: the rat-a-tat literally acts as a kind of 'white noise' and they fall fast asleep, whether I'm writing at 7:00 A.M., 5:00 P.M., or 12:00 Midnight. I think these two German Shepherds offer opposing sides of "psychological nature". Our female, 4-5 years-old (she's a rescue, so we don't know for certain her age)"Afton" (so named, because that is the name of the road she and her five puppies, were found wandering on), is outgoing, gentle, and always wagging her tail. I like to think she's my center, that she embodies alot of me, but this could be projection, or worse, ego. "Agent", our male, approximately 2 years old, is a black-and-tan-German Shepherd, rescued, just like "Afton", but the similarity ends there. He's much darker, in both hue, and temperament. It's not that "Agent" is mean, he's just extremely wary. Once he sees you are not a foe, he'll approach, his head down, submissive, possibly wetting himself when you reach out to pet him (we often introduce folks new to "Agent", to him outside, since his peeing is pretty unpredictable). So one dog is open, trusting, friendly.The other? Closed, anxious, (possibly still reeling from the incredible neglect, and obvious abuse we were informed of, before we adopted him), not particularly friendly. While "Afton" is much like my outer persona, "Agent" has a few of my not-often-seen, less-than-desirable qualities: I too, am often very unsure; insecure about what I may have, if anything, to offer. Perhaps it's what I told my Mom, the other evening, "Is this a Middle-Age crisis?...but hey, at nearly fifty-five...unless I live to be A Hundred and Ten, how can I call this 'Middle Age'?! Here's the thing: it doesn't matter whether you are outgoing, or shy; optimist, or pessimist; young or old; you can still commit. I guess I'm giving you kind readers and followers of this blog, advice....but I'm giving myself a bit of a pep talk, too...I mean, if "Afton" can survive neglect and abandonment, and "Agent" can survive neglect and abuse, and what separates them is how they cope, well, then, might not we all learn from them? I mean, sometimes it takes warmth (my smile; her wagging tail) to engage, to get others to open up,(and become my friends; offer her a treat) and other times, restraint (my mouth shut; his head lowered), in order to listen, and hear (and learn more about my friends; offer him a treat)what others feel. We're (hubby and I, who parallel our dogs in myriad ways and...that's for another post)working on socializing our dogs with other doggies, taking them to dog parks, enrolling them in classes, so they can have a happier, better-adjusted life. In the meantime, I'm working on me: writing, writing, writing, and hopefully, becoming happier, better-adjusted. Peace, kids.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think we can learn a lot from dogs, it takes a lot to completely destroy their trust and they are so loving and loyal. It makes me feel happy to think of you sitting there with your beautiful dogs!!!

Don't Feed The Pixies said...

Giles, our cat, was rescued in as much as he was clearly a stray when he just waltzed in through the kitchen door - and we couldn't have left him that way.

We'd never get away with doing anything when he's about though - if i were writing and Giles was watching he'd most probably want to sit on the keyboard

Lisa Nanette Allender said...

Selma-- they are the Best! And so, m'dear, are YOU, Selma! :D thank you for visiting. I'm just getting re-started with blogging; I've missed doing this regularly! :(

Lisa Nanette Allender said...

Pixies-- oh that is sooo cute: he'd sit On The Keyboard? Wowsers, if either of my doggies tried that, they'd knock the desk down! ( male is 80 pounds plus; female 75 pounds!)

Christine said...

I wish I could take anxiety for a long boat ride and let it stay for a good year on a tropical island. Maybe then anxiety would chill and give us all some peace.

You are a wonderful writer and a good friend with so many talents. I love how you relate to your sweet dogs.

Lisa Nanette Allender said...

Christine-- what a kind thing to say!
Hey, how about an IN-PERSON meetup, next week?
Let me know when/where...
I miss you, kid.
Happy Fourth of July!