Providing Comfort
A few days ago the battery in my fire alarm was low. Going through my morning routine, I didn’t want to stop and change it. I was worried if I strayed from my routine, my morning would fall apart. Choosing to ignore the beep, I failed to notice the effect on my puppy, Selina. Raffy, my lab, is a go-with-the-flow kind of guy. Nothing ruffles his feathers, nothing upsets him. Rather, somehow, Raffy finds the silver lining in every situation.
Getting dressed was a challenge as Selina was pressed against my legs shivering. That is when I realized she was scared of the beeping. A small noise, a simple reminder to change a battery, upended her happiness, making her frantic. Selina is my first rescue who lived in a shelter, my other rescues always came from the streets. People thought I was crazy for letting loose dogs in my home, but somehow I always knew we could make it work.
Needless to say, I am still learning how to raise Selina. Unlike my boys, barking makes her nervous, doorbells make her frantic, and apparently beeping alarms upset her. Selina thrives in a calm environment, with a routine, lots of praise, and plenty of snacks. On days I try to rush, skip a step, or ignore the barking, Selina quietly reminds me she needs me. Learning how to make Selina feel safe has been quite a journey, she needs different things than Raffy.
Raising rescue dogs has taught me a lot about life, people, and dogs. No matter how much we say we listen to the needs of others, more often than not, we don’t. Putting others first can be an inconvenience. We must choose to overlook our needs, to not do what we want, but rather focus on meeting the needs of others. Being 100% honest, placing the needs of others before mine is exhausting. Yet, at the end of the day, the satisfaction of knowing I met the needs of someone else is satisfying.
On days that are rough, a never-ending need for snacks, playtime, and attention, I remind myself this is a season, and seasons are short. Rather than rushing forward, focusing on when she won’t need me as much, I am learning to enjoy the moments, the small things. One day, determined to meet a deadline, I ignored barking. Selina came running over, looked at me, and then gently, jumped on my leg, and tapped my arm. When I looked at her, she smiled, laid her head on my arm, and then urged me to the back door. Another day, stressed from a never-ending workday, she brought me all her favorite toys, and then sang to me. Or on cold days, when I haven’t turned on our small heater, she patiently sings a song, reminding me we are both cold.
As I ran to the hall, looking for the beeping fire alarm, I smiled. It had been a long time since someone needed me to save the day. Stopping what I was doing to meet Selina’s needs made me feel like a hero, and I have to admit it was a nice way to start a hectic day. After removing the battery, I showed Selina the alarm. Very cautiously, she came up and sniffed it. Determined to face her fear, she came back for a second, and then a third sniff, suddenly realizing the alarm couldn’t hurt her, she laughed, wagged her tail, and ran off. Suddenly, her day was right.
As silly as all this sounds, these small pauses in my day have shown me a better way to live, a life that includes others, working to make sure their days are the best possible. The love and joy I have found meeting the needs of Raffy and Selina have given me a sense of peace, a feeling of accomplishment, and a small need to meet. Learning to adjust and pivot my days has helped me find a sense of balance, and joy in the little things. Suddenly the need to be perfect, to have the perfect accessories, to be pulled together just doesn’t matter. Knowing I make a difference in others’ lives is so much better, so much more fulfilling than having the perfect day.
Sincerely,
Sara O
