What I Learned From Watching My Dog

I took my dog, Skye, for a walk today and witnessed something so interesting. Sometimes she will stop mid-walk and lay down on the warm cement to sun-bathe. When she did this yesterday, I stopped and let her relax for minute, and watched her enjoying herself. Then I noticed she had been joined by a little friend: a bumblebee. It was buzzing around her ears, her nose, and around her paws. Back to her nose, and it buzzed there for awhile. Skye didn't know what it was. But she didn't swat it away, thinking it was dangerous. She just watched it, fascinated and curious, and enjoyed watching it buzz around. Eventually, after about a minute or so, it flew off on its way and we continued our walk.

I spent the rest of the walk reflecting. Skye is so sweet and innocent. She doesn't know about bee stings and how much they hurt. She didn't choose to be afraid and anxious and swat it away, like my kids and I would have done. She just watched it curiously. As it turns out, she had nothing to fear and she wasn't hurt. 

I considered what I have been batting away because of fear. Some uncomfortable emotions I don't want to feel. Some thoughts I don't want to investigate. Some goals I want to ignore and put off. But how would my life be different if I chose to be curious and fascinated by each of those things instead of afraid? How much more amazing could my life be? What would change if I were willing to stay in courage and faith, and embrace the discomfort of new things that seem scary and unpredictable? If I let the buzzing in my head and the quickening of my heart and breath be there, but walk forward anyway? Well Skye, despite what my brain often tells me, I think you've convinced me that none of those things will actually kill me. In fact, they will probably make me stronger and my life bigger. Thanks to you, I'm just going to embrace the buzz.