Patience Provides a Window to the World 

Most people lack patience. We live in a world that craves immediate satisfaction. That's why I love to sit and watch Dagney. Sure, dogs excitedly jump around when they want something, but they also surprise me by their ability to sit, stare, and wait. Dagney's spends hours in the spare bedroom looking out the window. Sometimes I wonder what thoughts go through her mind. As the same neighbors walk around the block, does she believe they are a part of her life experiences or is she observing events as we watch the TV. 

"All good things come to those who wait." - Proverb

Recently I witness true patience at my daughter's home. They adopted two playful kittens who adapted quickly to the new environment - unless the dogs were in the house, a mastiff and two St. Bernards. Two of the dogs were simply uninterested in the tiny creatures. If anything, they saw them as nuisances, like a fly buzzing around their heads.

But Amy immediately became infatuated. She not only wanted to be as close as possible, but she felt a need to watch them. Like us, she probably found their playfulness adorable. Of course, whenever she approached, they arched their backs and hissed. I imagine to them, she looked like a dinosaur approaching.

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"Patience is passion tamed." - Lyman Abbott

Overtime, the cats became receptive to this beast and inched closer each day. Amy demonstrated ultimate patience as she waited for them to come to her. After repeated attempts, eventually the gap between them decreased and they are finding common ground in their home.

In the end, Amy's patience paid off with a new friend. 

In life my best friends are those that have developed over time. People who came in with a bang overtaking my world usually disappeared when someone flashier came along. The people who stuck around when I was feeling down, those who offered support when I said I wanted to be left alone, and those who stood in the background and waited until I was ready are the friendships that endured.

One of my favorite times are mornings. Sitting in front of a campfire, enjoying a cup of coffee, and simply watching Dagney fills me with contentment. She loves to chase squirrels, and they love to tease her. Inevitably, after a playful run around the yard, a squirrel will dive into a crevice.

The woodpile is a favorite hiding spot. Dagney becomes a permanent fixture waiting for them to reemerge, reminding me of a guard outside of Buckingham Palace. She never flinches or moves until her prey resurfaces, and then the game of cat and mouse or in this case, dog and squirrel begins anew.

"Patience is the key to joy." - Rumi

If people practiced the patience of a determined dog, we would reap rewards beyond our wildest dreams. Waiting is difficult and challenges our nature to get things done; however, we must acknowledge that if we do not wait, our dreams may never blossom. It takes time for good things to mature and become a reality. 

Once I watched Dagney sit and stare at my husband when he was on the phone. She was feeling neglected and wanted to play so she sat and stared at him for 30 minutes. After his conversation, he took Dagney outside to run around the yard. Somehow, she knew there would be a reward for patience.

"Patience is the calm acceptance that some things can happen in a different order than what you have in mind." - David G. Allen

In the evening while watching TV, I enjoy eating peanuts, raw and unsalted. Dagney seems to enjoy them as much as I do. Until, I get the nuts removed from the shell, she becomes a statue waiting for her turn. I have learned to eat several before sharing because once invited to the meal, she can hardly control herself. She will wait for the invitation without whining or stealing from the bowl but it is obvious when she wants a treat.

During a stressful day, my nerves calm with the knowledge that Dagney is laying on the bed, looking out the window of our spare bedroom, watching for my car. Sometimes people wonder how people can become so attached to a dog. It's because they make themselves available and teach us how to appreciate life. 

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My retirement hobby is to write stories that make readers laugh and appreciate the love of their furfriends.

Belief Statement: Humans make life too complicated. If we want to appreciate life, watch a dog for a day. They don't over think problems, perseverate on the impossible, worry about outcomes, or hold back affection. They see what they want, sniff it, lick it, roll in it and accept it.

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