Each breed of dog has unique skills that enable
the canine to perform better than other breeds (and all humans). I should know
since I’m a dog. Here’s an example. It's been estimated that dogs can identify smells
somewhere between 1,000 to 10,000 times better than humans can.
Due to this gift, one of my favorite canines, the bloodhound, uses its 300
million scent receptors to easily find the trail of a lost child. German
Shepherds are often used to detect bombs
for soldiers, rat terriers like me, are bred
to run down rodents whereas Golden Retrievers have the disposition to work as a
service dog to help the disabled. Each of us has a natural ability to fulfill a
specific role or purpose in life.
It’s confounding to me that humans don’t realize
they are like dogs in this manner. So many humans struggle to figure out what
they are supposed to be, to understand what their purpose or calling is in life.
And then there are other types of humans that know what they should be but are
scared to pursue their purpose so it becomes a ‘hobby’ rather than a
vocation. I looked up the definition of
both words and hobbies seem a lot more fun than vocations, so why in dog’s
heaven would any human relegate so little time to what they do best and love
most?
Michelangelo said, “In every block of marble I
see a statue as plain as though it stood before me, shaped and perfect in
attitude and action. I have only to hew away the rough walls that imprison the
lovely apparition to reveal it to the other eyes as mine see it.” Like Michelangelo’s marble, I think humans
are born with what they are meant to be already inside them so why spend so
much time letting it out? It’s like keeping a dog trapped in a small cage all
the time.
My foster mom, Jet, knows a carpenter who
spent 15 years building houses for a living only to finally realize what made
him happy was making custom furniture. I heard about a woman running the family
store for 21 years when she really wanted to be a schoolteacher. Are these humans confusing their job with their
purpose? Are they confusing what someone says they should be with what they are supposed
to be or confusing what they should do to make a living with what they
should be doing to make a life? Maybe they have a hearing problem because if
humans could hear their soul talking as well as dogs can hear a stranger a
block from their house, then they would know what they are supposed to do.
My
lesson of the week… Jet says that living your purpose is
like being a five-year old and finding an awesome prize in a Cracker Jack box –
delightful! Purpose, not a paycheck, should dictate your path because you can’t
feed a soul until you fuel your purpose. Humans! Look for the prize: your calling
and then own it and pursue it with passion like a dog would a treat.
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LETTER FROM A FAN
Dear Parker: I’m
bored sitting at home all day. I like to be active and do things that use my
bright brain. My mom wants to know if you have any suggestions of what I can
do? - Your forever fan, Dixie.
Dear Dixie:
You should consider
agility training. It’s like doggie
physical education class and the chess club all in one. You’ll be busy using
your brain to figure out what to do and then use your body to do it so you’ll
get a workout that is more stimulating than just a few hours at the doggie park
or daycare center. Be sure your humans let me know how this works out. - Parker
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