Authentic Self and walking the dog- this is not a metaphor. I have found so much awareness about myself just by having a dog.
Let me start by introducing my dog: Luna, the most charismatic, fun, spunky, adorable 4 legged creature out there. Weighing in at only 8.4lbs, our little fur Baby captured our hearts at just 6 months old when we adopted her from some undesirable circumstances.
We (my fiance and I) have been wrapped around Luna’s paw ever since.
My morning routine with Luna includes a long walk along the green spaces in our community that takes us close to the wetlands. I am blessed to live in a somewhat rural area of Calgary, where the beauty of nature is everywhere.
However, along with nature comes something that paralyzes me: coyotes, which at times can be seen roaming through-out our community.
I hear them at night and even sometimes during the day, and I am in fear of how close they might be. I know that they view Luna as just a little appetizer to their growling stomachs and need for food.
Just because Luna is dressed in a t-shirt (yes, I am THAT person that dresses their dog) doesn’t mean that they won’t hesitate to eat her for lunch.
Last night is snowed about 2 inches, so I got dressed in my winter gear, I put Luna’s boots and sweater on (again, Yes I am that person) and we started on our daily walk. Even though Luna is a tiny creature she loves the snow and tries so hard to run and play in it.
This is SO difficult to do when a human is on the other end of the leash gripping on for dear life, fearing that if the leash is dropped, possible coyotes will come a crawlin’ & snatch her up.
Luna was raring to go and I was holding her back… in the midst of my frustration with this I realized that we were opposites at that moment.
What I really wanted was to be one and the same- I wanted her to have fun but my fear of letting go of the leash was holding us both back from enjoying the moment.
I will repeat this: My fear of something that hadn’t happened, and might possibly never happen, was holding me back from being authentic in that moment.
I had to overcome my fears, I wanted to overcome them!
At the same time my poor dog wasn’t ‘allowed’ to enjoy herself, so I guess you could even say that I wasn’t allowing Luna to be authentic either.
So- what do you think I did? I let go of the leash (& the fear) and we ran together. All the way around the path and we giggled (ok- only I giggled, because we all know that dogs don’t giggle) and ran and played!
It was exhilarating and to think that the stories I was making up in my head, about situations that hadn’t happened, were holding me back from laughing, playing and just being my authentic Self.
This was really a huge awareness for me because the fear of losing my dog ran so deep, but the fear took away my happiness.
Fear and happiness can’t exist at the same time….
….so I will make a conscious effort to make the choice that best honours me… and my giggling dog
Calgary Canada Life Coach Arianne Moore, founder of Path of Tranquility Life Coaching for Women, helps clients worldwide