Yesterday afternoon Thistle was out in the front yard when she started barking. She rarely barks and there’s usually a good reason. We walked out on the front porch and looked. She was sitting, looking toward the road, apparently barking at nothing. I walked out to her and there, blocked from our view by a large tree, was a white paper bag on the side of the road.
Thistle was thrown for a loop by a paper bag that, as it turned out, was full of corn chips. I disposed of the bag and she went on about her business (eating bugs, grass, sticks and anything else she finds) peacefully.
And, of course, this got me thinking. Thistle is consistently upset by just about anything “new.” When we walked last week someone had put two worn out chairs at the side of the road for trash pick-up. Can you say, “freaked out puppy?”
I’m not always a big fan of change myself. New things. Different things. But guess what? If I continue to pursue this writing path and have success, things will change. My landscape will be different. My priorities will shift (you know, the ones that fall somewhere under God and family). Someone may toss a big ole paper bag full of new responsibilities, new tasks and new opportunities on the side of the road for me to pick up.
Thistle reminded me that when change comes I can either sit in the yard and bark or go deal with the new thing. Different can be scary. But like a mysterious paper bag on the side of the road, I think it’s easier to handle if you just walk right up to it and see what’s inside.
Q4U – How do you feel about new things?
Meet Sarah
I hate unexpected new things or changes, but sometimes they turn out to be very good things. I guess the times they turn out to be not so good things will keep me resistent to every change I see coming down my road…
I love this analogy, Sarah. Just look inside and see what’s there, so the barking will stop. Excellent wisdom!
I do fine with new things most of the time, unless I’m handed a dozen at once. Then it’s hard to juggle.
BTW, thanks for your tremendous help on my pitch!
I was glad to offer my two cents–I’m in the pitching process, too. It’s hard!
Sarah, I am leery of new things, too. But when I’ve tested the water (or bag of trash) by sticking my toe in gently and someone then pushes me in for the plunge, I usually tackle it with gusto. I do find that the older I get, the more I like the old “status quo.” Maybe I’m just inherently lazy, don’t you think?
Oh, laziness! That’s such a good point. So often it’s just easier to stick with the same ole, same ole.