One Apple A Day #623 - stop barking and get out
Last day of September, a foggy Monday morning outside. As usual, I pick my BeTheChange card, and it says "Integration". What a powerful word to ponder and write on upon.
I fold in my favourite position on the sofá, I start the soft music to create the right atmosphere, I close my eyes, and I focus on my breathing. I let the word sink and move freely, so new connections can manifest and words for my morning writing emerge to the surface of my awareness.
The loud barking and snarling of my dog pull me back abruptly in the here and now. The barking spreads to the other dogs around. It looks like we are under attack. I stop the music and get up. If someone is invading us at least, I want to look them in the face.
And there they are, the scary enemies; a group of kids walking to school outside the gate.
I don't know if it's common to all dogs, but mine has this funny feature. When she's inside the garden, behind closed gates, she is incredibly alert. Anytime someone gets close to the entrance, even if they are only walking by, she goes crazy as if her kingdom is under attack.
When we take her out for a walk, she becomes just the cutest and most quiet dog. Nothing is a danger, and everything becomes something to discover. It is as if one she's out of the boundaries of the garden, fear is replaced with curiosity.
I sit back on the couch to write this post, and this thought keeps spinning in my head. Isn't it the same for everyone? If we close ourselves behind the gate of our own world of stories, ideas and beliefs, fear is triggered when someone approaches our gate. At least until we're not sure they're friends. But if we cross that threshold, if we get out, then curiosity takes over. With nothing more to protect, we open up to the infinite magic of the universe.
This small story is also a reminder that inspiration can hide in the most unexpected places, like a dog barking and disrupting your meditation.
P.S. the one in the photo is my dog.