helping others Archives - A Cowdogs Advice

Here in the foothills, we are still blessed with pretty decent weather for this time of year. The days are mostly sunny, still dry, not warm but still nice. This is a kind year in spite of the drought. The weird time change thing seems to throw everything off, even though I know there is no more or less hours of daylight than before. How can changing the name of the hour make things so strange? It always seems much later than it is.

I watched this week as mom made cheese and jam, even though I will likely eat neither. Some of the cheese will age til Christmas, but I didn’t even try the curds. The cooking jam smelled good, made with apples, but I prefer my apples fresh under the tree, or as a frozen surprise I dig from the snow in January.

A neighbor came this week, asking about a cat that is missing. I would know right away if he’d been here, of course, as I keep track of all scents, new and old.

There have been no extra cats up here, but we will be on the lookout.

It is never pleasant when someone is missing. Later, we are taking some extra cat food and supplies to her, as she takes in and cares for dozens of strays, even made a warm shed for the wild ones.

That has me thinking, approaching these seasons of gratitude and giving. Do you know that all the small acts of kindness and generosity, if practiced abundantly and always, by everyone, could become radical kindness?

What is Radical Kindness? It is being kind to those that are hard to be nice to, those that don’t deserve it – they need it most. It may be sacrificial – going out of your way for others. It is a habit of constantly looking for ways – even small, invisible ways – to ease someone else’s load.

It is a reversal of this trend of rude, snarky, mean response to whatever someone else says. It is choosing to be decent, empathetic, kind – in a world that grates against it.

Now I’m a pretty considerate cowdog. I extend goodwill to chickens, people, livestock within reason, and mostly to cats. I struggled through my own early times where kindness was thin, then a long time in a shelter where I know they tried, but there wasn’t much for me. Real kindness for me started when a nice worker there saved me when my time was up, then helped me get to my forever home here on the ranch.

So many little things add up to radical kindness. My dish is washed and I get fresh water. I share some treats with the cats, and wait in line for a drink when one of them is at the bowl. I let Mopsy sleep on my bed, almost every evening.

I smile and bark at dad; it makes him happy, trying to figure out what I want. I bounce and play and let my people know I am glad to see them, even if I’m just coming in from outside.

I cheer mom on as she puts clean covers on the truck seats, even though I know she hates the job and is frustrated by it. She does it for dad. I think I could help a lot with my strong organizational skills and intelligence, but pulling them with my teeth is discouraged as my enthusiasm causes rips and tears!

Right now it seems most people could use some constant kindness. What if we all just practiced every little thing to show mercy to others? They may be little acts that don’t cost, but pay us back in good feelings, encouragement, hope. Radical kindness may be big, obvious, world-changing acts, but doesn’t have to be. Consideration just needs to be a mindset, a way of behaving, a habit of thinking of others.

How you ask? Well, you can bake treats for a shelter, take them blankets and toys, donate to a spay/neuter clinic. At Christmas, mom likes to take a donation to the vet, to be used anonymously for someone who can’t pay for their pets care, maybe an elderly owner or a veteran. We like to purchase treats and gifts here, because they donate food to shelters with every sale: https://iheartdogs.com/

Help a neighbor, hold a door, let someone cross the street, smile and greet a stranger. And there is invisible kindness, too: pray for everyone, because you don’t know how many are going through something they can’t manage without heavenly help. Meet a need. Do for others even if they don’t know, even if you don’t get credit for it.