Well I’ve been on my campaign to be a better dog for several weeks now.
In that time our nasty winter has loosened its grip.
We’ve gone from January and the darkest, most dismal days, to a little bit warmer and brighter, though still cruel enough in its capriciousness.
I stay outside more, sniffing all that melts from under the snow. I find there is a lot of turkey poop out there!
The plowed and shoveled paths have been melted bare, but there is still a good two feet of snow everywhere else. I walk on the deer trails, once in awhile launching off into the deep stuff for a snow bath.
There are more birds singing, along with the raucous tom turkeys. They are constantly staging, cussing, fighting and generally showing off as the weather warms.
These changes makes me consider my own revision. Have these past few weeks, focused on perseverence, kindness, hope, joy – made a change in this old dog?
Perseverance – I’m a Heeler, so this is in my DNA. I am relentless, but have tried to organize my laser focused tenacity in the right direction.
Kindness – I am proud to report I practice this often, and the boss has even noticed my efforts. I allow the cats to take over my bed and my couch, even let them rub their furry tails under my chin! Okay, one time I did react, when I tried to snap at Mopsy. But that cat was intentionally in my space, and I didn’t really open my mouth. Lets face it, I could’ve nipped her so fast if I really wanted to – but this is a kinder, gentler cowdog. It was an accident that I let the thought turn to action – and I got caught too! 
However, I was praised as a much-improved cowdog with the horses. I just sit and smile at them, or leave and go about my own explorations. I no longer wait for a raised voice or quick move to assert my herding role.
And once in awhile I get to nab a horse treat!
Hope – it is hard not to be hopeful as winter melts away before a warming sun. I know we will have a few more winters before Spring; the year I got here, we had a big blizzard in mid-May! The evidennce is all around here – there are seed catalogs all marked and circled, little seedlings growing under lights in the bathtub, and more walks to inspect what is under the receding snow. My hope that another ice age will not start this year is strong! But nothing is as strong as the hope I remember when that nice lady picked me up in the desert. I just knew things would get better – and look!
Joy – again, I’m a Heeler. I am permanently blessed with joie de’vivre. But I am practicing a daily search for joy, looking and finding it in every little moment I can. I’m glad the boss is trying to also, as we inch out of the grief of Dad going to heaven. It is in the new birds singing by the creek, the fresh smells of melting snow and new mud, the optimism of horses standing in truly warm sun. I find it in tiny things – a forgotten toy I dig out of the bottom of my toybox, a treat I’d tucked under my bed, an old bone under the snow, that look I give that earns an extra bite of steak… 
There are more virtues to come, but this is a good start. I’m happy to say I find a chance to be kind, joyful and hopeful,
in little things and big,
every day.
Next week is a big celebration! Stay tuned, and you keep practicing my cowdog character-builders with me too!
