Learning

She lies on her back with paws curled haphazardly as she sleeps her mid-morning away. Barbara, aka “Babs” is the remaining pup from the litter of Golden Retrievers born from Gracie on June 16. She remains in her birth home until her family (my son, his wife, and his daughter) comes to take her to be theirs in mid-September. In the meanwhile, she is learning how to be an obedient and trustworthy house pet. Gracie has made that challenging at times when outside with Babs pouncing on her, tripping her, and at times flipping her with her nose. The pup is adapting well to being “crate” trained for her early months of development and is learning to sleep through the night without needing attention. Her routine is fast becoming familiar which gives her a strong sense of security in the presence of this world into which she has been born. She, like we who identify as human, thrives in a place of security. Yet, maturity is achieved in its broadest sense when life is lived knowing that security is not a physical place but rather an inward acknowledgement that all is believed to be well. Volumes could be written about the subject of acquiring, experiencing or losing the sense of security, but for now Babs has this “maturing” participant with Parkinson’s leading her in the lessons of a secure life. Teaching her requires discovering how she learns and applying her lessons in her way. Gratitude rules the day when success has been found in teaching her that way!