Saturday, February 16, 2008

Lesson In Courage: Meet Dominic the Dog

I was deeply moved by the remarkable courage and adapability shown by Dominic, a two-legged Greyhound, in the video presented by diLattinho on YouTube.

It got me wondering how animals are able to adjust quickly to challenges that we humans might consider to be obstacles almost impossible to overcome.

What is it about the human species that stops us from living in the moment with such grace? Is it that the gift of self-reflection which humans possess, which is supposedly absent in animals, creates our fear-based doubts and suffering which hinders our healing?

Is it that animals live fully in the moment, while our analytic minds chatter relentlessly with our endless "what ifs", as we step outside the present and engage in negative projections?

Or is it just simply that animals react from their hard-wired strategy for survival? What do you think?

But no matter the reason for their ability to adjust to adversity, animals are powerful teachers and a source of inspiration and encouragement for me when I am witness to their determination and grace.


7 comments:

Kathryn Levy Feldman (Kit) said...

The most amazing thing about animals is that often do not know they are sick or "deficient" in any way unless we "tell' them so. I often hear owners of pets with cancer tell each other not to cry in front of their pets. "They don't know they are sick--so treat them just like you always would--with love and attention.'
Another lesson to learn from....
Kit

Vicki said...

HOw amazing. Most Vets would have just told them to euthanize him after that kind of accident. Now this one is a super dog, and good for his owners.

Anonymous said...

wow...what an inspiration! Can he teach ME his tricks?

Anonymous said...

That is truly amazing. I never would have thought that two legs on one side would work- balance problems. But noone told Dominic lol. I think that animals don't have the gift (?) of worrying. He just trusted that things would work out and they did. What a great pup!

Anonymous said...

This dog certainly could teach us humans some lessons in trust and adapting to whatever comes at us in life!

Skylark

Unknown said...

That's an amazing story! It's as though he doesn't know he has only two legs. The spirit of some animals is amazing.

Anonymous said...

Over time I have learned that animals, or at least dogs, are born without the "woe is me" gene with which we humans are so often blessed. They deal with what is, rather than worry about what they think should be.