Keep it Simple

Eat, sleep, love, repeat.

We recently celebrated an "adoptiversary" marking two years since our family adopted our rescue dog, Tiger.

Tiger had been found roaming the streets of Poughkeepsie, neglected and abandoned. Yet he showed none of the aggression or anxiety typically present in animals who've spent years in adverse conditions. In fact, he's remarkably friendly, calm, and affectionate.

I know I’m not the first person to write about what they've learned from their dog, but I find myself reflecting on the things I've come to understand about resilience, courtesy of this gentle soul.

Gratitude beats attitude.
 
The first time I gave Tiger a treat, he looked at me like he had never ever tasted anything so good in his life. Maybe he hadn’t.

He still gives me that life-is-good look and generally seems pretty darn happy to be around. He doesn't bark at the mailman or pull on his leash. Mostly, he snores in the sunshine. Grumpy or grateful is a choice. Grateful is more fun.
 
Optimists persist.

Dogs, like humans, can find it hard to adjust to new circumstances, especially when they’ve been through some tough stuff in that past that's eroded their trust. Not this guy, though. Undeterred by new people, strange places, or even fireworks, Tiger seems to assume only good things await him.

Optimists persist, because they carry a wellspring of hope and confidence. You never know when a biscuit or a nap is coming your way. Be happy, and keep going.

Keep it simple.

Resilience always sounds like something I’ll have to work hard at. But maybe it’s simple. Maybe resilience is about being thankful for the good stuff, ignoring the bad stuff, and looking forward to whatever’s next, trusting that love, joy, or a bacon-flavored Nylabone is just around the corner.