Older Dog Wisdom #10 - Half Full Kind of Guy

Half-Full Kind of a Guy

Tux, my 11-year-old Cocker Spaniel, is a glass-half-full kind of guy. He does everything with enthusiasm. He even sleeps with enthusiasm. You can tell because he sleeps hard and often. There have been times when I’ve had to wake him up in the morning, especially during the coldest part of winter when he’s curled into a tight ball. Once awake, however, he’s ready to go. No hanging back for him.

The Back Yard/Front Yard Conundrum

Tux hasn’t quite figured out when it’s raining or snowing in his back yard, it has to be raining or snowing in his front yard. He firmly believes that while it may be raining buckets in the back, the sun has to be shining in the front and therefore, we can go for a walk. He also knows that while a mere sprinkle won’t prevent us from walking, a deluge will, hence his belief that the weather is different in the back yard. Hope springs eternal with him.

Tux and the Botanical Gardens

He wants me to petition the Botanical Gardens to allow him to go with me when I walk there. He says since I pick up after him, we should be allowed to walk there together. It breaks his heart when I tell him the Gardens hasn’t changed its mind about letting him in. I made the mistake of telling a friend, in front of Tux, about rounding a corner in the Gardens and coming face to face with a fox. After my friend left the room, Tux asked what a fox was. After hearing the description, he said it sounded like a fox was pretty much like a dog. Without thinking, I said yes, it could be described as dog-like. Aha, says he. If they let foxes into the Gardens, they have to let him in - otherwise its discrimination. I’m still dealing with that one.

Lessons Learned

No matter what we do, we should do it with enthusiasm. Why do anything half way? If you’re going to write a novel, write the best novel you can. Don’t be a glass-half-empty kind of writer. Be the writer you know you are.

Go after what you want. Like Tux and wanting to be allowed into the Botanical Gardens, figure out what you want and then figure out a way to get it. I haven’t told Tux there’s little hope of his ever being allowed into the Gardens because I don’t want to shatter his dream. Don’t tell yourself, after the first set back, that you’ll never be a writer. Getting published is an endurance trial If you get a rejection, as Tux has in his efforts to be allowed in the Gardens, send out more queries. Some very famous writers have received dozens of rejections. Some agents tell you that queries need to be broadcasted for best results. Learn to let hope spring eternal.