Quote of the Week #48

Have you ever been around puppies? Ever watched them as they explored the world–tentative yet curious?

My husband and I are fostering 3 adorable collie/smooth retriever puppies (all named after Peanuts characters) whose mom was killed by a car when her puppies were just 4 weeks old.  The Asheville Humane Society was seeking foster homes for them since they were too young to put up for adoption. (If you are interested in adopting these cuties, call the Humane Society!  or  contact me!)

It is my first time to ever be around puppies and though it is a lot of work, it is also a lot of fun. They are loving, forgiving and always interested in cuddling up and being close. They are also afraid of many, many things, especially anything that is not part of their routine.

When we first got them they were only 4 weeks old and cried all the time, constantly seeking reassurance that we were still present and that we would not leave them. Especially when we went outside, they seemed unsure of themselves and the world around them. Now, having been with us two weeks, they have been able to overcome some of their fears and are now much more adventurous, able to be less anxious and more willing to roam a little farther from our sides when we venture outside. Now they are not so clingy–they roll in the leaves, wrestle with each other, chew on sticks, hide behind tree trunks and find leaves or other things that they hide away from their inquisitive siblings.

They make me think about fears and how important it is for them–and us– to get over our fears. Otherwise life would be incredibly lacking. Imagine how small it would be if they–or us–never took steps out of their comfort zones. Think of all the things they–or we– would miss! It is a great reminder of the importance of facing one’s fears so that we can grow and have meaningful experiences.

So that is this week’s theme for the quote:

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”                                                                                                                                 –Nelson Mandela