Kids cranky? Working from home lost its charm? Wondering what to make for dinner… again? Welcome to the global pandemic. Some days are better than others, I know. More than a few times, I’ve dreamt of going on a spa vacation and … well… just staying there for good. Really.
Whenever things get a little crazy coronavirus-wise, I think about Faith the Dog.
I first met Faith years ago on the Oprah Winfrey Show. As she came out on-stage, it was clear that she’d been born with no front legs.
The runt of the litter, Faith often dragged herself across the floor on her stomach in order to get around. In fact, her mother had tried to smother her because instinct told her that Faith was too weak to survive.
But fate had other plans. Faith was adopted by a family who wanted to help her live the best life she could. So they grabbed a spoon and a jar of peanut butter and began to train her. Day after day, week after week, they encouraged Faith to do this:
Stand like a human. Unbelievable, right? Faith learned to stand on her hind legs and hop wherever she needed to go. And that, of course, was the moment she hopped straight into our hearts.
Her story inspired everyone from Iraq and Afghanistan War vets to stressed-out moms to seniors to kids who read books to her at the local library.
“If Faith can do that, anything’s possible!” became the mantra. And so it was that Faith became a phenomenon. All because she stood up on the only two legs she had and did what had to be done.
Some days I feel a little like Faith the Dog… making my way through this global pandemic on two legs instead of four – a little shaky and wondering where the heck my balance went. But the more I practise, the more I adapt. And the more I adapt, the better I hop. And the better I hop, the less I think about it. And the less I think about it, the less it really feels so bad after all.
Call it inspiration “Faith the Dog” style.
Oh and pass the peanut butter, would you?