wildly innovative architect frank gehry's curator observed that either you believe in the white cube, or if you're an artist, you want to be challenged. truth. challenge is what keeps us returning to the blank canvas, the white page, the improvised meal. it inspires us to explore, to try new combinations, to seek fresh solutions. and it terrifies us. but we love the danger, the tickle, the thrill, the heightened feeling of being alive and open to composing on the fly.
dogs love to be challenged. that is a sure path to zen for ernie. to be challenged. ernie was not an urban dog when he joined me in my downtown atlanta home five months ago. sirens, statues, motorcycles, shopping carts, rolling luggage--they all caused him concern to panic. but as we have been working on confidence, which only comes from experiencing each scary thing and being with it, i see him working through his challenge internally. his process is to sit when he hits his the limit of his comfort zone and then when he has worked it out for himself that he is ok, he can move forward. sometimes just a few steps. but forward movement in new territory is a keen challenge. after a challenge, there is celebration of the new stretch (a rousing game of rope toy is a fave) and then a peaceful nap.
i'm grateful to dogs as some of my most profoundly impactful mentors. dogs are artists of living. their commitment to love, to play, to quiet time, to honoring their truths, to simple truths, and being patient with us humans, who let's face it, speaking for myself, will always be growing into a better me, g-d willing.
with my commitment to myself to live a more balanced, grounded life and not let stress impact my health, happiness or creativity, i certainly am conscious of how diligent i am being now in taking my cues from ernie on relaxing. when we walk, my arm is loose, the leash is loose, i breathe deeply and consciously embody a calm unruffled dog mommy. and he's braver and happier. when i ratchet up stress--in my shoulders, holding on to my breath, hunching over--then he reflects it back to me as a frustrated pup.
i am grateful and excited to be on this give and take journey with ernie as i live towards being as effortless an artist of life as he is.
