In spite of the freezing cold (yes, it got down to below freezing here in Florida), I managed to get up, enjoy one, two, maybe even three cups of coffee and a decent breakfast before heading out the door.
I think that breakfast made the day all the better, giving me the energy to conquer the day. For the past few months, I rarely ate breakfast, and if I did, it was a piece of fruit and some yogurt. This morning, I had a grapefruit and a Filipino breakfast of garlic fried rice, an egg, and some ham. Eating a decent breakfast was another New Year's resolution I adopted.
I moved through my task list in great time, and most importantly, I had some relief now that a new staff member was on board to help me with my program. Yay!
The ride home I felt I'd accomplished what I needed to do and felt pretty great... until I came home.
I left my foster dogs in the living room this time with the doors to the bedrooms closed. I thought they'd be fine, and I was confident that Happy Jack would be good. Pearl, on the other hand, my latest and oh-so-c
ute puppy, was a bet I lost. She was doing so well these last few days using the potty outside and being calm around the house, so I didn't put her in her kennel. However, today, Pearl became my latest domestic terrorist and decided she needed more fiber in her diet by chewing my coffee table. (thank God I'm more utilitarian and don't believe in fancy fu-fu furniture.)Of course, I was mad but I was mostly mad at myself because I didn't come home for lunch as I planned (I was so energized and ate my lunch at my desk while working.) and they didn't go for a walk in the morning because it was too damn cold. So, I didn't take it out on her (entirely).
Events like these are teaching moments. It's already tough for me being a single dog-parent; I can't imagine what it's like to have to deal with real children all the time. I can't reason with a dog, so I have to find other ways to creatively teach her what's right and wrong.
I find myself growing in understanding of myself more and more each day as I work with my foster dogs. Dogs aren't human... but they have the capacity to draw out our own humanity and those much needed human qualities of patience, compassion, and love.
Tomorrow, after some play time outside, she'll be back in the kennel before I leave for work.
Oh, and pray that this positive streak at work continues!