Day 1342

Gus is a bit over 4 1/2 years old right now. Oh! How we love that boy! When we went to pick him up, we were told we could choose between two males. Asking the owner which one had the sweetest disposition, he responded with, “No clue at this age…it’s a horse apiece.” (This saying dates back to an old dice game called “Horse.” When the rolls matched, it was a horse apiece.). I looked at him in disbelief. Of course these two puppies were vastly different in nature. By the time our rushed visit was being nudged to an end, I glanced at Mac and watched one of the little guys walk over, lie down at his feet and fall asleep. We were chosen.

To this day, our sweet Gus resides on our feet and I feel “chosen” every single time. What a wonderful feeling it is to be “selected!” As a child, whether it was for a backyard softball team, a three-legged race or a game on the playground, it warmed the heart. As an adult, it seems to go much deeper.

When someone sends me a card, stops by for a visit or suggests a meeting at Caribou, my reaction is always gratitude that I was “chosen.” It is an affirmation that I matter. Of course, there are life events that completely change the journey you are walking. A job offer, a lasting friendship and even a marriage proposal (Mac…) will certainly direct your path to the future.

Being grateful for the times of “being chosen” might lead to opportunities to make the world more beautiful. Take that chance and become a “Gus” by watching for opportunities to “choose” someone. By making that call, writing that card, meeting for coffee or anything else where you reach out, you are making someone feel special and “chosen.” Perhaps their gratitude will urge them to pay it forward and, soon, the exponential warmth grows.

Gus would say, “Don’t be afraid to sit on someone’s foot (metaphorically speaking)… it might just lead to an amazing choice.