I’ve been watching YouTube videos by Caesar Milan. He’s known as the dog whisperer. In the videos he goes to a home where there is a dog with behavior problems. One of the techniques he emphasizes is to get the dog calm before trying to train the dog. He is patient as he waits for the dog to calm down before he takes the next step. It’s also a good strategy we can use when we are dealing with people who are angry or overly excited. We can help them to calm down by being calm ourselves. A good strategy is to be aware of our voice. If we talk lower and softer than the angry or excited person, we’ll gradually move them in that direction. They, like the dogs Caesar deals with will be easier to work with once they are in a calmer state.
dogs
Fear ~ A Poem by Raymond Carver
A great poem about our illusionary fears. How many fears Does Raymond Carver mention that you’ve had?
Fear
Raymond Carver
Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive.
Fear of falling asleep at night.
Fear of not falling asleep.
Fear of the past rising up.
Fear of the present taking flight.
Fear of the telephone that rings in the dead of night.
Fear of electrical storms.
Fear of the cleaning woman who has a spot on her cheek!
Fear of dogs I’ve been told won’t bite.
Fear of anxiety!
Fear of having to identify the body of a dead friend.
Fear of running out of money.
Fear of having too much, though people will not believe this.
Fear of psychological profiles.
Fear of being late and fear of arriving before anyone else.
Fear of my children’s handwriting on envelopes.
Fear they’ll die before I do, and I’ll feel guilty.
Fear of having to live with my mother in her old age, and mine.
Fear of confusion.
Fear this day will end on an unhappy note.
Fear of waking up to find you gone.
Fear of not loving and fear of not loving enough.
Fear that what I love will prove lethal to those I love.
Fear of death.
Fear of living too long.
Fear of death.
I’ve said that.
Dogs ~ A Poem by Aaron Kramer
Dogs
Aaron Kramer
Looking foolish next to the tree in a one o’clock rain:
umbrella aloft, the leash in my other hand-
I wanted my late-coming neighbor to understand
that dogs are worth the expense, inconvenience, and pain;
their tails are truthful, no coiled rebellion beneath
a loving look; they are quick to kiss you, and quick
to fetch for you, and-should you raise a stick
threateningly-they are quick to show their teeth;
and better still (but this I never revealed),
when you bring downfall home, the death of a hope,
their nonchalant manner does more for you than a drink;
and best of all, when triumph’s to be unsealed,
such lack of respect they show for the envelope,
-your fingers halt, the brain cools, and you think.
