Day 917

There was a flurry of activity around the house this morning! A large tree was being taken down across the street and landscaping machinery was roaring next door. The Goldens were quite concerned! Poor Gus was actually frightened and looking for comfort wherever he could find it. Finally he calmed down a bit next to his Jimmy.

Fear is such an interesting, personal experience. For our Gus, fear comes to the surface often. It is perhaps due to his vision issues, but he reacts more often than his siblings!

Fear of the unknown is a common fear. With a lack of understanding, the Goldens fear situations that could be avoided if they could understand there was no danger. Humans are not that different. We often fear what we don’t understand.

Children have many fears, but as they experience new situations, their understanding helps alleviate most of their worries. One would think that, by my age, fear would be a thing of the past. That would be lovely, but that is not the way it seems to go. For me, fear has morphed from outside dangers to fears coming from the heart regarding those I love.

In a way, it is a more rational fear based on concerns for the well-being of loved ones. For example, I would rather take a walk through the woods at midnight than face the fear of a loved one in any danger. Although unwarranted, and often fruitless, my fears surround the safety and health of those I love most.

The next time Fear rears its ugly head, I am going to grab the nearest Therapy Dog and lean into their aura of safety! Perhaps, I will rid my heart of needless fear and find calmness. If not, I could always go for a walk in the dark woods… WITH all four of my Goldens!