Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Racing in the rain




I like to read.  However, it has been since January that I have been sucked into a book that I just couldn’t put down.  I enjoy getting books from the library.  It makes me feel a little “old school”.  Upon a few recommendations, I recently checked out ”The Art of Racing in the Rain”.  I was told it was a great read for dog lovers. While I love dogs, my relationship with my own canine has been tenuous these past few years.  He tests my patience, i.e. he gets into to the trash at any chance.  He howls a lot.  He stands and just stares at Peanut and barks very loudly when it’s just to the two of them in the room. I’ll be honest.  He frequently annoys me and I have called him “a pest” on numerous occasions.  Back to the book.  SUCKED IN.  A dog is the narrator of the book.  This is a voice I needed to hear.  Not only did this pooch remind me that my own sweet puppy is just that…a dog.  He has instincts that are simply a part of his nature (food…must have it at all times). I have put unrealistic human-like expectations on him regarding his behavior.  I was reminded that he is so full of love and devotion.  I just stopped paying attention to that part of him.  Our relationship has been transformed.  I am his friend again.  He never stopped being mine. Husband likes to tease  remind me that a dog did not actually write the book. 
There are also a few life lessons reiterated throughout this novel.  The dog owner is a race car driver.  I am not a sports enthusiast at all.  Most especially, I am not into car racing. I don’t get it.  However, this character had some great ways of thinking.  Ways that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about.  He believes that “you manifest that which lies ahead of you” and “your car goes where your eyes go”.  The latter really spoke to me.  If you stare at the wall you are speeding by at an uber-fast pace, you will head for the wall.  I have stared at too many walls in my life.  I began to contemplate what lies ahead to me.  What do I want to be in my future?  I can choose to create that in my life.  I was surprised that I truly deeply didn’t really know what I wanted for myself in the future. That's beginning to change.  By ceasing to look at the walls, I can little by little see and feel more clearly where I'd like my car to be heading.  What about you?