We warned the photographer about Kanti's eternal play drive and exuberance, before she agreed to take photos. Despite our warnings she accepted the task of photographing Kanti and her humans by the swake. Last Friday, right on time, a vehicle turned into the driveway offering Kanti an opportunity to display a touch of her exuberance. She ran to meet the vehicle, tried to herd it down the driveway, and finally ran escort ahead of the car in an attempt to clear the parking area of any errant squirrels. Two humans struggled to exit the vehicle while Kanti tried hard to get in. Have you ever tried to get out of a car while a gigantic German Shepherd is crawling in?
Human and canine traffic snarls aside, the humans did manage to exit the car. Kanti was over the moon excited. Someone had shown up in the middle of the day and it appeared they were interested in her. She alternated between chasing her tail and trying to kiss the visiting humans, smudging glasses and leaving dog hair all over everyone. Greg and I watched the greeting wondering how in the world these two lovely ladies were going to manage to get Kanti to sit with us long enough for a photo. She absolutely loves people and new people are even more interesting because they are potentially new friends. I tell you, we had lots of doubts about the photo shoot and only a little hope.
In my head I hoped for one good photo, never mind multiples with varying poses. However, you know hope springs eternal for Greg where Kanti is concerned. He is her biggest fan and best champion. She is the smartest dog ever, the kindest, and the gentlest. We should all be so lucky to have someone in our corner who sees hope in us the way he sees it in Kanti.
Our photographer duo from Pawsitive Tails Photography came equipped with experience, treats, and plenty of hope. They managed to pull off something close to a Christmas miracle. Kanti sat, stayed, laid down, and otherwise cooperated, albeit for brief periods of time until the excitement overcame her and she had to dash off again. Less than an hour later, it was all over. The ladies left. Kanti was exhausted from all the excitement, and we were hopeful we would have some nice photos to share with our Grand Dog Essentials friends.
What we hoped for yesterday was fun but insignificant compared to the hopes of many who woke up this morning. Some of you are carrying what I'd call capital H, Hopes - Hopes for work, healing, the recovery of an addict you love, freedom from depression. On the other side of those Hopes are struggles, very real personal struggles. That's life, real life.
In the middle of real life, Christmas approaches and Advent is here, with a focus on Hope. Regardless your faith traditions or lack of them, Hope is something humans want and need. It crosses geographic, cultural, and religious boundaries. We don't think much about hope in our get it done society. In fact, you will often see the saying "hope is not a plan". In other words, hope is viewed as frivolous and not concrete enough to make something happen. But hope is so necessary for the human spirit, without it we give up and die. Humans are wired to hope. As Peta Murchinson, relays in her TED talk, Finding Hope in Hopelessness, "The human capacity for hope is so strong. Even when you are told there is no hope, you manage to find it."
My hope for you this Advent season is that amidst the struggles of real life, you are able to tap into Capital H, Hope.
Human and canine traffic snarls aside, the humans did manage to exit the car. Kanti was over the moon excited. Someone had shown up in the middle of the day and it appeared they were interested in her. She alternated between chasing her tail and trying to kiss the visiting humans, smudging glasses and leaving dog hair all over everyone. Greg and I watched the greeting wondering how in the world these two lovely ladies were going to manage to get Kanti to sit with us long enough for a photo. She absolutely loves people and new people are even more interesting because they are potentially new friends. I tell you, we had lots of doubts about the photo shoot and only a little hope.
In my head I hoped for one good photo, never mind multiples with varying poses. However, you know hope springs eternal for Greg where Kanti is concerned. He is her biggest fan and best champion. She is the smartest dog ever, the kindest, and the gentlest. We should all be so lucky to have someone in our corner who sees hope in us the way he sees it in Kanti.
Our photographer duo from Pawsitive Tails Photography came equipped with experience, treats, and plenty of hope. They managed to pull off something close to a Christmas miracle. Kanti sat, stayed, laid down, and otherwise cooperated, albeit for brief periods of time until the excitement overcame her and she had to dash off again. Less than an hour later, it was all over. The ladies left. Kanti was exhausted from all the excitement, and we were hopeful we would have some nice photos to share with our Grand Dog Essentials friends.
What we hoped for yesterday was fun but insignificant compared to the hopes of many who woke up this morning. Some of you are carrying what I'd call capital H, Hopes - Hopes for work, healing, the recovery of an addict you love, freedom from depression. On the other side of those Hopes are struggles, very real personal struggles. That's life, real life.
My hope for you this Advent season is that amidst the struggles of real life, you are able to tap into Capital H, Hope.
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