The Daily Brave

 I think about risk as I watch my old dog stand at the edge of our bed and jump off, padding across the bedroom and thumping down the stairs. It happens every day, multiple times a day. My dog is old; his hind legs shake sometimes, as they did, when he was standing there. And he's blind, mostly deaf and diabetic. So could you stand at the edge of a two foot high bed and jump from darkness into darkness?

Sure, you say. He knows the bed. He knows where to jump. Well, yes and no. He doesn't know if some thoughtless human has put shoes or books directly below. He knows if they did he will land badly, sprawl out, knocking himself on the chin. He picks different places to jump off our king size bed. Sometimes I think it's some kind of challenge to him. Sometimes, I think he just jumps close to where he was sleeping.

He mitigates the risk. He sniffs the air first and then jumps at a crouch, prepared for success or failure. Either way, it's a risk every time. But he has to take it, you say. If he wants to eat, to go outside, to spend time with us. I agree, but my point is he keeps risking. He can't climb up on the bed without help but he stands next to it until we put him on it. I might be changing clothes, sleeping or reading. But I'm in my bedroom several times a day. He doesn't have to go up on the bed each time. Would you choose risk of pain, of falling again and again in a single day? What's worth the risk?

I can only guess about my dog. I know he likes to be around me. And he likes being on top of the bed like the humans.. And maybe he knows his time is limited. He knows he's old. And he loves me. Or maybe, based on my long association with him, he likes to get his heart pumping. He likes to challenge himself daily. Jumping into the great unknown and succeeding is a good feeling. A sort of I can still do it feeling. He almost prances, in old guy body language, away from the bed.

My dog is brave. But upon reflection this morning, I've learned, among the many lessons he has taught me about loyalty, steadfastness and love, bravery has to be practiced. I suspect it's harder to summon in the crucial, movie hero moment without practice behind it. Maybe bravery is making a difficult phone call, standing up to someone, seeing the big picture and not fighting when you could. Taking a risk to say you like or love someone. Daily bravery. Daily exercising some degree of risk. Thanks Oatie. I like it. Let the practice begin!