Chickadee,
I’ve probably never told you that my dog Rocco has a stump of a tail.
It’s crooked. It’s too small for his body.
It looks a little funny.
Sometimes people point and ask about it.
I share the story.
As a young pup, he was brought to be a fighter at a dog-fighting place.
He wouldn’t fight. He was too sweet.
His tail got broken and it couldn’t grow right after that.
Someone dropped him off at an animal shelter.
When my sister went looking for a puppy, she saw his stump wagging like crazy and she fell in love. And then I did.
When I finish the story, grownups often make a pout face, let out a long awww and stare down at Rocco in pity. Sometimes there’s a hint of fear on their faces like uh oh, is he mean and will he attack me?
Can’t blame the grownups; they think like grownups. They see a damaged dog, like a dented can of soup they’d put back on the shelf.
But kids, bless their hearts — they react the opposite way. They see a friend they have stuff in common with!
“I broke my arm last summer, Rocco. Broken bones hurt!”
They pet his head.
Rocco’s stump wags so fast, his whole body shakes.
They kneel down next to him and look right into his eyes.
“My brother always wants to fight but I don’t. I know why you didn’t wanna fight.”
And Rocco licks their faces and they giggle.
“You’re funny,” they tell him.
They see his big heart through the thick fur.
He has a great life now, I tell the kids. If he’d fought as a puppy, he wouldn’t be alive today.
“Good thing he didn’t fight,” they say. “He stayed sweet, even though they were gonna be meaner ’cause he was.”
Always be yourself, Rocco tells them, unknowingly, just by being him.
He is forever my friend, one of the best – furry or not.
Luckily, the world is full of people who are like Rocco. They’re the ones who bravely stand up for what they believe in and what is right, even when it’s scary.
I hope you’re one of them. If you’re not yet, I wish for you all the courage and wisdom you need to be like my doggy with a stumpy tail.
Thanks for sharing this story which is directly applicable to us as people to be who we are!
The world is not only filled with people like Rocco but people who support and stand up for people who stand for what they believe in. Having worked in the social justice movement, this story resonates A LOT with me.
And this is the best line from your post:) – Always be yourself, Rocco tells them, unknowingly, just by being him.
Vishnu, you are just wonderful. Simply wonderful. Thank you. I’m so looking forward to reading your posts. You’re right. Perhaps even more important than the brave souls are the people who support them — especially the first few ones. Often the simple words of “Yes, what you’re doing is right and I’ll join you” can turn someone into a leader.
Great post!
I propose a digital toast to the Rocco’s of this world!
Those special beings that have been given second chances in life to showcase who they truly are. The world would not be the same without them.
They are special, they are unique & most importantly they are proud of it!
Here here! Well said, Jeremy!
This is such a sweetly (is that a word) written post Jody.
It warms my heart. There is something beautiful about how kids are able to just empathize with people. They don’t step back in awkwardness, they just understand. They have this instinctive response of “I didn’t like it when it happened to me, here is what I wish someone did for me” and then they do it.
Not all adults fail, but a lot of us do in this regard.. I really don’t know why this is. Maybe we just start to lose touch as we get older.
Definitely something to ponder
Thanks a lot, Izzy!
Yep, kids are great. They’re so wise. You’re right about their compassion.
When I was in the fifth grade, I wrote in my diary about how something happens between childhood and adulthood that makes grownups completely forget how to be real. I promised myself that I’d never become the kind of grownup that’s so grownup-y (I make up these kinds of words), that I forget how to talk to kids.
http://www.jodylamb.com/2011/04/peeking-inside-my-diary/
[...] would, too, if you watched Rocco circle twenty times over the same spot on the carpet, his bed, my bed or wherever he’s decided [...]
[...] There’s no pattern to when this happen; there’s no correlation to stress like while I’m at the office or dealing with my alcoholic loved ones or exercising or when I’m relaxing and hanging with Rocco. [...]