empathy

This morning my 5 1/2 month old puppy, Kismet, started her rebellious "teenager" phase.

How did I know? On the morning walk she was pulling hard all over the place, ignoring all commands, jumping on people and when we got home she would not give me a paw-shake in order to get her food.

All I could think was "if she is anything like I was growing up, this is going to be a bad battle for her."

you were an arrogant, stubborn ass in your youth...

Yes I was. And because of that past of mine, it sucks for Kismet as I'm not going to give in.

It's not like I didn't try to feed her. I did. Again... and again... and again.

if she doesn't want to eat, just wait until she starves a bit...

The voice inside of me has a vicious sting to it. Malicious even.

The hours tick by... morning turns into afternoon, then evening. All she had to do was touch her paw to my hand, but she refuses and walks away.

she picked the wrong person to play this game with...

we will win...

it's only a matter of time...

As I look at my puppy on her hunger strike going to its 12th hour, then 15th hour... in my heart I wished she would just give in so I could feed her.

I feel a knot form in my stomach and I wonder if this is karma for the crap I put my parents through growing up.

Empathy and compassion are characteristics I understood, however, only recently have I been able to feel.

Now that I'm sober I get to feel it all too.

#chasingbutterflies