'Less Bark, More Wag.' A Note From Jan.

Attended the MGH100 Gala fundraiser the other night in Boston with Chad and Kristina. Hard and healing to be at the event, even though held at a hotel and not at MGH. Saw Dr. Raje and other familiar faces from Jud’s medical team. Last year Jud and I attended together. So much life lived and lost in a few months’ time.

It matters to celebrate the teams and individuals making a difference in the treatment of cancer through research, fund raising, and caregiving. One young teen from Wisconsin, an honoree and fundraising champion who honors her brother who died so young, said, “You can’t win a war with wounded soldiers.  We need healthy ones to help us fight.” Aaron Rodgers is part of her team. A need for healthy ones. True for more than the war against cancer.

A bumper sticker on the car ahead of me got me to thinking after I got home. “Less bark, more wag.” We train dogs to Sit, Stay and Shake. Wish we could do more of that as people. Wish I was better at it.

SIT. Sit still. Still sit. Take a load off. And having done all…just sit.

STAY. Stay, even when I feel more like walking away, shoving back my chair, leaving the table out of anger, disappointment, fear, boredom, disapproval or self-satisfaction. Fill in a word. We’ve all been there. More than once.

SHAKE. Shake hands in trust. No words needed. No legalese. Somestimes, just shake it off.

LOVE sits. LOVE stays. LOVE shakes. Obedience training in LOVE. The LOVE that never fails.

Hope this old dog’s not too old to learn. Heel! or is it Heal? Or maybe both… . Let’s say both.