Just jump in.

On Saturday, st and I went for a walk along the beach. It was a glorious day outside, bright and sunny and crisp. We got as far as the dog park and stopped for a moment, to watch the dogs play. That moment turned into 20 minutes. Watching dogs at the dog park might now be on the top of my list of favourite things to do. I could have stood there all day, until the last pooch tired himself out and had to, finally, go home.

Anyone who has ever watched dogs playing in a dog park will understand what I mean. It's a damn near religious experience. Those dogs in all their unleashed, unconstrained glory emit an energy that forces you to become free of your own inhibitions and constraints. You can't help but laugh and smile and point and exclaim. You start to wish that your own life could be a bit more like the dog park.

The unconditional acceptance that these dogs have for any other dog is inspiring. There is no judgement or shyness. No criticisms or mistakes. A dog will chase another dog until he feels like being on the other end of that and with one turn, the hunter is the hunted and just as happy. Without warning, a dog will go from being chased to digging a hole, to hiding behind a log, to lying down for a second's rest, to play fighting a dog twice or half his size, to running into the ocean after an unsuspecting seagull. Any dog can play with any other dog. It seems like the only requirements to be included are to just jump in.

Just jump in. Is it really so easy?

It seems like such a simple concept and yet, for people, so difficult to do. It is scary to put yourself out there. It requires letting go of your own judgements and fears and trusting yourself. Trusting other people is good too, but trusting yourself is crucial. When you trust in yourself, you know that you have the strength to handle the outcome of your jumping in.

This is a lesson that I am still working on. It's a two-parter and it's the second part that I get all mixed up in. The first part is learning to trust yourself. The second part is learning that when you trust yourself, you don't need to worry about trusting other people.

It's a work in progress, but then, so am I.