Every day I learn something new when I feed my dog, Cruz.
Cruz is my 10-year-old boxer, who is in the intermediate stages with Degenerative Myelopathy (DM). DM is a degeneration of the “white matter of the spinal cord and the peripheral nerves. Thankfully, it’s not painful, but he suffers daily with a loss of coordination, wobbling when walking, and knuckling of his back paws.
Everyday Cruz teaches me about being committed to a passion.
That passion is creamy peanut butter.
What I’ve Learned From Cruz’ Passion for Creamy Peanut Butter
Cruz gets peanut butter for pills, a mid-day snack, and other positive reinforcement moments. Yes, I too, love peanut butter (we don’t eat from the same jar, though). What I began to notice was that no matter when I went to the pantry to get the jar, twist the top, grab a knife and spread peanut butter, he was already at my side with tongue ready to assist.
I decided I was going to conduct a few peanut butter experiments to test his commitment and his passion. For the next few days, here’s what I did:
- Changed location of where peanut butter was in kitchen.
- Waited for him to lay down on his bed in bedroom, where he had no view of the kitchen.
- Increased volume of the TV and opened door to patio for added external noises, so he couldn’t hear the jar opening.
- And finally, I practiced twisting open the top of the jar as quietly as I could.
The results: no matter what experiment I tried, he would come attentively to my side within 15 seconds of the red top twist.
Mind you, I did this over a course of 4-5 days and 3-4 times per day.
My Two Big Lessons from the Peanut Butter Experiment
Cruz’ passion for peanut butter is the spark that ignites him, but his commitment is the fuel that keeps his wobbly engine turning over and over again, eager for that scoop. So here’s what watching him has taught me.
Lesson 1: We Get Inspired by Our Passion
Cruz is inspired by his passion. All things are possible with peanut butter in his world.
What I have learned is that I can’t convince myself what my passion is. Rather I must examine it, live it, and love it.
What do I always find myself coming back to? That incredible rush of euphoria that never wears off—that I can sniff out from any room–well, that will be my passion.
Plus, what I am passionate about will depend largely on the particular time in my life. I can have more than one passion. Like Cruz, who clearly has recognized his, mine will come at the right time. The knowledge I am acquiring will enable me to recognize it when it comes my way.
Lesson 2: We Have the Power of Commitment
Cruz certainly has commitment. Commitment is the conscious effort you make to get to that passion. Commitment involves choice—his wobbly walk to his passion.
What I’ve learned is that commitment is never random. Perhaps I lose my perspective from time to time, but commitment always involves choice. Commitment is the giving of self to what we most believe and want.
Watching Cruz walk to the peanut butter jar teaches me that true commitment is surrendering to those ideals and following through daily.
Oprah Winfrey states, “I am a woman in progress. I’m just trying like everybody else. I try to take every conflict, every experience, and learn from it. Life is never dull.”
I, too, am a woman in progress. I am still learning and loving every lesson taught. Thanks Cruz!