I had an early breakfast meeting and then stepped out into the parking lot. The door had a bell on it and it jangled out an announcement of my presence. As I walked toward my truck, I noticed a dog in the bed of the truck next to mine. I took in the scene quickly trying to figure out if this dog was a threat or not. Too often, I have been greeted by barking, growling, and gnashing teeth. The dog had a pleasant face. He did not look aggressive or afraid. He just looked disappointed. His eyes were locked upon the doors of the cafe. The bell had excited him, but I was for whom the bell tolled.
I was talking to my friend. We were standing at the back of my truck. We did not see it happen. The dog abandoned his watchtower and attached himself to the door. He pressed his nose and face against the glass. He sat. He stood. He tried different angles, wishing for x-ray vision.
A few minutes passed We were still talking. The dog was still waiting. Suddenly, the door popped open and a couple walked out. The dog leapt to attention. His tail wagged like a scythe cutting wheat. He smiled and shook all over. They looked at the dog and then looked at us as if to say, “Is this your dog?” They were making the same calculation, “Was this going to be a safe interaction?”
“He jumped out of that truck,” we offered. They looked at the empty truck bed and then back at the dog. They gave him a quick tap on the head and then they walked toward their car. Everyone was smiling. This dog was so full of joy and anticipation. So ready to greet with reckless abandon. He did not care who came out of the door, he was the parking lot greeter.
I got in my truck to leave and then decided to take his picture. Two or three seconds later his “person” came ambling out of the door. The dog lost it. He was spinning and smiling. He was circling the man’s feet like waves on the beach. It was hard to see how the guy kept moving forward. The dog leapt into the truck bed. All was right in the world. I thought to myself, “Good Dog.”
I drove away thinking about that dog. I was thinking that we would all be better off if our approach to the world was full of joy and gladness instead of fear and aggression. If we just gave everyone the benefit of the doubt. If we assumed the best. We would be better off, if bringing joy to others was more important than always having our way. If being together was enough to make a day fulfilling. Go have a good day.