I admit that I’m sometimes a little over protective with Gidget. Being so tiny, at 10 lbs. I worry a bit more about her than I do Kylie, my Lab of 80 lbs.

It’s another gorgeous November day in Wisconsin, which by the forecast looks like it will come to an end later today, and colder temperatures, wind and rain more typical of November will be setting in.

Taking advantage of the sun and high 50s, I took Kylie and Gidget for a walk on a favorite route of mine. It winds around an athletic field with a wooded area bordering three sides of it, which I sometimes walk the dogs through too. But today we stayed on the path around the field.

One section we always walk by has three large trees, each with a split rail fence around them because they are each in somewhat of a ravine. I’ve never let Gidget off leash in this area, though Kylie is free to explore.

But in working on myself and learning to let Gidget be all dog more often, I dropped the leash so she could romp through the leaves and smell just about every blade of grass just like Kylie often does.

It really was fun watching her check out the world around her on her own without me hovering too close by. Though I admit, I did get a little nervous when she got too close to this tree where the ravine drops quite a ways down.

But I reminded myself that this is when trust has to come into play. I gently called out her name and her wee little ears perked up as she quickly glanced my way. And then off she went in a flash in a new direction, exploring new territory.

I smiled. I then stopped to really check in with how I felt in that moment, realizing how good it felt to let her be Dog which according to the Animal Wisdom Tarot, Dog is “scampering, jumping, digging, barking—Dog delights in everything, playfully prompting us to join the adventure, love wholeheartedly, and have fun in all we do. Dog reminds us that we are on the right path and life is good.”

And that’s the thing. I let go of my own fears and insecurities and trusted in what Gidget knows best in her world of Dog. And that world of which she lives from, opened up to me. And she was right. We were on the right path and life is good.

It actually felt even better than good–it was grand!

Letting go of my worries made it possible for me to understand Gidget even more and to deepen into her world without fear, and to trust that all is well.

I’m really glad I listened today and I plan to be much better at this going forward. I imagine Gidget agreeing and saying, “You silly human, I’m just fine!”

Okay, little one, I hear you. And I promise to be better at letting you be Dog.

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