Let It Out

 

My wife and I have a 5 year old yellow Labrador retriever named Harley.

In some ways he still thinks he's a puppy. In other ways he still thinks he's the size of a puppy. Yet at a healthy 120 lbs, he'd prefer to sit in your lap than lie on the floor.

But one of my favorite things about this dog is how he good he can be. Sometimes he waits up 8-9 hours until we get home. So much energy to contain for such a long time. Many dogs might rip couch cushions to shreds, terrorize wall with their paws or maybe even leave a "present" on the floor. 

But not Harley. 

He controls himself. Holds it all in. And then when we finally get home, he lets it all out. He runs up and down, back and forth until I let him outside. After I let him outside, he thinks the party had begun.

He goes over to the corner of the fence and waits for me to grab his toy. I pick it up, toss it and he's off. He sprints. He dips. He turns. 

With a face like a mad man set free from the ward, and violent steps like a horse let onto the track, he runs. He goes until he's out of breath. But he's satisfied.

He's let it all out of his system. The pent up energy, the anxiousness from waiting, the stress of having to have quiet, acceptable behavior, it all disappears with a moment of release. 

When was the last time you let it all out? Your stresses, your pent up energy, your anxiousness, when was the last time you got that out of your system?

Whatever it is, whether you have to dance, or sprint or let out a barbaric scream.

Take time away from it all.

Be free for a moment.

And let it out.