Lessons of Life from a Dog

by Mohan M Prasad
(India )

The other day, I learned some lessons of life from a dog. I saw one of the stray street dogs chasing a young boy. The boy tried his best to escape only to end up being badly bitten by the dog.

By then the crowd had assembled and they pelted stones and stick at the animal till it sprinted away and raced into oblivion.

The next day somewhere further on the same street I saw this dog looking so tame and quiet.

I decided to make conversation with it!

"What happened yesterday, you were in mad chase of that poor lad and even bit him?"

The dog looked at me and replied "I saw this boy coming from a distance and suddenly I felt that he may harm me. The only way out of this fear was to frighten him. So I started chasing him away and then he suddenly stopped and looked back. I thought that was his moment to retaliate, and in utter panic I bit him". The dog started wagging its tail as if to say, sure... I am feeling bad for the youngster.

I just could not help but stroke the poor animal, and left the place only after feeding him some biscuits from the tea shop nearby.

The response of the dog set me thinking... how we also at times lead a dog like life when confronted with such situations.

Whenever we feel vulnerable, we take to such mad rush and harsh words – typically like those barks and the bites.

Most times our aggression is the sign of fear and self defense. Maybe even a lack of self confidence; anyway not different from these poor animals.

Whoever said "a dog’s life", referring to the similarity between humans and dogs? They knew something. There are certainly many lessons of life to learn, and today I learned this important life lesson from a dog.

Mohan M Prasad