What My Dog Taught Me About Waiting

Some of you know the stories about my wildly dysregulated dog, Scout. She once ate an entire avocado — pit and all.

She’s afraid of school buses, loud noises, and mostly everything that happens during daylight. Progress comes slowly, often in pauses, false starts, and a lot of patience.

I sometimes think the universe sent her my way to teach me how to breathe, how to wait for things to pass, and how to recognize what doesn’t need to be done today — what can wait for a calmer moment and a little more clarity about what’s around the corner.

I notice that lesson showing up in my work, too. So much of what leaders are carrying doesn’t require immediate action as much as it requires steadiness — space to let urgency settle before deciding what actually comes next.

And yes, sometimes that process involves treats. For all of us.