Introducing Cody (And The Big Lesson He Taught Me)
This is Cody. He is the Editor in Chief over here at Nicole Hunt Copywriting. His writing is a bit sloppy, so I usually have to re-edit his work, but he makes up for it in guilt trips and mischievous antics (and puppy hugs).
Cody joined my family in 2013, one year, almost to the day, after my dad died. I was just ready for a dog. My husband and I searched the Humane Society website and picked THE DOG. This adorable ball of fluff was named "Bogie" (aka, not Cody).
When we got to the Humane Society, Bogie had been adopted. Initially disappointed, we decided to see if there was another dog who we could adopt. We found three other dogs that we liked. We learned that two of the dogs already had three holds (the maximum allowed). Cody, however, had no holds (we like to remind him of this when he is being particularly naughty).
It's no wonder that there were no holds on him at the shelter. Clearly, everyone else read his file and paid attention to the fact that he almost cleared the six foot barrier between show rooms and had zero interest in commands like "off" and "sit." To say he was a handful at first is a GROSS understatement. Cody was impossible. He was unruly, aggressive toward strangers, and full of boundless energy. But with training, love, and time, he has become the world's sweetest dog, and as much a part of our family as I am.
He is affectionate, obedient (usually), and a source of tremendous happiness for myself and my husband (and our cat, though she will never admit it). He has brought so much joy to my life that it's nearly impossible to imagine a world where we wouldn't have him. Looking back, I can't help but feel that Cody adopted us. He walked up to the front of his kennel just as my husband walked over to it. Cody laid down on the ground and looked up at my husband as if to say, "I'm ready!"
He was an opportunity that we embraced with full hearts and unlimited patience.
Cody taught me a great lesson. Sometimes the things that seem too difficult or even impossible are the most wonderful and important things to run after. Adopting a hellish dog who desperately needed a second chance is not unlike taking a leap of faith to start a business that others say will fail. It's not unlike quitting your job to pursue a passion that many laugh at. It's not unlike getting married when others say you are too young or moving across the country (or the world) because you want a new experience.
When these opportunities present themselves, you can listen to the naysayers (and there WILL be naysayers) or you can jump head first into the experience. You can open your heart and throw all of your time and energy into these moments, believing that you will push and push until you see the brilliant results.
Throughout the years, I have had a few such experiences. Every time I have jumped, I have been rewarded.
So, the next time you're at a similar emotional boundary, I encourage you to have faith, close your eyes, and step off the ledge.
