A Happy Coincidence?

Every time we go to the pet store, my son adds an extra toy or a dog treat to the shopping cart. A few weeks ago, when I was choosing a new car seat cover for our freshly detailed car, my son suggested buying the harness. I was hesitant. It took me months to learn how to use the non-choke non-pull collar and I was not ready to change things up just yet. The collar was not perfect, but it worked pretty well. I knew what to expect. I was used to it. According to the reviews, there was no guarantee that the harness would prevent my dog from pulling on the leash, so why bother.

“But it will be better for me to control Kyra,” my son insisted.

He was right. The harness might work better for him. He has recently started earning his allowance by walking our dog, and I wanted to be supportive. We added the harness to the cart.

Predictably, the harness did not solve my dog’s pulling problem. It helped my son to be in charge and was more comfortable for the dog, but on my walks, I saw no improvements.

But here is a funny thing. The car seat cover I had chosen came with a dog seat belt. The seatbelt was too short to be connected to the collar, and at first, I had no idea what to do with it. But then I noticed that it was perfectly compatible with the harness. Thanks to the harness, I could buckle my dog up in the back seat and prevent her from co-piloting and blocking the view, which had been way bigger a problem than the pulling.

Was it a chance, luck, fate? For most of my life, I would have explained my accidental problem solving with any of the above. I believed in happy coincidences and serendipity. I believed in waiting for stars to align.

But I don't like to wait anymore. I notice and appreciate daily miracles, but I don't wait for them. When I think about the harness purchase, I think about acting. I think about experimenting, and expanding my toolset. I think about my son, whose curiosity and eagerness to try a new thing pushed me out of my comfort zone towards a more resourceful place.

I guess you never know what can happen and where you will get when you make a step.