I went to the sled dog yard this morning,
in search of a WILD thought.
Aware of the frequency of my complaints
about our profoundly frustrating weather.

Record snowfall up north,
just a couple hundred miles away,
while brown earth darkens our vision here,
as far as the eye can see.

And for all my grousing,
the sled dogs feel it more.
Born for this time of year.
Born to pull on snow and ice.

Still, as I visit them this morning,
restless as they are,
they tune their entire bodies
towards the pleasure of a well executed ear scritch.

Their eyes convey a calm gentleness
that humbles me in my tracks.
Living in the moment,
accepting this season for what it is.

Teaching me again and again
with their kind and gentle nature
that today is simply today.
How you choose to view it is your own.

Chris Heeter
Speaker, Author & Wilderness Guide
The WILD Institute
763-479-3954
www.theWILDinstitute.com