Tomorrow morning Grace and I are leaving at the crack of dawn (she doesn’t know this yet) and drive two hours west. We’re going to meet a dog chiropractor and have her evaluate Grace.
Mind you, I’m not even sure what, if anything is wrong with Grace. I know most people would (and will) think this is excessive. Some people don’t even go to their family doc on a regular basis—much less take their dog to a chiropractor who lives two states away. At least most dog owners I know.
It was the recommendation of someone who I really trust that moved me to action. Someone who has a wealth of knowledge and experience with dogs, and she felt there was something physical going on with Grace when she saw her.
When I tell people, I get a mixture of responses. Some are supportive and encouraging. Before I even scheduled the appointment, I asked my husband if he thought I was crazy for pursuing this. He said he didn’t, but he wants to make sure that we have some realistic plan of action around it.
But most of the responses have been similar. There is a quiet pause, as if to collect their thoughts on how to respond tactfully about something that think is a little (maybe a lot!) ‘out-there.’ “Oh, how interesting….”
It reminds me how people in the workplace stop or soften their actions because they others may snicker at them. Voicing an opinion or taking action that others might not see in a similar light can be difficult. And even for those who have no problem making a tough decision and sticking by it, it still takes energy and resolve to move forward even with subtle resistance.
All of us need to be able to voice our opinion, whether we agree with something or not. I’m not suggesting that anyone sugar-coat a response just to go along. I think it’s so important that you offer your honest belief, voiced in a respectful way. Having all the data points helps you make a better decision.
I’m really quite excited to have this experience with Grace tomorrow. I’m looking forward to learning something more about Grace and hopefully discover ways I can help her. When I report back, I hope you tell me what you really think about it.
