This is one of the most commented-on stories in The Rudder of the Day.
I heard a story from my friend Bob about an old dog lying on the front porch. A neighbor approached the porch
and could hear the dog softly moaning. He asked his friend why the dog was whimpering. And the owner said: “He’s lying on a nail.” Predictably the man said, “Well, why doesn’t he move?” To which the owner replied, “I guess it doesn’t hurt quite that much yet.”
About a year after sharing this story in my weekly newsletter I had an attorney call me. He said he was that old dog – very much in pain about his daily activities but the pain was still almost tolerable. The image was so indelibly etched in his mind that he started every day identifying with that old dog. We discussed his situation, his clear sense that he was off track and the necessity for dramatic change in his life. He was seeing his family, his health, and his peace being eroded by his commitment to keeping things the same. Yet six months later I was still waiting for him to begin the process of introspection and exploration of new options.
