Scout brought happiness and terror into our lives but for a brief moment. He was a fierce and vicious, sweet and cuddly, little dog. A Jack Russell by birth he filled our lives with mirth, but once again, for just a short, little while.
Scout taught me a few things. Scout embodied the perennial saying paraphrased, "It's not the size of the dog in the fight. It's the size of the fight in the dog."
Scout had a humongous fight in him. He taught me never to back down. He would stand up to any other dog no matter how big that dog was. He taught me never to back down.
Fights are gonna come at you. All your life. Don't back down. Face each one with a chin held high and a chest puffed up. Like Scout. You lost your job? Shake it off and find a new one. You lost your home? Do the best you can, get back on your feet, and find another place to live. You lost your family? Don't be too proud. Still, keep your head up, love them the best way you can, and take the next step in your life journey.
Notice I never said any of that would be easy. But when Scout stared down an opponent, friendly one or not, his eyes, his face, his chest, his legs, front and back, never betrayed an ounce of self-doubt. He had none. He was in it to win it. Literally.
Scout, thanks for teaching me to stand up and show up to any fight life wants to throw at me. And not only did you teach me to stand up and show up, but also, to never back down. No matter how big the fight that life throws at me, I can stand up to it, and not back down.
I can stand up and show up, never back down, and finally I can do it with confidence, with my head held high and my chest puffed out. Just because I choose. Just like Scout.
I can choose confidence or I can choose defeat. It's up to me. The choice is a switch; it will turn on the size of the fight in you. It will determine whether you back down or not, whether you show up or not.
Scout showed up every time. Scout never backed down. Scout stood "tall", confident.
How about you?
