Long Live Eclipse….

Eclipse died this week.

Long story short. Eclipse was a black labrador dog who taught herself to use Seattle’s bus system to go to the dog park - minus her owner. She became a “Seattle icon” over the course of seven years.

The Washington Post, NPR, USA Today, CNN, and the Today Show, all had stories covering her passing. (I may need to cancel my New York Times subscription since there’s been no mention of Eclipse’s passing. “All the news that’s fit to print?” I don’t think so if mention of Eclipse is missing.)

(A quick change up.) Do you know what a mensch is? A great Yiddish term for being a “good person” has become part of our common vernacular. I’d say Eclipse was a doggy mensch, cuddling up to riders on a short bus ride and then exiting to play with her four-legged pals. Hey, an infusion of unexpected goodness in the lives of bus riders and those, far and wide, who read about Eclipse (unless you don’t like dogs. AND, if that’s the case, what’s wrong with you, anyway! 😉)

Eclipse was a free-spirited, loving, tail-wagging critter who followed her own compass and filled people’s hearts, just by being Eclipse. Yep, Eclipse, for 7+ years, was an embodiment of a “mensch,” tail-wagging her way into many hearts.

And, then there’s me. (Wait, Jan, this is NOT about you. Is it?) I’ve been observing myself this week, starting with a morning trip to a medical facility and quite a few phone calls to make appointments. Hiking through a medical facility would not be at the top of my “oh, I’m having a ball” list. HOWEVER, a teeny-tiny voice inside said “How about a dose of self-empowerment??” And, you know what, this stubborn soul actually listened!

Powered into “niceness overdrive,” going out of my way to be really, really nice to everyone. I mean REALLY nice. In person, on the phone. Putting on an act? Am I overdoing it? Wait, am I now descending into niceness nitpicking? Being faux nice?

STOP! As GPS would say…”Recalculating, Recalculating” and into my mind popped…

“A Spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

The medicine go down

The medicine go down

Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down

In a most delightful way”. (Mary Poppins)

Niceness to others became my “spoonful of sugar” to get through a challenging morning. Freely sharing niceness made me a magnet for the same from others, leaving me with a broad smile. Not bad for time spent in a medical facility.

Whoa, so many facets to this story! A doggy mensch; a Mary Poppins drop-in. Time to pull all these pieces together. Here ‘tis for your story-reading pleasure. Mensches of the wold - Unite! War, cruelty, and prejudice, we cannot control. However, tail wagging (metaphorically speaking) and offering up a spoonful of sugar to others are usually well within our reach. Just take a look around the next corner, or in a mirror…

❤️ I’d be very grateful if you’d consider sharing “This Being Human Thing”with others. Who couldn’t use more heart and humor?