When we say we’re all in this together, we mean it
By Strider the Dog
Dear Strider,
Really appreciate how you mention the local animal rescue organizations. I learned about Rogue Valley Street Dogs last year and was able to give them a big $ shot in the arm. FOTAS, Sanctuary One, etc. THANK YOU for using your podium to help them!
Clever you!
— Victoria
Dear Victoria,
It’s people like you who give the local rescue orgs the kind of energy they need to keep going strong. Everyone needs that kind of support and praise.
Like dogs! We need it too. So I loved getting this email. Thank you so much for the kind words. Especially that “clever” bit. We dogs love being called “clever.” Almost as much as “good”! In fact, I just about started purring. Then I remembered I don’t know how. So instead I wagged my tail extra hard.
In solidarity!
Dear Strider,
I was feeling a vast amount of imposter syndrome today, as it relates to both of my jobs and my nonprofit board work. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so collectively out of my depth in my entire life.
So I wondered: have you ever felt like a failure so acutely that it almost cozies up to your DNA and tries to alter it permanently?
Not sure what asking you does, but at least I can see how I’m feeling cohesively articulated. Step 1 is acknowledging and all that.
Thoughts?
— Afraid I’m Not What I Seem
Dear Afraid,
I puzzled over this for a moment, wondering what was “imposter syndrome.” But as usual, the Old Cedar Tree was able to explain it to me. Immediately I wanted to put my paw on your foot!
Dude, how can you be an imposter? You’re you, aren’t you? Just like I’m me, Strider the Dog. Also, I’m so sorry for not being completely up to this answer — a failure at it, truth to tell — but how can you be a failure when you’re alive and doing all sorts of different stuff? Those of us without opposable thumbs are so in awe of anyone taking on multiple jobs. I can only do one thing at a time, myself. Sometimes I’m good at it, sometimes there’s a squirrel and I kind of lose focus. But as long as Tod loves me, how can I be a failure?
I’m figuring if you have that much going on, you must be helping a lot of people, which means a lot of people must love you. Am I right? So how can you be a failure?
The Old Cedar Tree told me that humans feel this way from time to time. They said this is true of every human who is worth anything, because the ones who never feel like they’re failing are probably the ones making family and friends pick up the slack. This is what the Old Cedar Tree said, “Every human being fails. All feelings of failure are just openings to a higher vision of success.” And then they laughed and said, “Tell your friend Afraid to take that and stick it in his DNA.”
I’m assuming you know what that means. Sometimes I fail to understand everything the Old Cedar Tree says. They say they love me anyway. In fact, they say they love me because I don’t understand everything they say. I don’t understand that either. But it doesn’t stop me from trying!
I guess what I’m saying is: we’re all in this together.
And I’m sticking to it.
Fearing failure? Fearing success? Or just generally fearing? Why not share it with our advice columnist, Strider the Dog. His motto is “Trouble shared is trouble soothed.” And he means it. Don’t believe us? Just email [email protected].
