I am in my mid 30s.
This means, my Facebook feed is full of photos of children.
5-10 years ago, it was their animals.
I am not a pet person and certainly don't have any babies.
But these wolves are changing my life. It's all I can tweet, instagram, put on Facebook.
I think they make me a better human. Seriously.
My friend has two wolves, their names are Jade and Scout and occasionally, I babysit.
I hike everyday mostly solo, so having them with me is so nice.
Wolves are super smart. They have personalities and they understand everything I say. They also know how to jump on an opportunity. Like the other day when I turned my back to get tweezers to take a tick off of Jade, they bolted to the ocean.
We live in a National Park which means free roaming dogs results in a serious fine.
There was nothing I could do but wait. An hour later, they came back soaking wet with mischievous smiles on their faces.
I was mad at them and being super controlling. Jade, the girl, was rebelling like a teenage daughter. Scout was super apologetic trying to get my trust back. But, Jade kept pushing the boundaries.
I felt like a mother that didn't know how to gain control back. We started out our hike today at odds. I had been on my iPhone with them, not present at all. That's when they run off, when I am not present.
I put my phone in my pocket, sat down on the ground and called Jade to me. I spent a good twenty minutes rubbing her neck, removing ticks. After that, she didn't leave my side. They spent the entire three hour hike with me and I with them. Deer and cow grazed in nearby fields and they didn't run off.
And I started to over communicate everything. I know, I sound crazy, but it worked. I got on their level and they became my loyal companions. In turn, I was happier being in the moment, in companionship with them.
I started to think about how this can apply to life. I think we all want and need love and attention, someone to be there for us, listening and feeling and "pulling the ticks out." And with children, I think this is especially important.
And hard. We are so overstimulated and busy. I don't know what the answer is. I wonder how today's children will grow up as it is a basic human need to be loved. Just seeing the difference between me not being present and angry with the wolves versus being present and loving was black and white.
I'd like to be a part of creating a new reality. I don't know how or what and maybe it's what I know, off the grid hotels, places where families can go to connect.
In everything there is a lesson and in companionship, there is work...even with a dog ;)