Simone is one of our beloved dogs, a black standard poodle. She weighs about 53 pounds and is as smart a dog as I’ve ever known. Part of her job, being a dog and all, is going in the car whenever she possibly can. In fact, she likes to hang out in the car, sleeping in the back seat while it’s parked in the garage in the hopes that she will “get lucky” and we’ll drive off and take her with us. Right there, you have a lesson in persistence and positive thinking!

The other day I went to the dentist and she came along for the ride. She stands on the passenger seat, rear-end firmly planted against the chair-back, supporting her weight on her front legs, which rest on the front of the seat bottom.

Living in the mountains as we do, all of the roads are a series of curves; we consider a “straightaway” to be any stretch of road that goes longer than 100 yards without a bend. So off we go, Simone and I, riding the curvy roads on a beautiful day.

As you know, when you enter a bend in the road centrifugal force tends to throw you to one side of the car or the other, which would be a problem for a dog standing on a soft automobile seat. But not Simone. She stands there, watching the road ahead very intently. As we approach a turn, she leans in the direction of the turn so as to counter-balance the centrifugal force, thereby keeping her comfortable position in the seat.

Actually, it would be more accurate to say that she throws herself into the lean. I’m driving along trying to watch this dog throwing herself one way or the other before we even enter the turn, laughing out loud and trying to keep one eye on the road. She was so deep in concentration that she was oblivious to me.

Then it hit me. She is adapting to her circumstances. She is watching the road ahead, anticipating a change in her situation, planning a course of action, and then executing it when the change occurs. A curve to the right, then to the left, another left, two more rights; it doesn’t matter. She never loses her balance because she is keeping her eye on the road.

Pretty smart, huh?

Are you watching the road ahead of your medical situation? Are you anticipating changes based on what you see, and then acting accordingly?

What kinds of changes should you look for? How about weather? What if there is a snow storm predicted for the day of your treatment? Are you prepared to travel in a difficult situation with safety? Plenty of gas in the car? Food and blankets in case you get stuck? Extra medications, if any, in case you have to spend an unexpected night out?
 
Your appointment schedule is another good place to be aware. Things may come up that you hadn’t anticipated when you planned your doctor visits. Are they scheduled at a time when there may be more traffic, such as just before or after a holiday weekend or during rush hour? Is there going to be a potential conflict with something such as a special event at your child’s school? What about sporting events? Will they affect your travel because of a big game at the local stadium that is right on your way?

Watch those curves in the road, and then throw yourself into a position to deal with what’s coming. Simone knows how; now you do too.

© 2009, Dave Balch  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
 

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