"Next to me in the cab of the pickup sat Benj Sinclair, at his feet a midden of road-food wrappers smeared with the scent of corn dogs, onion rings, and burritos. ...Behind him in the jump seat was Kim Reynolds, an Outward Bound instructor from Colorado known for her grace in a kayak and her long braid of brunette hair, which held the faint odor of a healthy, thirty-two-year-old woman who had sweated in the desert and hadn't used deodorant. Like Benj and me, she had eaten a dinner of pizza in Moab, Utah, a hundred miles up the road where we'd met her. Like us, she gave off the scents of garlic, onions, tomato sauce, basil, oregano and anchovies."
When I first read this introduction to some of the people in "Merle's Door - Lessons from a Freethinking Dog" it struck me as a bit odd. Actually, it only seems odd to me because I'm not a dog. The author was introducing us to the people who were with him, but he was adding in the most important information in a dog's world - our scents.
As human beings we process our world primarily through vision, tailoring everything to what we see, so experiencing a meeting from the dog's perspective of smell is a unique experience. But isn't it fascinating to "see" things from another point of view? It brings different items to our attention. It causes us to ask different questions And if I'm experiencing a problem, seeing it from a different perspective gives me access to new solutions.
Sometimes we get stuck or feel lost. But what if the answer is to experience another view point?
Can't understand why your spouse does that?
Don't know why your customers go to the competition?
Wondering how you can break into a new career?
Be the dog - check out another view point. Ask questions, seek out opinions, get down on your knees, use your nose, stand on a chair, use your ears, do anything you can to get another point of view.
Action: Look at things from a different perspective. Ask friends, strangers or neighbors about their ideas and opinions. Hire a coach or join a group that can offer different ideas and perspectives. Love that talk show? Tune in to the opposition and listen, trying to see their viewpoint. You don't have to agree, just be open to new ideas and see what comes your way.
Recommended Resources!
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For dog lovers: "Merle's Door" is a great story that challenges your thinking and tugs at your heart.
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