The geese on our lakefront aren’t really afraid of people or cars. They’ll stand in the grass, honking like they own the place, or glide across the water like they own that too.
But when Josey comes charging up the lakefront with that giant tennis ball, it’s a different story. One by one, they start waddling as fast as geese can waddle toward the water. Wings flap. Honking intensifies. It’s like someone announced an emergency evacuation…
“Labrador Retriever on the premises!”
Josey, meanwhile, has absolutely no idea any of this is happening. She never notices the geese because she’s completely focused on one thing: her ball. As far as she’s concerned, there are no geese. There isn’t even a lake. There is only the ball and the possibility that I might kick it one more time.
I wonder how much lighter life might feel if we borrowed a little of Josey’s selective vision. Maybe we spend too much time noticing every distraction, every problem, every opinion, and every “what if.”
Josey reminds me that not everything deserves my attention. Sometimes the geese are just background noise. Sometimes it’s okay to keep your eyes on what brings you joy.
I hope you experience the kind of joy a partially deflated giant tennis ball brings to a happy yellow girl
Now, if you’ll excuse me, the dogs need walked, the ball isn’t going to kick itself, and joy has a funny way of showing up when you keep your eyes on the right things…Anyway—Off We Go. 
© Erica Shoemaker
