Learning How To Howl
Why a pit bull?… I couldn’t give a specific reason… Other than it just seemed right. The name Jenga just seemed right too. “Yes, it is the name of a game” is what I tell people when they ask. However, it is a little-known fact. the word Jenga comes from the Swahili word “QJenga” which means to build or create. I do not know how I came across that name, since I am not one bit literate in Swahili; I think the name was quietly suggested by a muse as a brief flash of insight amidst a desperate time. Caesar Milan once commented about the bond between humans and dogs, “you don’t get the dog you want, but get the dog you need.” That is how I met Jenga.
Before meeting Jenga, I was living life; a life I didn’t intend but rather settled into. I had a job that paid enough to cover most bills, allowed me to buy a modest house, provided me with health insurance, allowed me to collect a pension with benefits when I retire. Logically, everything made sense because it checked all the boxes. It was expected from me. But despite all that, it did not compute. After much contemplation, I realized the sum of my life was a bunch of intentions that amounted to very little action and a whole lot of regret. I tried to ignore this insight, and stay on the path of what was expected of me. But it became painfully obvious; the existence I begrudgingly accepted for all these years was unsuitable. It was as if I sold my soul, and I didn’t get a good price for it! I longed to create; I wanted to build a life I would be thrilled about. I didn’t want my first words to be swearing when I awoke every work day. I needed courage and strength to make changes for my dreams come true.
When I first saw Jenga, I was overtaken by her pudgy round shape, peachy fur, and her honey brown puppy eyes. When I held her for the first time, I was amazed at her solid mass. I realized her puppy cuteness was a furry covering for pure strength. I was drawn to this unique combination of charm and fortitude; my soul longed for her companionship. Jenga is an American Staffordshire Terrier, a bull terrier breed. She has the tenacity of a terrier and the steadfastness of a bulldog. She is a little force of nature; she was exactly what I needed!
To the best of my ability, I taught Jenga to be a fine puppy citizen. I gave her basic knowledge of human and dog standards of behavior, and she ran with it! She grew into a perfect hybrid of dog/human where she excels in both worlds; I envy her. She is motivated by kindness, play, goofiness, and getting the most out of the days of her life. Without worry, she always lives joyfully in the present moment. She is courageous, never doubts her abilities, laser focused on her goals, and stubborn! She is everything I lack and everything I need. At the start, I thought I was training her, but she is now, with certainty, teaching me.
This is an introduction to a strange actualization about Qjenga wisdom and my journey into uncharted territory as I build a new life. Although it may seem a bit unconventional, this is the first installment of “Lessons I Learned from My Dog.” If you think what I wrote is crazy nonsense, don’t read any more of my words and move on. If you kept reading until the end, then you are part of a “pack”. Someone once said, “If you want to find your pack then you need to learn to howl”. Hello… this is me… learning how to howl!