Tobby is a big dog. A broad-chested chocolate Labrador with huge paws and a deep voice he almost never uses. When he walks into a room, people step aside.
He is also, I must tell you, a coward.
Every day in our yard, he meets the neighborhood cats. And every day, it's hard to tell who is more afraid. The cats freeze at the sight of him, this enormous brown shape coming around the corner. And Tobby, if a cat appears unexpectedly beside him, jumps straight up into the air with all four paws at once, like a startled cartoon. Then they both pretend nothing happened and walk away in opposite directions, with great dignity.
But his true enemy lives one floor below us.
He is a Yorkshire Terrier. He weighs about as much as one of Tobby's legs. And he holds my big boy in absolute terror.
The smallest dog in the building has the biggest voice. And he uses it, all day long.
It always goes the same way. The barking starts downstairs. Tobby lifts his head. Then he launches himself at full speed toward the balcony, ready for battle, ears up, tail high, the defender of our home.
He reaches the glass. He listens. The barking gets louder, sharper, endless.
And slowly, Tobby understands that there is no battle to win here. You cannot out-bark a Yorkie. So he does something wise. He lies down, right there by the balcony door, puts his chin on his paws, and simply listens to the neighbor's hysteria until it runs out.
I laughed the first time I saw it. Now I think he might know something I spent most of my life not knowing.
Not every loud voice needs an answer. Not every fight is yours to win. Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is lie down, stay where you are, and let the noise be noise. It always runs out eventually. And you are still there, calm, exactly where you were.
Tobby is still afraid of cats. I don't think that will ever change. But when it comes to small, loud voices, he is the bravest coward I know.
Is there a small, loud voice in your life you keep trying to fight? What might happen if you simply let it bark?
Would you like to share your answer?
I read every answer myself. It stays private unless you say otherwise.
If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, please reach out to local emergency services or a crisis line in your country right now. You deserve immediate support.
With love, from HerWay (and Tobby)
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