That Dog Can't Even Swim

There’s a funny story about two hunters who had very different philosophies on life. One was upbeat, always making the effort to see the good in others, while the other was cynical, finding fault with everything.

One afternoon they went hunting together, taking a small boat out onto the lake. The upbeat gentlemen decided to bring his new bird dog. As they made their way to the middle of the lake the positive hunter took aim and shot a bird. He turned to the cynical man and told him, “Watch this,” as the bird dog jumped out of the boat and ran on top of the water before scooping up the bird and racing back to the boat. He set the bird before the two men without so much as a drop of water on him. “What do you think?” the positive hunter asked. The cynical hunter just shook his head before finally saying, “Just like I thought, that dog can’t even swim.”

How many of us have friends or family members that are cynical hunters? People who always have an axe to grind and decided long ago it’s easier to find fault then possibility.

The truth is cynicism is easy. Anybody can find reasons to complain. But choosing to focus on what could be takes courage and character. And it doesn’t mean being unrealistic, or diluted. You can be optimistic while still being grounded. 

Your life is flying by. Don’t waste another second with people who refuse to get out of their own way and want to take you down with them. In time, your life will begin to mirror the people you spend the most time with. If they don’t lift you up it may be time to say goodbye.