#but i still feel pretty guilty about it

Daily Picture Assignment #130

Outfit from last week’s happy hour.

I was bad on Wednesday night. My owner said he wanted water. I know that him saying that should be as good as him telling me to get it and that I should be eager to do what he needs, even without him asking for it. I should have said, “Yes, sir!” and hopped to it.

Instead I said, “Then you should get some water.” and smiled a half-sweet and half-annoyed smile at him. He frowned at me and said, “What I meant to say was,‘Get me some water.’” I whined, “I don’t want to!” Reaction Junkie gave me a look, and eventually I did as I ought and poured him a glass of water, however reluctantly.

It was not my shining moment. Granted, I was tired, and a little while earlier, we’d seen a cop do something messed up to someone, so I was still agitated. Still, that’s no excuse for my behavior, especially the outright refusal to obey. When my owner rephrased his desire as a command, it should have snapped me out if it.

That I was upset about something is all the more reason I should have obeyed. I know that following orders helps grounds me. It gives me a sense of purpose, reminds me of my place at home and in my relationship, and helps stop my mind racing.

In the future, when I’m feeling stressed and am given an order, instead of responding poorly, I’m going to take the order as an opportunity.An opportunity to get out of my head, an opportunity to show that I can be good, even under pressure, and an opportunity to please my owner.