On reasons

Do you ever find yourself just "going through the motions"? 
 
I find it fascinating how quickly we humans form habits and patterns in our behaviours. For example, when I first moved to my current part of town Bernard (our dog) and I would use our daily walks as an opportunity to explore the new territory. It was very adventure-like. 
 
Now when we go for walks, only a couple months after the move, it feels like we have a set route. It's the strangest thing, because no one has ever told us we had to stop doing the exploring thing. I guess we just fell into an option we seemed to like and stuck with it. 
 
This week, while in the midst of our walking-routine Bernard stopped suddenly and jerked me backwards (which is impressive... he's just a little guy). I watched him as he crouched down to look under a curbside parked car, and then froze. He didn't move. I waited for at least thirty seconds before coaxing him back along, because I found it incredible!
 
Here's what I found so amazing:
1. At first I felt annoyed... my easygoing walking-routine was being interrupted by a curious dog. I was so stuck in my newly formed habit that when it was altered slightly I became emotionally charged. Why was I (and perhaps others) so quick to be defensive of this pattern? What other habits am I easily charged about? This 30-second interruption launched my curious mind into orbit.
 
2. I often imagine what happens in the mind of a dog, or other animals. When Bernard dug into the sidewalk to gaze under the vehicle I wondered what he might be thinking at that moment. Having adopted Bernard from the streets of some city in South Korea we know nothing of his past. So I started to write him a little back story in my mind. Perhaps Bern had a special experience with a similar car while living the street-life. Perhaps he had lived under a car that had the same tires. Perhaps he just smelled something funky. Either way, he had a reason for stopping so suddenly. And while I may never know the reason, there is a reason there that is perfectly logical for Bernard's little mind.
 
That got me thinking about the reasons we all have. We all do things motivated by reasons that are perfectly valid to our minds, even if no one else sees them that way. Why does a child lie to his mother? Why do orangutans live alone? Why do you listen to that music, or like this book, or want this career?
 
Everyone's got a reason. Whether you understand it, agree with it, share it... it doesn't matter. The reason is there. 
 
In my ideal world people would care to learn more about people's reasons and the lived stories that have led people to their reasons. We should do it not to pass judgment, but because people and their stories and their reasons are fascinating. 
 
Imagine what we'd learn if we could learn how others see the world. The possibilities...
 
I want to live in a kinder world. Anyone care to know my reasons?
 
brandon@studentofwonder.com