It’s amazing, the lengths we’ll go to elude our own shadows. I’m no expert, but I’d estimate there are a million people on the run at any given time, me included. The trouble begins when the clouds of delusion dissipate—wherever I go, there I am and all that. 

Imagine if people were as vigilant as dogs. My dog Indigo is still a bit wary of her new home and she’ll only roam the yard if she can clap eyes on me. The other morning it was the coldest it’s been all season—39 degrees—and her breath came out in little puffs. Perhaps the cold invigorated her because she ventured further than normal, scouring the perimeter for weaknesses and errant rabbits. But every few minutes she trotted back to the window where I sat, turning her piercing gaze on me, waiting until I acknowledged her with a wave. She knows her duties and does them without regret or wishful thinking.

Accepting the facts of life rather than trying to outrun them—what a thought!