That's my silly Daddy pictured ... and if you knew my Papà Louie, you knew he was a screamer. A ferocious bear on the outside, growlin' out loud, yet a soft fluffy squirrel on the inside.
What was beyond his growl? Papà was a friendly, fun-lovin', large-hearted Italian - a softie silly man who could scare you away with his initial gruffness and frankness; and in the next second, comfort you with a warm bear hug and his contagious hearty laugh. After you learned him - you loved him.
Squirrel, not bear.
Lupini, my mini pup, another barker on the outside ... loverboy on the inside. If you pass by him with your pooch, Lupini will loudly sound an alert: "DO NOT THINK ABOUT COMING NEAR ME & MY MAMMA!!!" You would think he was a vicious little snarl of an animal - another ferocious growler. You might judge him as untrained and / or batshit-cRaZy. (I promise he is not.)
What is beyond his bark? If Lupini did not succeed in scaring off you or your dog, and you decided to give him a chance by approaching to say hello, he would happily and lovingly lick your face, wag his bushy squirrel tail, and try to climb into your lap. After you learn him - you will love him - and he, you.
Loverboy, not lion.
Who have you witnessed as all-bark-no-bite? Yelling, screaming, barking, snarling, growling. Here we go ... pouring out our initial judgments, "Oh, sure, I know your type - exactly. You are a meanie cray-cray!"
We decide it when we do not know that person - at all. Or what made them bark in the first place. (Remember, we do not always know someone's deep internal battles, challenges, pain. And - maybe that bark was actually a one-time occurrence based on an off-day and they do not normally act like that?)
What is beyond the bark?
If we only took the time to approach, give that person a chance, see what's really inside, we may be surprised at who we would find. Crawl into them a bit, talk to them. Perhaps offer a hug ... flash a warm smile ... and provide them with the comfort of a new and understanding friend.
After you learned them - you just might love 'em.
