Keep Your Head Up

1. It allows us to hear, and really listen to, our heart.

2. It helps us to feel – instead of push down - our emotions.

3. It helps us to decide who we really want to be.

4. It allows us to step back from the pressure to fit in.

5. It frees us from the need to please, or seek others’ approval.

6. It helps us to establish more appropriate boundaries.

my brain :

[ID: Comment from @certifiedcoolkidno1 “animals…..aren’t…….objects…….”]

Service…..animals…..are…..legally…..classified…..as…..assistive…..devices…..

Y’all literally do not care how many disabled people you kill and how many disabled lives you ruin - you want to coo at and pet the cute dog.

And here is the thing - as someone with a service dog - ppl talking to me about her puts me in a protective mindset. My brain automatically starts tracking your hand to see if you are going to reach out to pet without asking, I’m already thinking of how to get out of the conversation, etc. 

I’ve had cops reach out to pet my service dog with their other hand on their gun. I’ve had parents tell their kids to ask to pet my obviously working dog and then getting in my face yelling when I said no (nicely! not that that is a requirement). I constantly have people telling me my service dog isn’t fit for work bc she likes attention, or bc she doesnt want to be petted right then, or bc she ignores petting (like she is trained). Like it is constant judgement and fear. 

When you’re out with a service dog this shit is basically non-stop, and that’s before you add in the actual aggressive people who are disturbingly common and the fact that a lot of people with service dogs have PTSD or autism spectrum disorder or anxiety disorders and would much prefer to be completely ignored.

Moved to be out of their way, and thought to myself “what a good dog” as I continued walking to wherever I was going. The key here is thought. I didn’t say anything. Didn’t look at the dog beyond noticing it’s proximity to me so I could get out of the way (hallways with four lanes of traffic are tight, give them space when you can), and I moved on with my day. And I survived! My life was not vastly impacted by not petting a working dog or bothering someone just trying to get to class.