Garbage stinks.
Today the garbage in my forever home smells like a combination of pizza crusts, discarded stale bread, and onions. And I love it. I often gaze at it longingly, just dying to attack. To knock it over and feast on all the fabulously delicious samples inside. Sometimes I even get close enough to make my (albeit naughty) feasting fantasy come true. But I’ve never actually gone through with my malicious plan. Partially because I will admit I do eat a pretty well-balanced diet of dog food, treats, rawhides and people-approved people food throughout the day. Mostly because I don’t want to get scolded.
So you can imagine my confusion when my mom returns from a store called Goodwill every now and then with a variety of second-hand items. I can’t say she ever needs any of it (just as I don’t need more food), but I get the impression there’s a sense of fulfillment in finding treasures in someone else’s trash. And I can’t fault her for that.
I didn’t get into the garbage today. I don’t plan to do so any time soon either. But all this gets me to thinking about something pretty powerful. Finding treasures in someone else’s trash. Recycling it. Giving it new life. I am fortunate enough to say this has actually happened to me firsthand when my forever people found me at the Oshkosh Humane Society.
I was a diamond in the rough. The staff at the shelter were very protective of me since I had already been adopted and returned once before. I was deemed a “problem puppy.” I heard tell more than one person to “look past the cute and see the commitment” it would take to bring me home. Yet my people found me, believed in me, and the rest is history.
I don’t mean to glamorize garbage. Because let’s face it – it does stink. But (in one way or another) we all have it. Junk. Garbage that we might deem to stinky to properly address. Probably not in the form of pizza crusts and onions, but perhaps in our closets. Or maybe even in our hearts. Both literally and figuratively, we have the ability not just to find treasures in someone else’s trash, but in our own.
Just as I was recycled, I continue to recycle myself on a daily basis. It’s a choice I make in seeing the good in all people, places and things around me regardless of the junk I encountered in my past. It’s not always easy. It might even stink from time to time. But at its very core it’s joy from the ground up.
Wiley's Wisdom 
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You’re definitely wise to stay away from onions, Wiley! Great choice. 🙂
😉 You’re wise to say so dear friend.
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As far as garbage goes, we recycle here and we are amazed every week on just how much can accumulate in a weeks time. I have heard that saying before that one mans trash is another’s treasure, and that is so true. And, also with all of the craftiness that my Mommy has, she is always wondering how to re-purpose something that she is throwing away. Hey Wiley, don’t ever think of yourself as recycled. Rather, think of yourself NOT finding the right forever home, but you have now. Hugs!
Hey friend,
We recycle here a lot too (can you tell?), though I must give you Mommy mega props for being so crafty. I’ve seen some of her work (loved the mummy recently!) and she has such an artsy eye. I like your take on feeling recycled…I suppose you’re right about that. 🙂
Lots of love to the whole family,
Wiley
I never looked at garbage that way, Wiles. But giving a down-and-outter a second chance is ways a good idea. Exhibit A. You. Exhibit B. Me. Yay us! Living our second chance la vida loca!
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Dear Cupcake,
God bless our second chances. High paw!
Lots of love,
Wiles
That was an interesting post about special stuff. It’s always in the eye of the beholder what’s trash and whats “trashure”. I think with the pizza crusts your trash is a trashure for me :o)
Indeed you’re right about the pizza crusts. They smelled delicious! I shared your sentiment too, until guess what? Dad took the garbage out while I was blogging last night so I missed my chance. There’s always next time, brother. 😉
This is a jewel and a keeper, Wyles. Well done, dog! Love HuntMode
A jewel? And a keeper? This made me think of that commercial about how and is better. Usually I support the idea that less is more, but not in this case. In this case I like the and. 😉
Reblogged this on Wiley's Wisdom and commented:
Have you ever found a treasure in an unusual place?
You are very wise Wiley and very blessed, as are your forever people. All of us, in some way, are broken. Love fixes us. It is the glue that puts us back together. I went to something called a “retreat”. the lady doing the talking, took an ordinary clay flower pot and broke it into pieces. then while we talked about “broken”, she glued the pieces back together. then she put the fixed pot over a small lit candle. The lights were cut off and in the darkness, we saw it! through those cracks, we could see the light shining through! Like you, like me, like others, when love fixes us, there may be still cracks, but the loves shines through those cracks, showing that light within. Wiley, you are light, from the ground up.
Oh my goodness, friend. You brought a tear to my eye with these kind words. Thank you for your kindness, and for sharing this story with me. It’s beautiful, as are you.
Lots of love,
Wiles