Catching the Crumbs

I made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies yesterday. Just from a mix - it is busy season and all - so don't get excited.

Most anyone with pets in the house, at least dogs, knows that eating in peace can sometimes be a challenge. It certainly is in our house. As my husband was eating the cookies he commented on one of our dogs in particular. "Watch Scooter. He's picking up the crumbs."

It hit me that Scooter is always like that. No matter what you're doing with food - eating it or preparing it - he is always watching the floor to see what drops. And he nabs it before any of the others even know it hit. They are too busy looking up. They want to be ready in case you're going to give them something. They don't want to miss out on that bite they think you're going toss their way.

They don't always get something. Sometimes they stretch their noses and find nothing there for them.

Scooter, though, is picking up what is being made available to him, regardless of whether it was intended or not. Will it fill him up or make a meal? No. But does he think he's getting something cool? Yes. (Side note, I one time walked into the kitchen to find a perfectly clean Tupperware container in the middle of the floor. I was bamboozled as to how it got there when I realized that 15 minutes earlier it had been in the middle of the counter with a leftover cheese ball in it from a few days previous. Somehow Scooter had stretched himself tall enough to reach it, pull it off the counter and lick the container clean. Not even trace was left! So, he can look up when the circumstances are right.)

So, where do you look in your every day life? Are you looking up and waiting for someone to hand you something or are you keeping your head down and picking up things that are "dropped" for you? Maybe its a hint from your boss that something better is coming your way if you keep doing what you're doing. Maybe its your spouse trying to find a way to tell you that something is missing in the marriage for him or her. Could be the wistful tone in your elderly parent's voice telling you that they are lonely and they wish you'd spend more time with them. Maybe someone is paying you compliments or trying to reach out to you because they need a friend an see one in you.

The "crumbs" in our lives can come in many forms. Our job is to always be on the lookout for them and scoop them up quickly. Act on them. Save them for later. Whatever needs to be done with them.

Will catching the crumbs fill you up? No. But you might you might just walk away with a pretty sweet treat. Beats an empty plate.