This post is a reflection I shared on the “Epic Book Review” podcast on the book, “The Art of Racing in the Rain,” by Garth Stein.
You can watch the entire podcast here on YouTube, and/or you can pick up your copy of the book here on Amazon.
I am a sucker for stories about dogs.
They feel very personal to me. For as long as I have been in education, I have had a dog.
And with those moments of my dogs through my eyes, I often wondered what they were thinking simultaneously. Even as I write this, my dog Odom, always by my side, is sitting under my desk, and has placed him perfectly to allow me to wedge my feet just under his stomach.
Good boy 🙂
This is why I was interested in listening to the book “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein, written from the dog’s viewpoint in the relationship.
Here is a quick synopsis of the book as written by Chat GPT:
“The Art of Racing in the Rain” is a heartwarming novel that tells the story of a race car driver and his beloved dog, Enzo.
Enzo, who narrates the story, shares his unique perspective on life, love, and the human condition.
The book explores themes of family, friendship, and the bonds that connect us all.
Written by Garth Stein, the novel is a moving and thought-provoking read that will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the power of the human-animal bond.
A must-read for anyone who loves dogs, racing, and a good tear-jerker story.”
And a tear-jerker it is!
I don’t want to ruin any of the book for anyone who has neither read nor watched the movie, but I wanted to share one quote that stuck with me and why it resonated so deeply.
This is a powerful quote that reminds us that we have so much control over our lives and the world we create.
Think about this in the context of education.
Have you ever walked into a staffroom and been quickly affected by the mood and energy of others, whether positive or negative?
There have been times in my career when I would avoid the room altogether because I felt it sent me into a negative spiral. Other times, I am ashamed to say I got swept up in the negativity.
When you walk out of a negative space, do you feel you would be better or worse at whatever you are attempting to do?
Later in my career, when I felt that overwhelming nature take over, I decided, with much more confidence than I had when I first started teaching, that I would try my best to bring a positive attitude to any space that I entered, and although I couldn’t “change the room” I am sure I could change the room for someone, and just maybe, they would go out of their way and have an impact on someone else’s mood. Something I strive for daily, although I often miss, is trying to be the best part of the day for anyone I interact with. It is a lofty goal, but one toward which I continuously aspire.
So back to McDonald’s.
As an administrator, I often rushed to have breakfast and grab a sausage or egg McMuffin at McDonald’s. Although there were locations everywhere, I always made my way toward one because of the service I knew I would receive. The same woman would often work in the morning. She was so polite and cheerful and made you feel that she was so generally interested in your life that you could not drive away without a tremendous smile, even while chewing on your delicious breakfast sandwich.
And what would that interaction do for me?
It would make me better for everyone I interacted with shortly after.
The positive impact we have on one person often spreads to others.
It spreads and permeates through rooms, buildings, and cultures. That one interaction in the morning would have a ripple effect throughout my day and all of those I interacted with moving forward.
“That which is around me does not affect my mood; my mood affects that which is around me.”
Garth Stein
A positive comment or kind gesture isn’t going to change the world. But when it becomes contagious and spreads to others, the world, even on that one day, can become so much better for others.
A great reminder from easily my favorite dog author 🙂
