Have You Thought About . . . ?
From Mia Cope
Some time ago, my vast readership1 wanted to know how my thought processes worked. And, in a moment of weakness, I agreed to devote some thought to it. But since my thought processes tend to be overshadowed by whatever has captured my attention in the moment, I haven’t gotten around to it.
I spent several days during my Easter break at the resort at Big Country Vet Clinic. Relieved of my usual and intense duties around Casa de Togo, I had some time to think about thinking. I discovered it to be a mostly fruitless endeavor that led only to increased drowsiness and nap time.
However, I will spend a little time describing what few insights I drew from the experience.
Thinking happens all the time. That’s why thinking about thinking can be tricky. Daddy says that there are people who do this for living. He has great admiration for them because thinking about thinking produces what are technically knowns as “deep thoughts.”
Daddy says that most of us have some deep thoughts at one time or another. I’m not sure that I’m in favor. When I bury something in the backyard, I don’t go for deep. I deposit my treasures right under the surface so that I can retrieve them quickly. Unless I forget where I buried them. But if I do, oh, what a delight to rediscover them — usually when I’m trying to hide something in the same spot!
I did a little research and found that thinking about thinking is often an exercise in developing a view or perspective on various things. When humans have conversations, it’s often to discover what someone else thinks about specific things to help develop new thoughts. Dogs do the same thing, sort of.2
Generally, I have a view of most things that are important to me. And with my view, I have preferences.
For example, I prefer to walk on the left side of the road or sidewalk. That gives me easy access to sniffable spots and potential business-doing locations. And since Daddy insists that I walk to his left, it minimizes the number of times I accidentally veer in front of Daddy. Not to be critical, but Daddy isn’t as nimble as he used to be.
I also prefer to eat my dinner while Momma and Daddy are eating theirs. I thought about it and determined that when I pause my eating even for a few moments, Momma and Daddy become inventive about dietary add-ons that will encourage me to continue.
I’ve also discovered that Momma will reward me with treats when I go outside to do my business. She is trying to make it abundantly clear by positive reinforcement that I shouldn’t do my business inside. I was thinking about having a piece of doggie jerky the other day. Momma wasn’t having the same vibe. But with serious thinking, I realized that all I had to do was go outside for a couple of minutes and come back in. It didn’t really matter whether business was conducted!3
Mainly, my thinking about thinking has pointed to one specific thought: It’s easier to understand how we think if we explore how we explore specific things. So, I plan to devote some space in my Notes from Casa de Togo about my ruminations on specifics.
I already have some ideas. In interest of spurring conversations, I’m willing to entertain your thoughts on what I can write about. I can’t guarantee that I’ll go with all of your ideas. But, I’ll try. Or, I’ll think about trying. This can be very exhausting at times.
In the meantime, keep on thinking good thoughts. Which, of course, requires you to think about thinking.
Daddy pointed out that “vast” might be a bit of an overstatement. I have a very loyal group of readers. But the number isn’t all that big in its vastness. I do like the way that it rolls of my tongue. It feels kind of like those little peppermints that dissolve in your mouth almost instantly. “Vast.” Try it. It’s a very pleasing experience.
A secondary thought is you could build the vastness of my literary queendom by encouraging your friends to subscribe to my Notes. It’s easy. And it’s free.
That reminds me that I picked up some new ideas about possible doggie treats from my friends at the resort. But when I got home and started having my tried-and-true snacks, I forgot about them. So, now that I’ve thought about them again, I need to do something to bring them to Momma’s attention. She’s the treat human around here. I’m already feeling a little discouraged because I just realized that I will have to think about conveying that idea. Thinking can be very draining.
Momma has caught on to my ruse. But she loves me so much that she still gives me treats. I think about this a lot.
Great thoughts, Mia. But I was wondering, do you ever have the problem of over-thinking, like many humans do? I am one who does worry and over-think at times. But I do like how you live in the moment; so maybe I should try to do the same. Again, I enjoyed your thoughts very much.
Malcolm Gladwell wrote a book called “What the Dog Saw” but how could he know what the dog sees…thinking on that.