Unclip your Own Leash

I was running braless down my street chasing my dog the other day – and felt inspired.

Our family dog, Mimi, is four years old, and has consistently worn a leash tied around her neck for exactly every day of her life. From the time she was the size of my hand she would dart out the door and chase whatever was moving. Cars. People. Leaves. Squirrels. Herself.

The leash was a protective mechanism. It gave us six extra feet to help us catch her when we got caught up in another high-stakes puppy chase around the neighborhood. We assumed she couldn’t be trusted and that our training was making zero progress.

But recently, I felt the urge to try something different. I unclipped the leash and stepped outside with her. “Stay,” I whispered. To my surprise, she did. I was shocked. Step by step, moment by moment, she continued to listen. I repeated this for days. She didn’t follow every command, but she wasn’t running away. It was messy and surprising all at once. When I was ready to show my kids, they watched nervously - and even got upset. We were so conditioned to Mimi’s behavior that it seemed like DANGER was the only outcome. But what they didn’t know is that while they were at school, I was practicing these doggy tricks behind their backs. I was gaining more confidence in Mimi, and I saw a possibility. With every command she followed, I realized she was capable of more than we ever gave her credit for.

It struck me: how often do we do the same with ourselves? Or with our children? How often do we hold back, assuming the leash is necessary, when in truth we are ready for more than we think? How would we ever know unless we try?

Okay, but wait? “Why are you braless?” Right, right.

Because Mimi obviously ran away when I casually left the front door open clipping the dead leaves off my potted plants. She darted out of the door to chase a walker, and I frantically ran after her exactly as I was. Braless. Pajamas. Barefoot. I held my chest with one hand and offered a handful of treats in the other. She ran far and fast. And, so did I. My polite neighbors watched me frantically coaxing her close. My daughter was in tears at the bottom of the hill when she yelled, “I TOLD YOU MOM!” Whoops.

Setbacks are part of the journey. Regardless of whatever transformative journey we are on – life, marriage fitness, faith, motherhood – SETBACKS HAPPEN.

Yet, we often shame ourselves when we experience them. Setbacks do not erase progress; in fact, setbacks are how we progress. They remind us that becoming more always requires the willingness to step into the unknown. And sometimes, the first step is simply loosening our grip. Growth is never linear. It comes with risk, with stumbles, with moments that stretch and sometimes embarrass us.

But it is only when we risk letting go of the leash—of fear, of control, of certainty—that we uncover new levels of trust, freedom, and possibility.

Something in your life is calling you to let go a bit. Lean in. Say “yes” to messy setbacks that ultimately set you free.