The Old Dog on the Porch

The Old Dog on the Porch

April 4, 2016

I’ve heard the saying many times, and the credit for saying it has come from multiple sources. So I’m not really sure who said it first. Maybe you’ve heard it too. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting something different. But why would anyone do this? 

Well, there are lots of reasons, but the one I see often is, the person doing this just doesn’t feel the pain of their situation enough to change. There is one story I’ve heard that best sums up this very real truth. I’m not sure of the real title of this story. I just call it The Old Dog on the Porch and it goes like this…

There once was a young man (in his 30’s) who decided to take a walk on a fine sunny summer’s day. As he began his walk, he noticed his elderly neighbor sitting in the shade on his front porch, so he decided to go on over to see how he was doing.

When he walked over and climbed the porch steps, the two men shook hands and greeted each other. As the men sat down, the young man also noticed the old man’s dog lying on the porch.

As the men were talking, the young man heard the old dog whimper a little bit as if in pain, but he continued with his conversation. As time went by, the old dog whimpered two more time, and each time, the young man’s curiosity grew more and more on why the dog was whimpering.

Finally, when the dog whimpered for the fourth time, the young man asked, “What’s wrong with your dog, is he hurt or sick?” the old man replied, “No. Do you see where he’s laying?” The young man nodded. “Right where he’s lying.” The old man continued. “is a nail that has started to come up through the deck board and its poking him a bit.”

Puzzled, the young man asked, “Then why doesn’t he move?” The old man answered, “I guess because it’s not painful enough yet.”

People do this all the time, especially with their finances. Maybe you even know someone like this. People will only change when the pain of change is less than the pain of the same.

I hope this isn’t you. I hope that if it is, you seek help in whatever area you’re struggling with. The question I have for you is, what area did you have some sort of struggle with that you were grateful you got some help with later on down the road?