Most of us know the proverb about the two dogs within us, the good and the bad. We could grow into either. It depends on which we feed.

Whether or not it’s that simple, a few things are true enough. Emotions arise from within us; they are not imposed on us. Our reactions to them are largely habitual, acquired through practice. And finally, others react to what we say and do, not to what we feel.

From waking to sleeping, our days offer opportunities for growth and change. Do we wear a smile or a frown? Offer a kind word or an angry one? Encourage or demean? Laugh with or laugh at? Be kind or be mean, generous or petty?

In short, each day offers us a choice: A dog eats. Another goes hungry.

.