Success… It’s Just not Natural

By James Ahola

I remember taking my dog a black Labrador retriever called Stormy, for a walk one morning. She had just been to the groomers the day before and she was still wearing her red bandana around her neck, a spa keepsake. Her coat was nice and shiny, and her red neckpiece really stood out and made her look quite smart as we took our morning stroll. As part of our ritual I would walk her on her leash for a while then I would let her roam free for a stretch after she did her business. Bending down to release her from her leash I could still smell the nice oatmeal scent of her dog shampoo.  Patting her on the head I watched her run up the path we daily trod. 
Rising over the hill I could not easily see Stormy so I started calling her name… no response. I hastened my pace and as I came to level ground I could see her rolling on her back in the stagnant muddy water of an open culvert. I started running, calling her name to get her out of the dirty water as soon as possible, but she could not, or would not, hear me over the sound off the water splashing in her ears. Upon reaching her I quickly put her back on her leash. I remember her looking at me happily panting with muddy water dripping from her ears and her red bandana lying at her feet in the mud.  I was angry, and I let her know it. “How could you do that, you were just at the groomers, I paid all that money and look at you now!” 
It was at this point in the midst of my diatribe that a thought came over me asking: “Why are you angry with her? She’s a dog and she loves water, what did you expect?” I then began to laugh as I realized how silly my reaction was. Stormy was a dog. Some things came naturally to Stormy — swimming, chasing ducks, loyalty — and unconditional love flowed freely through her veins.  Other things were not natural: oatmeal scented hair, obedience, and even her breed were results achieved by the focused efforts of various people. As I cleaned her up that morning, I was reminded that so many of the things I enjoy and appreciate in life are not natural but rather products of human effort.
Whether we are looking at a groomed dog, municipal sewer system, successful business, or professional athlete, none occur naturally. They require work, thought and consistent effort to maintain and or grow. When we are not involved in an effort we tend to minimize or overlook the painstaking hours of planning and work that are involved behind the scenes. 
Recently I had the pleasure of watching a jazz saxophone musician perform. He made his instrument sing beautifully and it looked so effortless and natural. However, having listened to my son try to learn this same instrument and hear firsthand the ear piercing screeches it is capable of I know very well there is much more to playing the sax than wearing shades and moving your body to the rhythm. Similarly we sometimes watch professional athletes perform or see successful businesses flourish and wonder why they were so lucky or why it comes so naturally to them. The truth is they are not lucky and it isn’t easy. Without exception, success and achievement is the product of work, it is not a product of nature.