1-1-1: Unlocking the keys to your own cage
You are not meant to be in a cage—especially when there’s a way out.
Take a deep breath. It’s 1-1-1 Wednesday!
Here is 1 creation, 1 quote, and 1 question to consider this week...
1 Creation From Me
“Find A Way Out” — a short story
I’ve seen many people live their entire lives in unlocked cages—but never dogs.
If a dog is locked up, leashed, chained, or confined, they will always try to find a way to freedom. They will jump, dig, bite, or bark their way out if there’s even a slight chance of salvation.
When Rocky—my beloved Yorkshire Terrier/best friend, who passed in 2023—was a young puppy, my wife Alisa and I lived in an apartment in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC.
He was just a few months old when we brought him home and we both worked corporate jobs. Therefore, we had to leave him alone for long days.
We were also new dog owners and didn’t want him to hurt himself or chew up the furniture, so we bought him a crate.
On that very first day, we came home to find our sweet boy roaming around the apartment, with several speaker wires chewed on. He wasn’t hurt, and that was the extent of the damage.
But here’s the kicker: his crate was still locked.
The crate was made of metal, roughly 4-feet long, 4-feet wide, and 4-feet tall. The top was open because little Rocky was less than a foot tall, and about the size of a football.
We were dumbfounded. So we did what anyone would do—we set up a camera, put him back in the cage, hit the record button, and left the apartment.
We listened stealthily at the door for less than a minute, then heard a thud.
He didn’t even wait one minute to find liberation.
We opened the door to find Rocky scampering about, free as could be.
The recording showed it all—our tiny Yorkie used all his might and dexterity to hoist himself up one corner of the cage, one little determined paw at a time. As his front legs reached the top, he put his hind legs up to join them, and with barely a hesitation, leapt out of his crate to freedom.
Dogs are not meant to be in a cage—neither are humans…
Especially when there’s a way out.
1 Quote From Another
American writer Henry Miller on freedom:
“There is no salvation in becoming adapted to a world which is crazy.”
Source: The Colossus Of Maroussi (1945)
1 Question For You
Imagine waking up in a prison, but there are no guards and no gates. What would you do?
If this resonated, pass it along to someone who needs it today. Let’s grow this circle.
Until next time, freethinkers…stay present, be pleasant, and have an amazing day!
Mike Messeroff
Founder of The Carpe Diem Company + Personal Freedom Coach
Creator of Self-Hospitality
Author of Dogs Get It: Advice I learned from my best friend
Love the metaphor and the share