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“Tom,” said the puppy, wagging its tail, “what do you think the secret is to long-lasting romantic love?” And Tom laughed, because he so didn’t know the answer, and said, “I don’t know, puppy. I don’t think there’s a single, universal secret. Love that lasts, for people who seek lasting love, lasts for reasons entirely dependent on the individual people in the relationship. The only thing I know is that if you want someone to love you wholly, you have to show them your whole self. Warts and all. Be the person with them, every moment, that you want them to love. The only chance we have to be wholly loved is to let ourselves be wholly known.” And the puppy said, “That sounds scary.” And Tom said, “Yeah.” And the puppy sighed, and wondered into the open space around them, because the puppy knew that Tom wouldn’t answer, “Why is it that when so many of the best things require us to be vulnerable, the world discourages vulnerability?” (via Tom Hardy and a Puppy Visit Kathmandu)

“Tom,” said the puppy, wagging its tail, “what do you think the secret is to long-lasting romantic love?” And Tom laughed, because he so didn’t know the answer, and said, “I don’t know, puppy. I don’t think there’s a single, universal secret. Love that lasts, for people who seek lasting love, lasts for reasons entirely dependent on the individual people in the relationship. The only thing I know is that if you want someone to love you wholly, you have to show them your whole self. Warts and all. Be the person with them, every moment, that you want them to love. The only chance we have to be wholly loved is to let ourselves be wholly known.” And the puppy said, “That sounds scary.” And Tom said, “Yeah.” And the puppy sighed, and wondered into the open space around them, because the puppy knew that Tom wouldn’t answer, “Why is it that when so many of the best things require us to be vulnerable, the world discourages vulnerability?”

(via Tom Hardy and a Puppy Visit Kathmandu)

“Knock knock,” said the puppy. And Tom said, “Who’s there?” And the puppy said, “Olive.” And Tom said, “Olive who?” And the puppy said, “Olive you, Tom.” And Tom said, “I love you, too, puppy.” And they both laughed. (via Tom Hardy and a Puppy Visit Tuscany)

“Knock knock,” said the puppy. And Tom said, “Who’s there?” And the puppy said, “Olive.” And Tom said, “Olive who?” And the puppy said, “Olive you, Tom.” And Tom said, “I love you, too, puppy.” And they both laughed.

(via Tom Hardy and a Puppy Visit Tuscany)

“Tom,” said the puppy, cocking its head to one side, “you know that phrase ‘you teach people how to treat you’?” And Tom said, “Uh-huh.” And the puppy said, “I kind of don’t like it. Sometimes, no matter how nicely I ask, there are people and puppies who treat me in ways I ask not to be treated.” And Tom said, “I know what you mean. It reminds me of the conversation we had about the word ‘normal.’ Its application is useful only insomuch as it helps an individual person define boundaries with people in their lives who want to respect those boundaries, but when it’s used as a general rule for dealing with people in general, it quickly turns into some real victim-blaming codswallop.” And the puppy said, “Exactly. If someone breaches my consent, they have to be accountable for that—it’s not about whether I am failing to be my own best advocate.” And Tom said, “Right, puppy. All you can do is clearly define your boundaries, and remember that you don’t owe anything to anyone who refuses to respect them.” And the puppy said, “Thank you for always treating me kindly, Tom.” And Tom said, “Thank you for always treating me kindly, puppy.” And then someone hushed them, because they were talking in the Abbey, and they giggled. (via Tom Hardy and a Puppy Visit Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey)

“Tom,” said the puppy, cocking its head to one side, “you know that phrase ‘you teach people how to treat you’?” And Tom said, “Uh-huh.” And the puppy said, “I kind of don’t like it. Sometimes, no matter how nicely I ask, there are people and puppies who treat me in ways I ask not to be treated.” And Tom said, “I know what you mean. It reminds me of the conversation we had about the word ‘normal.’ Its application is useful only insomuch as it helps an individual person define boundaries with people in their lives who want to respect those boundaries, but when it’s used as a general rule for dealing with people in general, it quickly turns into some real victim-blaming codswallop.” And the puppy said, “Exactly. If someone breaches my consent, they have to be accountable for that—it’s not about whether I am failing to be my own best advocate.” And Tom said, “Right, puppy. All you can do is clearly define your boundaries, and remember that you don’t owe anything to anyone who refuses to respect them.” And the puppy said, “Thank you for always treating me kindly, Tom.” And Tom said, “Thank you for always treating me kindly, puppy.” And then someone hushed them, because they were talking in the Abbey, and they giggled.

(via Tom Hardy and a Puppy Visit Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey)

“Tom,” said the puppy, licking Tom’s chin, “sometimes I feel jealous of other puppies, because they do more tricks than I do, or do the same tricks that I do but better. And then I feel bad.” And Tom asked, “Why does it make you feel bad, puppy?” And the puppy said, “Because I feel sad that I can’t just be happy for the other puppies, and because it makes me feel like I’m not good enough.” And Tom said, “We live in a terrible culture of judgment, puppy, and it encourages jealousy—but envy is a very destructive instinct. You are good enough, just as you are.” And the puppy said, “In my doggy brain, I guess I already know that.” And Tom said, “Think of it this way, puppy: You are only capable of what you are capable. Sure, there might be puppies who do more tricks, or do the same tricks better, but you have your own unique talents that they don’t have. We can only do what we can do. We can’t do what someone else can do. And we have a choice about how to respond to that: We can be jealous and wish we were someone we aren’t, or we can celebrate the accomplishments of other puppies and people, and recognize our own talents, investing our energies making sure we do best what we can do best.” And the puppy said, “You’re right, Tom. Admiration and achievement feels way better than jealousy and self-criticism.” And Tom said, “There’s enough room on this big planet for everyone to be special, and for everyone to be loved for their special qualities.” And the puppy said, “Love really does always win, inside us and out.” And Tom gave the puppy THE BEST TREAT. (via Tom Hardy and a Puppy Visit the Jolly Greet Giant in Blue Earth, Minnesota)


“Tom,” said the puppy, licking Tom’s chin, “sometimes I feel jealous of other puppies, because they do more tricks than I do, or do the same tricks that I do but better. And then I feel bad.” And Tom asked, “Why does it make you feel bad, puppy?” And the puppy said, “Because I feel sad that I can’t just be happy for the other puppies, and because it makes me feel like I’m not good enough.” And Tom said, “We live in a terrible culture of judgment, puppy, and it encourages jealousy—but envy is a very destructive instinct. You are good enough, just as you are.” And the puppy said, “In my doggy brain, I guess I already know that.” And Tom said, “Think of it this way, puppy: You are only capable of what you are capable. Sure, there might be puppies who do more tricks, or do the same tricks better, but you have your own unique talents that they don’t have. We can only do what we can do. We can’t do what someone else can do. And we have a choice about how to respond to that: We can be jealous and wish we were someone we aren’t, or we can celebrate the accomplishments of other puppies and people, and recognize our own talents, investing our energies making sure we do best what we can do best.” And the puppy said, “You’re right, Tom. Admiration and achievement feels way better than jealousy and self-criticism.” And Tom said, “There’s enough room on this big planet for everyone to be special, and for everyone to be loved for their special qualities.” And the puppy said, “Love really does always win, inside us and out.” And Tom gave the puppy THE BEST TREAT.

(via Tom Hardy and a Puppy Visit the Jolly Greet Giant in Blue Earth, Minnesota)