Smug was a kitten who thought she knew everything. She knew how to clean herself with her sandpaper tongue, how to sleep, eat, and keep warm, and how to sharpen her tiny claws.

One day, her mother wanted to teach Smug to climb trees. I don't need to learn this, thought Smug, I already know everything I need to know. 

Without much interest, Smug watched her mother climb a tall tree and come down again. When it was Smug's turn, she said, "I'll stay on the ground where it's safe."

Just then, a large black dog came trotting around the corner. 

Aren't we often like Smug, certain that we know all we need to know, or that we really don't need to know something another is trying to teach us? 

When we rid ourselves of the pride that keeps us from learning these things, we'll feel a little safer if any big black dogs come around the corner.

And we will have grown smarter by recognizing our need to know more.

When we feel abused or resentful, we need to examine our own part. Have we so mistrusted our own powers that we've not let ourselves see the chances life has dealt us?

It's important for us to recognize that we have a choice. If we're dissatisfied, we can choose to change. We can also choose not to change, and to complain about being stuck; but we should realize the choice is our own.

If we've had a long string of bad luck, maybe we need to look at what we're doing. If our self-esteem is very low, we may want to punish ourselves somehow, to prove that we're no good.

The knowledge that we're lovable and necessary people may have slipped away, and we may need to do some structural repair. 

But that's okay; we're worth the effort.