Dogs have been one of the most pleasurable parts of my
existence here on this earth. The connection I personally have with the canine
kind is simply awesome. They make me smile and they take stress away like a hot
knife into butter.
Who would ever believe that an animal that chases it’s own
tail and sniffs the behinds of every dog he meets could have such an amazing
impact on my life. But it’s true. If you pay close attention, you too will
learn a bunch from these furry hooligans.
See, here’s the
thing. Dogs keep life simple and they revel in the smallest of blessings.
They don’t expect much – a little love and some food each day. What humans
should learn from these creatures is that many times simple will trump
sophisticated and complex.
So I now share with you five simple lessons my fury best
friends have taught me in this life. These subtle messages have changed me
forever.
1.
Be
excited and wag your tail for anyone who takes the time to come visit you.
Dogs are not judgmental and they aren’t too busy to take a break and provide a
proper greeting. And they expect us to treat them the same way. Wag your tail
for others a bit more. Greet people you don’t know with a smile. It will be
paid back to you multiple times over.
2.
Exercise
is the way to make me happy. The biggest thing our boy Rudy looks
forward to every day is his four-mile walk in the woods with Cindy. He barks
the whole drive to the park and has “happy ears and tail” for all four miles.
And then he is a happy boy all day thereafter. He has spent time out in nature
and he did it with his best friend. Simply amazing! Exercise is a healthy
ingredient in anyone’s life. Try it – you will have happy ears as well!
3.
The
simplest things can be the most fun. Otis loved to play tug with
an old tube sock tied into a knot. And sometimes he would just toss it into the
air himself and chase it up and down the hallway. I loved watching the joy this
gave him. A sock with a knot in it. No touch screens. No batteries. No
Bluetooth. And no membership fees. Just a boy and his old sock. So simple, but
sooooo much fun. Don’t overcomplicate fun. Keep it simple and it will be
satisfying for you and others around you.
4.
Slow
down and take a nap in the sun. There aren’t many things our dogs
enjoy more than a good nap in the sun. It could be 100 degrees outside and Peet
will nap on the deck. Dogs know the value of recharging - to be ready for the
next wrestling match or chasing of a squirrel. Our favorite way of recharging
is going camping in the mountains and doing practically nothing. We become one
with nature and keep it simple. And … we take naps. Life these days is just
crazy busy for so many of you. Take a nap when you can – you will feel like a
new person.
5.
Bark
less. It’s that simple. Why? Did you ever notice that the dogs that
bark the most either get ignored or receive negative feedback from the owners
and/or neighbors? Nobody likes a barking dog. Often times they don’t even know
what they are barking at – they may be barking just because they hear other
dogs barking. The same things happen with people. Barking too much is a sure
way to be ignored or be reprimanded. As the bumper stickers say, WAG
MORE, BARK LESS!
The world around you can teach you so much. Keep you eyes
open – great life lessons are around every corner. Thank you Smokey, Otis,
Nikki, Rudy and Peet – you have collectively made me a much better person!
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