dogs

Masters of Life

Walking with two dogs through a beautiful place. I never wonder where they are or if they’ll run away. The always make sure I am close at hand. I like to watch them run up and down the small hills that roll throughout this wonderful place. It fits them. They never have any worries and they always find new things to explore. They’re happy down in the valleys or on the pointy, tops of the sandy dunes.

Their lives are simple. The chase dreams and illusions and spend their time with sand and cold air in their fur. they have no grand plans or any purpose other than to enjoy my company and this place; this magical place. They have no need for all the things that fill my head.

I think. I realize that I do not have need for all the things in my head. That’s why I like this place, this magical place. The dogs remind me that this place is important, and it should be important. As I walk I watch them, with their tongues hanging out and their eyes full of glory and happiness. I watch them and I realize that I am a student of these masters of life. And they, they are students of this place. This magical place.

Helping

There is something about helping that can raise the spirits, make the world seem brighter. Even if it is a thankless thing, an anonymous hand that pulls the string, a minute to stop is all it takes.

Don’t expect to be thanked. Don’t expect the world to stop and graciously bow before your helping hand. Don’t expect anything but know that it does make a difference. Just look in the eye of that dog you stopped to help, or that cat that needed a hand. Just look in the eye of that person.

Money, yes, but better is time. Help by giving your time. If you can, give as much as you can. It’s amazing how fulfilling, how wonderful, and how life opens up when you give that thing that we all take for granted. Time is amazing.

Do what you can. Do what is needed. Do the right thing. Give the world your time and smile as the warm feeling of happiness fills you. Help til you’re tired. Help until you need to help others. Help yourself.

Help is that sort of happiness that so many don’t believe exists. Help them to understand that it truly does. It truly does.

Lessons From My Dog

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About five years ago I got a dog, Maggie. Now understand: a dog was not part of the plan. However, in the five years that Maggie has been with me she has become part of the plan. When I hike, she goes with me. When I camp, she sleeps in the tent often under my sleeping bag. She is not so much needy as demanding. I understand that people with dogs often get a bit “crazy” (“doggy” as I’ve heard it put), but there is a difference between crazy and caring. Crazy comes from the need to fill a void; care comes from a conscious decision to change. I have found that I truly care for Maggie because I am more than willing to change for her.

The first change I have had to make because of my dog is to understand that anger is not the answer no matter what the occasion. Maggie’s face give me solace and I am reminded that she does not understand anger and because of her naivety my anger must be “redirected”. At first, this angered me… But now the energy wasted and my talent for profanity in two languages must find respite and so I tried silence. However, as any good dog owner will tell you: they know. I continue to be a student, if not a very good one, but Maggie is a good teacher.

The second change I have had to make because of my dog is to understand that Listening is essential for any good relationship. The ability to communicate with another human is difficult enough, but I have since found that communication with your dog (and with most other animals) is not only possible, but indispensable. Maggie reminds me that communication is in fact a two-way street. To communication we must listen. I will repeat Maggie’s lesson: we…must…listen.

The third change that I have made because of my dog is to understand that while sincerity may not be comforting, it is never out of place. Like the anger, Maggie can sense sincerity. It is not enough to feign the truth as it is not enough to feign peace. However, being truthful is always worth it, but only if it is sincere.

The fourth change that I have made because of my dog is to understand that lying doesn’t count. Maggie does not put up with lies, even small ones. She is truly, well, hurt. If I say we are going to “go”, then we must “go”! It is often easy to lie to each other as human beings and sometimes we do it for good reason, but Maggie reminds me that lying does not hurt any less no matter the reasons that we have.

I am aware that these lessons are nothing new, but I was never aware that I could actually become a student of my dog. When we first picked her up at the pound, we took her to dog training classes. However, a few lessons in and we dropped the class because the teacher was teaching the wrong student. Maggie has taught me something that I think we all need to be reminded of, at least once a day: don’t lie and don’t get angry when others do it. Always communicate as clearly and sincerely as possible. Oh, and if you’re going to kiss someone, do it like you mean it!