Have you ever wondered why dogs seems so happy? They live in the moment, with no worries about tomorrow or ruminations about yesterday. A dog does not worry what others think, a dog enters a new situation or a room with its tail up, excited to explore a new space, new smells and meet new friends. Not us humans we have a whole manner of worries, ruminations and anxieties. If you have ever felt nervous entering a room full of strangers, worried what other people may be thinking, felt self conscious, or even wished you had not attended an event in the first place, you’ll know how that feels. We can all learn from dogs...
I have a dog called Tala, just watching her can fill my day with happiness and joy. She doesn’t judge, hate, care about money, hold a grudge and she is my best friend. Happy to play for hours with a tennis ball (of course rarely bringing back) and the biggest sticks she can find and we are talking tree trunks. She unlike us is certainly living in the moment.
I didn’t always want a dog, my daughter did. I worried about working full-time and as a single mum most people thought we were crazy when a little black labrador named Elsa stole our hearts. I needn’t have worried, despite chewing most of the house and all of our shoes she brought such joy and love to our lives. Elsa was the best of dogs and always there for the kids when home from school with a wag of her tail and lots of kisses; she’d patiently be waiting for her little family to be all back together. She taught us how to love unconditionally and when the dreadful day came when we lost her, how are hearts were broken…
We wondered could we love again? How could another dog replace this gaping hole in our hearts… of course love is infinite and hearts mend with time. Along came Tala another bundle of trouble and joy. The children are all grown up now so here we are together, my faithful pal, confidant, defender (yes even when no danger) who will love me until the last beat of her heart. She doesn’t see my flaws or judge my mistakes, just loves me unconditionally.
Someone once said, ‘Be the person your dog thinks you are’, I think wise words, let go of those unhelpful thoughts when you walk into a room of strangers, try being in the moment rather than in your head. Make time to get into nature, even for 15 minutes a day, play like a dog and above all remember to love yourself like dogs loves humans… unconditionally. And as Will Rodgers said:
“If there aren’t any dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.”
