In the last number of months, I’ve noticed myself running through my life, feeling busier and often more frantic than I ever have before. There have been many days lately that, as I’m working away on my computer or racing around getting ready for a long day of meetings, or classes, I have found myself longingly looking at my dog, and noticing how relaxed and perfectly content she looks. It’ll stop me dead in my tracks as I look at her with envy, lying on her bed and sleeping restfully. Because my flurry of activity will have abruptly stopped for me to look at her, she’ll wake up, gaze up at me lovingly to see what it is I want, and when I say nothing, she’ll put her head back down and gently close her eyes again. I will be left standing there, noticing how wonderful her life seems. I will shake my head and acknowledge to myself that it must be time for a vacation. And on I will run, through the day.
But these brief encounters with my dog have been happening more and more frequently lately and it’s got me thinking. What is it about her that is jarring me out of my flurry of mental activity for those brief moments? And what in the world do I have to be envious of in my dog? Here’s what I’ve come up with…
1) My dog absolutely loves her life and she expresses her love for it with abandon. I guess I have to admit that I have reached that certain point with obligations, responsibilities, and work, where my love for my life has begun to erode. And I can’t seem to walk past my dog anymore without noticing the stark contrast between my dog’s enthusiasm for life and my lack of it.
2) My dog loves her people, and everyone is her people. She is so happy to see each and every human being who walks through our front door and welcomes them like they are just the person she was hoping would come over. And she is delightedly engaged with anyone who will talk to her or pet her. You know, when I am busy, like I am right now, the last thing I want are people coming through my front door or phoning to shoot the breeze. Not nice.
3) My dog always gets her needs met. When she is tired, she just lays down and gets herself a little nap. And when she’s done, she wakes up and has a big old stretch that you just know feels good. When she’s thirsty, she finds water wherever she can get it (and I mean, wherever she can get it) and quenches her thirst until it’s gone. Sleep, stretching, sustenance…ah, these things seem so far away when I am over-the-top busy.
4) My dog doesn’t just enjoy going for walks, she lives for going for walks. The leisure, the exercise, the fresh air, the socializing with other dogs, the romping, the exploration of the same old ‘hood like she’s never seen it before, the claiming of territory (aka peeing on every tree and post) - these things give her meaning in life. I sometimes find myself questioning, why am I doing all this again? Where did the joy go?
I guess I have to admit that I am too busy. There. I’ve done it. I want what my dog has; a love for life, a desire to connect with people, the ability to get my needs met, and a joyful sense of purpose in life. And now that I’ve said this, I can make it happen. I am going to pluck out of my schedule what doesn’t need to be there, I am going to delegate a whole lot more, I am going to give my time to my friends and family (not to Youtube!), I am going to do again those things that make my spirit sing and give meaning to my life like gardening, running, reading novels. Thanks, Tilly, you’re a good dog!
Written by Devony Baugh
Graduate Intern at The Shanti Counselling Centre
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