The average dog has one request to all humankind. Love me.
~Helen Exley
My beloved Maggie, my Golden Retriever has obviously NOT been keeping up with the daily news. She remains blissfully unaware that we are immersed in a political campaign that is highly more effective at making people laugh on Saturday Night Live than actually solving the world’s problems. She does not know that for some people, my great grandmother’s advice of saving our money under mattresses and in sock drawers is starting to sound like sage advice indeed. She does occasionally cock her pretty little head from side to side if people start to have conversations that take on a worried tone and will be happy to come up to you to lick all of your troubles away and let you know that there is still plenty of fun to be had out here.
She will be happy to frolic and run with you, jump through her hool-a-hoop, show you her outstanding collection of stuffed animals that she proudly carries all over the house and if you are interested, will engage in a playful game of tug-a-war.
She is much more interested in the idea that company will come and visit, that the birds will stop by the bird feeders in the garden and that her primary job of keeping rabbits out of the vegetable garden is well done.
Maggie is happy every single day. Blissfully, joyfully, simplistically grateful for a bowl of food, children to play with and the honor of being by my side. ( Pretty exciting, I know) She doesn’t seem to yearn or strive for the things that wait off in the distance, tempting and taunting the rest of us. She has everything she needs.
She has love. She has family. She has food. She gets to work some everyday and play some everyday.
And she gets to take a nap whenever she wants one.
Simple? For a dog maybe.
For us? It’s harder, but it can be done. If we can’t live our entire life living the life of a dog, can we take little Maggie breaks? Can we squeeze in little non-worry moments to turn off the world in our heads and just play, focus on the simple wonderful things that life is still offering in the middle of the daily storm? Can we find the fun? Do we remember to look?
Can we schedule in time for a nap or time for tea or time for meditation?
One thing that Maggie is great at every day is balance. I could learn a lot from my dog. She runs around like a nut, giving everything her entire focus, energy and attention. Then she is done. She just stops. Time for A REST. She doesn’t look guilty about it either. She just goes and lays on her blanket and checks out for awhile. Then she comes back fully restored, happy again to give it her all.
She spends ZERO amount of time thinking about the bad stuff. Only about the things in her world that she can control. Worry doesn’t bog her down. She is too busy looking forward to the next fun moment up ahead. As long as we are going to be around to play and hang out, all the world is good for her.
I think she has her priorities in order.
I’m off for some playtime and then…maybe a nap.
Wendi Kelly is a coach who helps her clients transform their mindsets, strategies and habits so they can go from confusion to clarity and fill their lives with love, joy and productivity. Need to get your mindsets clear so your life and business can get on track? Contact Wendi and have a chat about how she can help you turn around your patterns and lifestyle once and for all!
Hi Wendi – you make a great point. Life probably would be easier as a dog sometimes. But I guess we’d not be in control so much and we wouldn’t face these challenges that make us stronger. Still, it would be nice to take those naps whenever we wanted to do.
Cath Lawson’s last blog post..Be A Business Success Story, No Matter What Your Age
And she gets to take a nap whenever she wants one.
Can we squeeze in little non-worry moments to turn off the world in our heads and just play, focus on the simple wonderful things that life is still offering in the middle of the daily storm?
Can we find the fun?
Do we remember to look?
Can we schedule in time for a nap or time for tea or time for meditation?
Oh Wendi! Thank you, thank you, thank you! For reminding me just how neat my life is at this moment. I can and do all the above, like Maggie. Even when reading this and knowing I will miss my Eldest Cat Missing (he will be euthanized tomorrow). . . .
21 years of feline and female that encompass more memories that I can write about! He will always be my Seiko Cat. He was my
“official time keeper” and knew when to alert me it was time to quite pouting about something and move forward. When it was time to truly relish a moment of living. He will be so missed!
Again, Wendikins,
Bless you for reminding me of just what a special time of this life journey – I am within!
Ms. O
Isn’t it amazing how much we can learn from our animal friends? Mine have taught me so much about life and I am eternally grateful to them. Perhaps the greatest lesson is unconditional love, something that dogs have clearly mastered. My aunt believes there’s a reason that DOG is GOD spelled backward. She thinks dogs are agents of the divine sent here to teach us. She may be onto something.
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..Writing for Animals
Maggie’s got it right! I think we get caught up in our lives too often, and don’t take the time to just be. And have fun. This also reminds me of little kids. I’ll take our little guy (4th grade now, not so little). He loves to play, and he loves to help out in the kitchen or out in the yard. Because that feels right to him. It’s not about having to get dinner made. It’s helping because he really wants to do that. And then he wants to play with me. Or his brother. Because that feels right to him. And it’s a good lesson for us adults. Enjoy life. Do what feels right.
Maggie is very wise (and fun!) – she’s a keeper!!
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I love it when they lie with their belly exposed, with their paws up like that.
That’s a sign of pure contentment and trust.
When i see that, it’s impossible for my blood pressure to NOT go down.
Friar’s last blog post..Assorted Friar-O-Lanterns
Wendi,
Don’t forget that another one of Maggie’s jobs is “midwest distributor of dirty socks”. Just when you thought you were out of dirty socks, she drops one at your feet. 🙂
Love,
John
Wendi, thank you so much for saying this and saying it so beautifully! Maggie has the right idea. I know many will think impossible, but you know what we can live a life of peace and balance even in the midst of these times. Yes, life does have challenges, sometimes heartbreaking, soul wrenching challenges but there are also so many things that we could truly let go. We allow our hearts and minds to be poisoned by “stuff” that in the big scheme of things really is not all that important. Luckily for those of us who don’t have a Maggie, we have a Wendi! 🙂
Wendi,
You’ve touched on something I’ve been noticing for a long time, since we’ve had Lucy in our family. We can learn so much from animals! Sometimes I look at Lucy and envy her. I say, Ah, it’s a dog’s life, eh, Wiggle? And she sighs and slowly rolls onto her back and says, That’s right! Now scratch my belly!!
Both Rebecca Smith and I wrote posts a while ago about what we have learned from our dogs. Mine is here:http://stephvandermeulen.wordpress.com/2008/05/22/all-i-need-to-know-i-learned-from-my-dog/
There’s another upside down dog pic there for Friar, though he has seen it already. 🙂
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@Cath,
I think one of the great balancing acts is the juggle between being in control and letting go. A tough one for Sure!
Ms O,
Hugs to my my dear dear friend. Know that I am thinking about you on this day ( Now OCtober 8th) and know that you are not making this journey alone- today or any day. Prayer and thoughts of loving friendship travel with you where ever you go.
Melissa, I also think that DOG and GOD have a lot in common! Well at least MY dog….I’ve met a few that have been a little confusing. 🙂 God doesn’t tend to yap as much!
Well, and if he/she is, maybe we are better at just not hearing it.
Lance- Enjoy Life do what feels right- yep, I’m sure Maggie would agree. And you are right, when I was a pre-school teacher, I would have to say that my 3 year olds knew it as well. The more we *grow up* the more we forget.
Friar,
Maggie sleeps splayed wide open all the time. Open and unafraid of the world. She is the most relaxed dog I have ever met. You can’t help but relax around her.
John,
Hahaha! Yes, I guess she does have a very busy work life. Her resume would be long wouldn’t it?!
MIdwest Dirty Sock distributor, Gardian of the vegetable garden, Key Security officer for Rabbit Patrol, Nanny to the children, Official Watch Dog of the front door, Hospitality greeter of all guests, Primary Licker of wet skin after a fresh shower…..Helper with all things shoe related…
hmmm. It goes on and on…
Karen,
You are so sweet~ but I don’t think I hold a candle to Maggie. I’m still learning. Luckily she tells me that she will help me to write a little Maggie book to teach us what she knows. It’s on the list… 🙂
We can learn a lot from our pets, can’t we? I say similar things about my 2 cats. They love, snuggle, play, eat, poop, sleep. That’s it. Basic needs are met, they are content. We, as humans, require so much more. I myself would like to get back to basics. My cats and it sounds like your dog, have a very nice life!
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When I was reading the first half of this post, I was thinking your dog has many of the same happy qualities of my young children. Other than typical tantrums, my boys are happy and oblivious to the worries of the world. They inspire me to create more Maggie moments in my life.
Stacey / Create a Balance’s last blog post..Join the Life Balance Group Writing Project
awww! yea!!!!!
Darren Daz Cox’s last blog post..On fine art, as the world burns…
…though just how calm would your doggie be, if a SQUIRREL suddenly ran in front of her!?
😀
Friar’s last blog post..More Friar-O-Lanterns (*)
Some days I think I wouldn’t want to be a dog. For instance, they have to sleep in crates at my house and they can’t eat the yummy steak dinner I had the other night.
But most days, yes, it would be good to take on the simplicity of a dog’s life.
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Naps have terrific value. I try to take one every chance I get.
My dog is exceptionally happy, too. My cat on the hand, has her days. 🙂
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I could echo every word. Ginger, my Golden Friend and Love of my Life is my mentor about all that has meaning.
In fact, I am convinced that when we resolve our karma and awaken, we come back as a GR.
Blessings!
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((((((((((((Wendi))))))))))))
Many thanks for you kind words.
Ms. O
Wendi, it is never a bad thing to take a nap, unless it’s at work during a meeting!! It’s true, our pets only care about making us happy and that in turn makes them happy! Say hi to Maggie & Murphy for me!
Jenny’s last blog post..Moments
If I could just work in taking a nap whenever I want, all would be well with the world.
I’m checking out…
Oktober Five’s last blog post..What Will You Do When You Find Out Who You Are?
It’s amazing how much we can learn from a dog or a pet. It’s a great reminder to us on how our lives can be much happier if we are joyful every day. I also take naps every now and then if I need to. My body tells me that it needs the rest. No guilt!
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Wow, I must have been taking a long nap! Look at all of you popping in with comments! Hi everyone!
Evelyn, I haven’t mastered the no guilt part of napping yet- I wish I could- I have that busy Mom thing- I always feel like there is too much to do…
October five- Welcome! Glad you are here! Enjoy your peaceful nap, this is a nice place to rest.
Jenny, Maggie and Murphy say Ruff ruff!
Mistress O, I hope the days are getting a little better. ((( Olivia 🙂 )))
Harmony, the picture of your GInger is precious, she is beautiful!
Stacey Shipman,
I love cats, I am allergic to them..but I adore them. I love the way they march to their own drummer.
Stacey/ Create a Balance
KIds and dogs DO have a lot in commen,in fact my kids and dogs play together very well. ( It’s getting my kids to do the work part that’s the challenge!)
Darren, Hi! Good to see you!
Friar, Maggie LOVES to chase Squirrles as much as rabbits. She almost catches them!. She is FAST!
Pink,
Yeah, Maggie sleeps on a comfy pillow right next to my bed. No crates, not since she was a puppy. She has the good life. Even the occasional treat steak. She is spoiled I guess. 🙂
Jamie, I learned the hard way how important sleep is! Now I take naps. I need them!