January 11, 2019
Okay so I know this is a cliché sounding blog post but, I promise, I stayed away from the average, “My dog has taught me to be more loving and trusting” ideas. Not that my dog hasn’t opened my eyes to a new element of love and trust, but there are some other things that I’ve become aware of since adopting him. Things that maybe aren’t so obvious right away, but are no less profound.
Just to back things up a bit, Capone is not my first dog. I got my first dog when I was nine, but she quickly went from my dog to the family dog. But truly, I’m pretty sure her favorite was my mom. A year after she passed, my parents got another dog who I lived with for a couple of years but is very obviously theirs. That being said, Capone is the first dog that is 100%, heart and mind, my dog and I love every minute of it. So even though he has shown me a deeper sense of love and trust and patience… a whole lot of patience, there are 3 other things that I’ve learned from this sweet soul:
1. Don’t forget to notice and find joy in the small things. I usually take my dog on a walk twice a day. Once in the morning and once a night. A lot of people are surprised when I tell them I do this daily, but I actually enjoy our walks. The trouble is that our morning walk happens about two hours before I head off to work, our night time walk is two hours before we all go to bed and I am a very schedule- oriented person. I’ve noticed that I tend to power walk during these times, my head full of the next thing on my to do list. But then Capone stops, and I am yanked back to find him gazing at a bird sitting on a fence, a couple leaves being rolled down the street by the wind or a dragonfly duet. I used to interrupt his reverie so I could get back to my precious schedule, but it finally hit me. Was I really so busy that I couldn’t take 30 seconds to appreciate the beauty of some thing often overlooked? I can tell you now that I while I am busy, I’m not that busy.So, take time to notice the big picture, but remember that it’s the intricate details that make it beautiful.
2. A sincere apology (and your best “I’m sorry” face) is the best way to diffuse a tense situation. My dog is pretty well behaved. When we first adopted him, we were under the impression that he had a good-sized handful of behavior problems. We ended up being pleasantly surprised. However, I’ve found that I still get frustrated with Capone because the better he is, the higher my expectations become. And, of course, it is sadly easier to scold someone for what they did wrong instead of reflecting on how much progress they’ve made or how many things they’ve done right. The first time Capone slipped up we had left him home alone for a few hours, during which he decided to tear up my daily devotional and some workout gear. As he cowered and gave me his best babyface, I had to remind myself, “you are mad, you are mad right now”. The second time, he actually got ahold of my cherished pocket bible of ten years. I came home to it shredded all over the living room. I think my face may have turned red for a split second. But then, as I watched him put himself in his crate and look at me with those sad eyes I couldn’t help but forgive him. Now, I’m not saying bad doggy behavior is okay, but yelling and screaming is not going to change what happened. Capone’s behavior after his wrong- doing got me thinking about how I act after I’ve hurt someone. I don’t know about you, but I usually get more defensive that apologetic. But what if we were as sorry and upset with ourselves as our dogs are after they’ve upset us? I’m pretty sure we would have more friendships, less grudges and more laughter! Give it a try the next time you upset someone. Take a breath, give them your best apology and some puppy eyes never hurt either.
3. Just take a walk. Before getting Capone,I never really took walks. Pre- dog, I loved being outside, but when you work eight hours a day, five days a week, thinking about getting some daily sunshine is usually not at the top of your priority list. And if it is, good for you! I know I would have been that much happier if I had taken more time to explore the great outdoors (or the greatness of the planned community). Like I said earlier, a lot of people are so shocked when I tell them that I walk with my dog twice a day, but he and I both love it! Capone gets a little exercise and I get a little zen time. During our a.m. walk, I feel refreshed and energized by the crisp morning air. I am calmed and relaxed by the hazy colors of a sunset and the warmth during our evening walks. Not only are routine walks a great way to get outside, but they are a great way to maintain a healthy weight and to improve your mood. And you know what they say… “Motion is Lotion”, so if you ever feel stuck in a rut, take a walk and see how you feel after.
I hope these are things that you can apply to your own journey whether you have a dog or not. And if you don’t have a dog, you should get one, they’re the best 😉 I’d love to hear what you’ve learned from your dog, cat or kid?? Let me know in the comments and if you’ve made it this far thank you for reading!!
Xoxo
Amber
