Doggos

What is mans best companion have to do with a blog about self improvement. Well I will tell you! Dog’s are loyal, adoring creatures. They are always in the present, and have the absolute biggest hearts. They greet us when we come home from a long day, tails wagging or bodies for some. Dogs are accustom to a routine and balance. There are certain things that you do at certain times and thats that. They follow authority, unless you aren’t their alpha. Who’s in charge at your home, you or your dog? Dogs are protectors and guardians. They protect their homes and humans from all sorts of dangers, including that shifty eyed squirrel that toys with them. These canines can sense our feelings and support us through whatever we need. All of these qualities can show us how to be within ourselves. Perhaps we should look at them for inner guidance.

I have to say that during this pandemic the one creature thats been by my side is my dog Snappy. (Bear dog, bearburry, Bubb, Bubbalicious, bubbasaurus Rex and so on.) Without his company I don’t know if I would be making it through with my sanity. I am so grateful for this little pain in my butt because he is loving and amazing. Everyday I get to wake up to this little dog who is just so excited to see me and play. All throughout the day I am constantly talking to him, or fighting with him, playing with him, and babying him. How many of you treat your dogs like this? I don’t know what it’s like to have kids so I imagine it can be like this. Not saying that raising a kid is the same as a dog. Relax.

But think about dogs, these non judgmental animals just are. They show their feelings in the moment, and are always right here right now. They don’t dwell on the past, or compare themselves to other dogs. (Snappy: Well look at him, he can’t pull of the fancy sweater I wear. He looks lame.) See you don’t see dogs doing that. Animals learn boundaries and follow through on them unless you turn your back and they steal the steak you have been marinating off the counter. Humans on the other hand dwell on the past or the future.They seek outside themselves for happiness. The present is a non existent factor in our lives, and a lot of us do not have good boundaries. So knowing all these things that we do, and the way dogs are, wouldn’t you want to chose the same kind of happiness as a dog? Like being present in every moment. Not worrying about the future, about how everything will turn out, or how things are out of our control. But instead taking each moment we live as a choice of being present.

Now before you go all well we are of higher intelligence because we have choice and emotions and higher functions. I want you to take that out of the equation. Stop dwelling on the logic of this, expand a little. The point is not to be a dog but to embrace the qualities they have of being here now. What are some ways you can be here now? Spend some time in your house with your family or pets or by yourself. Just watch the sunset fully. Don’t take pictures of it or anything else. Allow yourself to just see it. Look at all the marvelous colors and shades that dance in the sky. Watch the dusk set in and the haze of colors changes to darker tones. Just allow yourself to be present in one thing fully. Utilize all your senses and see how you feel after. If you want to lick something by all means do it. So what? Just don’t spread those germs to others. This exercise is not to be judgmental or label things, it’s about just being.

How can you exist more in the present? Can you catch those racing thoughts you have about worry, or stress, or panic? Can you stop them and just be in the moment? I know this is hard thing to be in, I have a hard time myself. The thing I learned from it though is the more present I am the less stress I feel. It’s as soon as I start to think my body goes into stress freak out mode. So be like a doggo, in the present and ready for now. Woof Woof!