As seen in the Dayton Daily News on March 9, 2013.
My dog is the smart one around here.
As I pull into my driveway, I’m greeted by my dog, her eyes watching for my car to stop and her tail wagging in sweet anticipation of my car door opening. Before I can get out, she puts her head in my lap, looks up with big brown eyes and wags her tail. She is that excited to see me. She’s not looking to see if I brought her something, doesn’t care what I’m wearing or what kind of car I’m driving. She just wants to see me.
She always greets my children in a like manner. As they come down the stairs in the morning, she meets them with great enthusiasm, even though the only thing they ever give her is a pat on the head. This makes me stop to think, what do I do when my children come down the stairs first thing in the morning?
She’s doesn’t become jealous or bothered by the fact that others might have more than her. She has everything she needs, in us. My dog has figured out that relationships are more important than things.
This causes me to step back and ponder. Can my dog teach me how to be happier and appreciate those around me? My dog has few material things: a couple of toys, a leash and pillow to sleep on. But even these things don’t make her happy unless I’m included with them.
She doesn’t play with her toys unless I’m playing with her. The leash is not exciting unless I’m on the other end of it. And she only sleeps on the pillow, if I’m in the room where the pillow is. When we do go for a walk and encounter another dog, she’s not looking to see if the other dog has a designer collar, she just wants a friend.
If we moved to a smaller house, she wouldn’t care. In fact, she would be just as happy if I pitched a tent in the backyard and invited her in. She just wants to be close to me. I make her happy, regardless of the stuff that surrounds us.
So, my dog has taught me something. The material things in my life should have a lot less value to me than the people in my life.
Life is more about who is next to you and less about what is next to you. I need to worry more about developing relationships and spending time with my loved ones, and less about accumulating things.
Unfortunately, my dog will pass someday. I won’t keep any of her belongings. She has taught me that extra things like this just pile up and get in my way. It’s her memory that I will keep with me.
She is beside me now on her pillow as I write this article. I look down at her and think, how could a mutt from the pound be so smart about life?
Thank you Heidi for reminding me…Life is for loving, not for having.