Pawverbs To Live Your Life By

If you have never had the pleasure of sharing life with a dog, you are missing out on one of God’s greatest gifts. I cringe when I hear people say they own or have owned a dog. While that may be true, they are free spirits. We can learn a lot about living from their behaviour.

If more people in the world acted like dogs, it would be a better place. You might say that is all well and good, but they attack people and bite them. That is only when their “owners” train them to be that way.

Here are three simple “PAWVERBS” to show how we can emulate their behaviour.

#1 Always take a break when you need one.

My two little dogs (Ella and Gi Gi) have a pretty good life, if I do say so myself. As soon as it is daylight, they are up and ready for action. We go for a walk most days along the beach. Back for breakfast, and then it is time for a nap.

During the day, they sleep, watch what's happening, and periodically get up to stroll outside. This usually leads to about half an hour of playtime. After that, it’s time for a break.

They have bursts of energy, running and playing hard. But they also know when to stop and rest.

I don’t know about you, but I often tend to overdo things and don’t know when to stop for a break. This usually ends badly; being so exhausted from what I have been doing, I am useless for much else.

#2 Live in the present, but always keep tabs on when the next meal is supposed to arrive.

Dogs certainly tend to live in the present, but it is wrong to assume they do not remember. People who adopt mistreated dogs know the challenges. It can be tough to help them feel safe and confident in a new home.

They tend not to waste too much time thinking about the future; tomorrow is a new day. What has been, has already happened. Their focus is very much on the here and now.

They are always aware of their surroundings, happy just to exist. As the image below shows, my two girls are always on the lookout for what is going on, just in case it might involve food.

The moral here is that for some of us, we spend too much time dwelling on the past; it can’t be changed. We can only learn from any mistakes we may have made.

Worrying about the future can be very destructive. It creates stress and fear. When we focus too much on the past or fret about the future, we miss a key part of life: living in the moment. Dogs do this very well.

#3 Don’t hide your enthusiasm; pure joy is refreshing to the soul.

Have you ever told a dog it is time to go for a walk?

The response is usually overwhelming. They show so much joy and excitement. Just watching their reaction brings you pleasure.

For my girls, it is the highlight of their day. If they haven’t been for a walk because, for example, it is raining, they are on edge until they do. I feel sorry for those dogs that never go for a walk.

The obvious reason is that they get physical exercise. Dogs love physical exercise. Dogs enjoy all those lovely smells on the lamppost or the grass. While we find them disgusting, they bring dogs sheer delight.

They also get to socialise with other dogs and people and to bond with you. This uninterrupted quality time strengthens your relationship and helps build trust. Why do dogs like walks so much? One reason could be the joy of spending time with you, without distractions, just the two of us exploring the world.

The pure joy expressed can be refreshing not only for them but also for you.

#4 A simple life is golden

Perhaps the greatest lesson we can learn from dogs is that a simple life is golden. They don’t overcomplicate things. Pats, play, food, walks, sleep, and trying to do the right thing. There is a lot to be said for a simple life. We tend to overcomplicate our lives with all sorts of distractions.

There is a reason “DOG” is “GOD” spelled backwards. It is because they definitely make us feel better.

Till next time,

Calvin