An Important Reminder from My Dog to Me… and to You

It was another typical night bringing my dog out to relieve herself just before we all sat down to relax and watch T.V. I was not in the best of moods as my obsessive mind cycled through past, present, and future anxieties of life. It was also cold, and I just wanted her to do her business as quickly as possible. Thank god for the leash attached to my hand because without it, I would have forgotten all about my beautiful little potato sniffing the grass for the best area to mark her territory. That’s how lost in my head I was.

Partially snapping out of my daze, I realized she had not gone yet and I began to get impatient. “Rosie! Hurry up and poop already!”. But she continued to walk, sniff, and indulge herself in the sounds of the wind. I grew more and more aggravated by the second, swearing under my breath and praying this dog would do something. Praying that life would speed up and bring me to a place of warmth, internally and externally. Because it was true, I had been growing colder by the day. It’s like I feel nothing, and this anxiety is only increasing the void. “Hurry up god dammit!” I screamed in my head to the Gods above. Only to realize Rosie wasn’t doing anything at all anymore. She was merely staring. As I was about to shout at her again, even my clustered mind couldn’t resist my curiosity for what she was looking at. Following her gaze, my eyes met a very cool looking sky, the exact sky shown above, and instantly, the thoughts I previously had became distant for a moment. I relaxed my body and my mind, embracing what was in front of me. What was around me.

I looked down at my dog, laughing at myself for how I could be so ignorant and grumpy and to almost miss something so beautiful. It’s like she knew I was stressed and was trying to tell me the entire time, “Hey dummy, would you just look up and breathe already?”. I thanked Rosie for the important reminder. Not even the sound of my voice or a pat on the back could break her stare, though. That’s the amazing thing with dogs, and amongst other animals too. Their seemingly effortless ability to remain present and mindful of their environment. I envy, study, and appreciate it all at the same time. It’s something I constantly recognize as my dog smells, tastes, touches, hears, and sees what earth has to offer throughout each day. Making the most of her senses and prioritizing them as her main source of happiness.

It’s a reminder I use and attempt to incorporate into my life. While although I don’t think I could ever achieve her level of mindfulness, it’s crucial that I continue to acknowledge and appreciate its importance. Start with observing your pet and eventually, you will learn how to match their energy and outlook of the world around you. To take it for what it is, without judgment or requiring an explanation. To just be there and satisfy your senses. I know it’s not easy. Some anxieties and shit humans endure are so painfully distracting to just put aside. But we got to at least try. It's going to take time and practice. Even if you need to use a reminder like a dog, a squirrel, a friend, a sketchy infomercial, a bag flying in the wind, whatever the hell it is, use it to remind yourself of the present. To remind yourself of the important.