Oh, boy! since we’ve gotten a puppy, sleeping until 7am has become a luxury and a much awaited and treasured weekend activity. And I will tell you something else. There’s nothing, nothing! quite like a puppy to transform you into a 5am morning person, will you or nill you!
That being said, having a puppy in my life has been incredibly rewarding and enriching and I treasure our little pup and give thanks for every day that I get to walk, pet and take care of him.
I’ve also learnt quite a few things from him and I would like to share them with you down below:
1. Greet each day with joy
Each morning, without doubt, the pup is up before 5am and ready, with a wag in his tail, to start the day. He is present and excited regardless of our personal moods, of how busy we are and how much time we have for him that morning. He is always joyous upon waking up and in his own way, he is celebrating the arrival of a new day by being present, playful and joyful, no matter what is going on around him.
2. Sniff things before trying them
In between meals, we have gotten the habit of giving him ice cubes: he loves them, helped him sooth his teething and is a fun way for him to stay hydrated. We give him a couple every day, sometimes multiple times a day, but even after all this time, our pup first sniffs each one. Every time. The same goes for his food, water and pretty much anything else he sees on the ground.
In life, we can never know from the beginning the true nature of the things given to us or that come our way. So, perhaps adopting an attitude of healthy circumspection might just save us from trouble down the road. And if the things seem too good to be true, definitely give them a good “sniff” and consider them before trying.
3. Don’t bark back at angry things
On our daily walks, we inevitably encounter individuals that very clearly and from early on, let us know which category they subscribe to: friend or foe. They seem to be angry for no apparent reason and bark at us even before being properly introduced.
What Milo has been doing, and this might change of course, is look at them, consider, and then move on. Away he struts, from the angry barks cast at him, because there really isn’t any perfectly good reason to spoil a nice walk and a great new day by engaging with unhappy and disgruntled doggies.
We do offer, however, the bark salutation to postal office workers and neighbors that stop by or leave things at our door because well, he IS the king of our castle.
4. Try everything once
There has not been a pebble, a grass, a leaf or a bug that my pup has not tried. He embodies the truest definition of a “foodie” because he eats his food with so much gusto and never discriminates against anything we put in front of him AND will try absolutely anything that crosses his path. After giving it a good sniff, of course.
Applying this attitude to our own lives, at least when it comes to food, means that by trying new things and expanding our tastes and palate, we allow our bodies to receive lots of different nutrients, vitamins and minerals. The more colorful the plate, the better! I have spoken about this before but we really don’t know if we like something until we try it. Multiple times.
5. A walk a day keeps the bad mood away
I walk the pup every morning. It wakes both of us up, it heightens our senses to what goes on around us and sets the mood for the rest of the day. Whether sunny or rainy, chilly or warm, we strive for that morning walk.
We have to. The pup needs it, and I certainly benefit from it as well. I have always loved walking and it is my most favorite way to move my body but I have never done it so early in the day and so often. After two months, I can honestly say that a morning routine which includes a brisk, long walk has made such a big difference in evening out not only pup’s high energy levels, but my mood as well. We are both a little calmer, a little more centered and more bright eyed and ready for the day ahead.
Are you a dog person? I have to confess that before, I never thought of myself as such. But, it’s so nice to say “yes” to things and allow yourself to be pleasantly surprised in the process.
I hope you have a wonderful Sunday and much love, always!
Roxi
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