Savor the Now: Dog Gone Good Advice for Living in the Present

Ever find yourself speeding through life wondering when you could slow down to savor the here and now? You know, to fully live in the present without a care in the world?

I challenge you to stop in your tracks (just keep reading). 😉 Fully engage in a short adventure.

Savor the now.

Please stop and smell the proverbial roses. It’s just plain good to practice this in our life and business in general.

Hope you don’t mind, but I’m sharing a personal story to convey some insights. As an outdoor aficionado, when it’s sunny I love to lie in the grass– it’s how I slow down and soak up the beauty of life. My beloved, Happy, an aging Labrador usually hunts me down and makes my bed of grass even more special. Here’s our selfie to prove it.

Recently during a google search of how to best care of my aging furbaby, I came across a website. Something spectacular caught my attention. It was a response to a blog post and this is what I’m so inspired to share with you. I believe it offers oodles of insight.

Friends, this is where the “savor the now” lesson bubbles to the surface! Please, enjoy.

Wisdom from a six-year-old and his dog

Dr. Paula wrote, “Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience. The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker ‘s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ”I know why.”

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.

He said,”People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The Six-year-old continued,

”Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.”

Source: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/caring-for-an-older-labrador/

I’m grateful for you in this present moment.

Thanks for joining me for a bit to savor the now. It’s all we really ever have. Let’s be more like that Irish wolfhound providing our loved ones with lessons in living in the present, and fully enjoying life.

When circumstances call, let’s remember to avoid biting when a simple growl will do. Oh! And let’s go for more joy rides and naps.

Over to you! In the comments below share with us what you like to do to savor the now? Think about it, you may provide us with some of the best advice for enjoying the roses.