Try It, You'll Like It!

This week I have been studying the differences between theoretical and operational commitment.  Be the thing we want the world to be.  Give to others what it is we seek to receive.  Why is it such a challenge for us to become the things that we say we believe in.. peaceful, loving, kind, forgiving, passionate, thoughtful, romantic and even sweet.  It's easier to talk about these things in theoretical terms, "I wish for peace." But think about the difference and the impact of this statement when we make it operational, "I will be peaceful."  "They should be more kind, forgiving, etc." becomes, "I shall be kind, forgiving, etc." More powerful yet, "In this moment, where no one else is showing kindness, I choose to be kind to others."  It is a choice, one we must willfully elect to embrace... often times when being kind, peaceful, forgiving, etc., is not the most natural of reactions that we may gravitate toward.

Animals tend to embrace the philosophy of doing unto others as we would want done to us.  Momma says this is one of the gifts I bring in to her life, realizing that she has a choice to embrace and become the things she wishes the world were more of...  By showing and becoming the things we wish others were, we tip the scales and negate the negative influences.

Try it, I promise, you'll like it!

The Joy of a Friend

This week was a little hard for my momma.  She lost people she cared deeply about.  In my momma's profession, losing people happens with a a bit more frequency than one would imagine.  She, say's "that only serves to reminder her to love more honestly."

One of the people that passed was also my friend.  He was my momma's co-worker; Kevin, a gentle, kind and compassionate man.  I first met Kevin when momma would take me to say "hi" to her co-workers.  Kevin enjoyed spending time with me, and he thought that I was a good candidate for becoming a therapy dog, so a therapy dog I became!  Throughout the years, my momma would bring me to her place of work, a large hospital, where Kevin would often "baby sit" me.  He would take me to see patients and he would read to them while I sat by his side.  Kevin would also take me to the staff break rooms in the various units of the hospital.  I'd visit some of momma's co-workers, getting petted and fawned over while I nibbled on their apple slices.  When, at the end of the day, Kevin would return me to momma I'd have an "I've been good today" happy face sticker stuck on my therapy badge.  Momma peels off these stickers and places them in a date book along with a little handwritten note where she records what I did that day.

When momma took me to Kevin's office, he elected to share me with patients and his and momma's co-workers.  He understood and responded to the ebb and flow of humans needing doggy cuddles and doggies needing human cuddles.  Kevin helped to teach my momma balance... that by sharing the things you most love with the world, the world will give you more love in return. 

Each day I will thank the universe for sharing Kevin with me, and I will strive to be more generous in showing my love to others as a way to honor my friend.

You Can't Always Get What You Want

Often I see humans confused thinking they need more than they truly require.  "I need that" and "I want that" are phrases embedded in their lexicon, used interchangeably.  I have found however, that humans seldom use these words according to their true meaning.

Recently I was able to participate in various events designed to raise awareness about others plights.  This last Friday I joined my momma at a party where her co-worker, who understanding the difference between what he needs and what he wants, decided he had everything he needed and quit his job to volunteer with the Red Cross International.  Another function was through Twitter, where a number of animals gathered to celebrate a doggies birthday and raise funds for a charity of his choice, raising well beyond the intended goal.  At these activities there were stories told and internet links shared to help spread the word of others in basic need.  

 

Today on our afternoon walk in the park, my momma picked me up, hugged me and whispered to me that she was grateful that she had all that she needed... the basics of love, water, food and shelter.  Everything else, she said, were just things she wants, items she'd be fine without.

 

So like the song goes, it is true that you can't always get what you want, and that if you try sometime, you'll find, you get what you need. 

The Art of Just Being

Every now and then momma takes me to visit hospitals, nursing homes and hospice centers.  When I return from these trips I am often asked, "What do you do there Mattie?"  Well, here's what I do.....

I just be.  Sitting, allowing the moment to exist. 

My interactions are mellow, as I use my eyes and soft voice to communicate.  Most of my volunteer time is spent with the elderly or children who are sick, and in some cases passing from this earth.  They generally want the same things from me, to touch me and for me to stay with them.  Not to pet me as much as to touch me.  They place their hand on me and will move their fingers back and forth, but normally they touch me; and we can stay connected like this for quite some time.

It is in these moments that the people I visit become relaxed and have a venue to be free of their bodily discomfort.  These interactions allow the mind to free itself from the body, separate what is from what is not.  Momma says that if I sit with someone all day, and if for only a brief moment they float free, than it was worth our time.  I agree with this.

So, what I do on my visits is not all that unique.  It is what all animals do for humans....allow them to, well, just be.