Practicing Awareness

Sydney and Oliver after our Sunrise Walk

I am an account executive for a large technology company.  As a sales person, every moment that you are not working translates to a dollar that you are not earning.    I am also a certified yoga instructor - stark contrast, I know! As a yoga teacher,  I have encouraged my students to slow down, breathe, and become aware of the things that are happening around them.  The subtle change in temperature, a child's laughter, the color of the leaves.    Sometimes it can be difficult to practice what you preach.  Several months ago, my typical day started with waking up,  grabbing my iPhone, checking my schedule for the day and reading my corporate email - all before my feet hit the bedroom floor.  Before my morning coffee, I was already worrying about some issue that arrived in my inbox during the evening or how I would accomplish all of the items on my task list for they day.  Practicing awareness was impossible when my mind was already processing the day and the next day and when am I going to formulate my Thanksgiving menu?  When my son got Sydney back in May, I fell in love with her.  She woke me up every morning, howling to get her day started.  Forget the iPhone....there were more important things to do like eat, play and walk.  Her persistence inhibited my ability to think about anything other than what she wanted to do.  She sat with me while I drank coffee...okay, truthfully she knocked my coffee out of my hands, alot, but it made me laugh.  Her entire body wagged as she walked, and I giggled.  When she found a stick on the ground, you would have believed she had found a bar of gold - raising her head high and strutting as if to show the world her treasure.  At the dog park, she didn't know a stranger - people and pets, all shapes and sizes, she loved them all.  I, was taking notes.   She was full of life and the only thing that ever concerned her was that very moment.   She changed my routine for the better.  We don't always know why people or pets come into our lives but I am grateful for the change that she brought to mine.  Two days after my son left for college, with Sydney in tow, I made the decision to adopt Oliver.  I promised myself that I would wait a month before deciding if I was ready to add another puppy to our household but I could not resist little Latte Blue Dot's face. He just sat there, day after day, with this look of confidence and wondering why he was one of the last 2 of 10 that had not been adopted.  I just couldn't wait any longer and I am so glad that I didn't. So, I made it two days of the 30...whatever :).    Now my days begin with doodle cuddles, long walks, funny expressions and tons of giggles. Calmness surrounds me simply by holding Oliver in my lap or brushing his fur and that, my friend, is the way to start a day.  The iPhone now stays on my dresser until I check it at 8:30 when my work day begins. 

My son and Sydney have been visiting during their Fall Break this weekend and will head back to school today.   Oliver, Sydney and I took a long walk this morning and I had the opportunity to practice what I have so passionately told  my yoga students.  I took in every sound...Oliver and his heavy pitter patter, Sydney and the cute sounds she makes when she is exploring smells - you know that sound that they make on the "Lollipop" song when you pop the inside of your cheek with you finger?  Think very soft version of that.  (You just tried it, didn't you?).  We walked as the high schools kids made their way to the bus stop and I took in those sweet smiles that fill their faces when they see my puppies coming toward them.  We walked as the sun rose and I noticed the pinks and the yellows, we dodged sprinklers and I felt the chill in the water,  I observed Sydney and Oliver as they exchanged these glances...they were "retriever" glances - as if they had important things to smell and investigate.  I got to experience, once again, how a a big stick can bring a swagger to Sydney's walk and how Oliver sometimes appeared to emulate Sydney (she is the older one, you know).  I thought about how lucky I am ...  I have my son who is completing his last year of college and Jack, who is an Officer in the Coast Guard serving in New Orleans, I have 4 sweet doggies that each bring their own unique personality and gift  to my life. I have my health and I have a great job that sustains me - even if I don't read email at 5:30 a.m.  Thank you Oliver and Sydney for the reminder to slow down, to observe and to practice awareness and gratefulness.  Thank you for your little wet paws and your dirty little faces on the front porch.  My day will be better today thanks to you!  If you are reading this, take a big breath, open your heart, and for goodness sake, go hug a doodle.    Wishing you a glorious day.

Just another walk....or not.

Today is my 7th day of battling some allergy/sinus/nasty cold thing and I must say that I am over it!  As with most people, being sick really gets in my way.  It's amazing however, how walking with Oliver can lift my spirits - even if I feel like crud.  This morning we took a really long walk on sidewalks, tall hills and in the grass.  One of Oliver's favorite things is to jump with me over a fallen tree that is off the beaten path in my neighborhood.  His trainer suggested that if I was interested in therapy work (and possibly agility training), that he needs to be exposed to walking on different textures, hearing different noises, and working with or around obstacles in his path.  His eagerness to please is expressed clearly through his eyes and always makes me laugh.  He has the same expression everytime..."Where's my treat?"    This afternoon, even though the couch and a cup of hot tea were calling my name, I decided to take all 3 dogs for a walk.  Toward the end of the walk, we came across some of my neighbors and a new family that had just moved here from New Jersey.  There were 6 children playing in the front yard ranging in ages from 2-10.  I let Oliver's leash fall to the ground and he quietly wondered over to see the children.  They were running, playing badminton, shooting things into the air but he was quiet and he was calm.   Children are drawn to him because he is so soft.  As we were talking, the mother from New Jersey came over with a tear in her eye and pointed out her 10 year old daughter who was sitting on the ground with Oliver and running her hand along his back.  She said that her daughter was terrified of dogs and that typically when they come around she gets so nervous that she physically shakes.  But there she was, with Oliver, each as calm as the other.  He just sat there and I think he knew and so did she.  I am in awe of this precious gift every single day.  I don't know how I got so  lucky!  I know he is going to impact lives in the future through his therapy work if it turns out that is a path that he is comfortable with.  If not, I know he will make my days sweeter!  Before we left, he grabbed the birdie from the badminton game and began running through the yard - all of the kids running behind him.  Definitely regretted not having the camera!  He just sat down while all of the children gathered around him and one of dad's shot a photo off the whole gang.  The dad then looked at me and asked, "Could we borrow him for our Christmas card photo?"  Perhaps the fear of dogs for one 10 year old girl began to shift today.  Thank you, Oliver - for helping a little girl with her fear and for giving me yet another reason to smile. 

Sweet Bond

It's been too long since I have written.  I have a great excuse, though.  Every spare moment has been devoted to getting to know my new sweet companion, Oliver G.  He was a little shy when he arrived and I wondered if he would be the snuggle companion that I was hoping for. He tolerated my constant hugs but he was content to entertain himself.  The first few nights I had him in bed (shh!  don't tell anyone!), he slept at the foot of the bed.  As the days have passed,  he has grown more and more affectionate.  I had a lump in the throat moment earlier this week when I stepped out of the shower to find him curled around the strap to my robe.  He had maneuvered it into a little pile of "smells like my momma" and had wrapped himself around it. I thought to myself "The bonding has officially begun". He is becoming my constant companion, following me from room to room, always curious but never invasive.  He rests quietly at my feet while I work and never seems to mind that I periodically bring him into my lap for squeezes and kisses.  When we go to the park, he runs behind me with ears flying and tail wagging and what, I swear sometimes, looks like a smile. He is patient with my two older dogs even though they have been less than open to him.  I have no doubt he will win them over eventually.    He looks directly at me when he is afraid, hears loud noises,  passes strangers or other dogs, as if to say "Am I okay?"  To which I always respond, No worries, Oliver, I've got your back. And I do.


Oliver came from a breeder in Alabama, Sherri Smeraglia.  Sherri has not only blessed families with these beautiful fur babies, but using her website and social media, has built this community of caring and loving families who have brought her puppies into their homes.  I have had the opportunity to meet people online  from all over the country and they all have one thing in common - They Love Dogs!  The facebook members are a constant source of support for one another.  Just log on,  day or night and let the love, support, advice and funny stories just wash over you.  I have yet to escape without a tear or a belly laugh.  Love lives there. 

My friend, Rita, sent me an email tonight with a number of touching quotes about dogs, each designed, of course,  to tug at your heart.  One of the quotes was from Gilda Radner and I think it fitting for this post:   "I think dogs are the most amazing creatures.  They give unconditional love.  For me, they are the role model for being alive".    No one I know has escaped heartache or fear at some time in their life. It would be so easy to allow those experiences to harden our hearts.  Dogs don't think this way.  Regardless of what they have been through, they just love.    I hope that I take the time to learn from Oliver (and Leo, Chloe and Sydney) every single day.  I know that I will be a better person for it.