Dog Walk Wisdom
Small moments of joy and a little room to hear yourself
Some of the most enthusiastic members of our household have never made a vision board. They have no idea what’s on the to-do list, and absolutely no interest in whether the washing is up to date.
They do, however, have VERY strong feelings about going for a walk.
Bella and Benson, our gorgeous golden retrievers, are rather good at enjoying life. No five-year plan. No “let’s circle back on Thursday.” Just a wholehearted commitment to whatever lovely thing is happening NOW.
And I get SO much joy from watching them.
They’re not rehearsing tomorrow or replaying yesterday. They’re right here, taking it all in. And for a while, I get to be right there with them.
Commit to the sniff
A dog doesn’t glance at a smell. A dog INVESTIGATES it. Thoroughly. We see a patch of grass. Apparently, they see the complete neighbourhood newsletter, with several important updates since yesterday.
I’m not suggesting we all start inspecting the lampposts. Some things are best left to the experts.
But I do wonder how often I walk past something lovely because my head is already three jobs ahead of my feet.
Our recent family outings to Castle Hill markets have been a lovely reminder. So many smells to investigate! So many people to meet! And as far as our babies are concerned, there are no such things as strangers. Just friends we haven’t met yet.
Every person is a possible pat. Every pause is a possible chat. It’s hard to stay a stranger to a wagging tail.
Meanwhile, we humans can be halfway through something enjoyable and already discussing what we need to do when we get home.
Guilty? A tad!
There’s something to be said for giving the moment we’re in a proper turn. Enjoying the conversation. Looking at the jacarandas. Actually tasting the cuppa while it’s still hot.
Radical stuff, I know.
Same place Fresh joy
Then there’s Rowland Reserve. Swimming with the other dogs. Space to RUN! A whole glorious doggy world to get involved in.
Watching Bella and Benson enjoy themselves there makes me smile. They’re completely IN it. No playing it cool. When they’re happy, you KNOW it.
And their enjoyment becomes part of mine.
They don’t seem troubled by the idea that they’ve done something before. A swim is still wonderful. Another dog is still worth meeting. They don’t dismiss the whole affair with, “Oh, we did that last week.”
I love that.
It’s easy to save our excitement for a holiday, a special occasion or a grand plan. Lovely as those things are, there’s a lot of life between them.
A familiar pleasure deserves its moment too. A favourite spot. A laugh. Two wet golden retrievers having a magnificent time.
A little room to hear yourself
And being in the moment can give us something else: a little quiet in our own heads.
Life doesn’t have to be silent. There can be splashing, barking and plenty going on around us. But when we stop mentally organising the next six things, there’s sometimes room for a thought to finish.
That’s often when inspiration pops up. An idea arrives. A solution to something we’ve been going round in circles about suddenly seems possible.
Or there’s simply a bit of peace. A moment when we can breathe and enjoy where we are without needing to sort everything out.
I think that’s part of what I love about watching our babies. Their delight gives my attention somewhere lovely to land. I’m watching them swim, run and make friends, and enjoying being there.
We don’t have to turn every walk into a hunt for a brilliant idea, either. If all we come home with is a smile and a couple of soggy dogs, that’s a pretty good outing.
Joy doesn’t need a checklist
You don’t need a dog to borrow a little of this attitude. Give something small your attention today. Stay with it long enough to enjoy it.
See what you notice when your mind has a little room.
What ordinary pleasure deserves a little more of your attention?
I’ll be taking my inspiration from Bella and Benson. Their plans are looking rather good: sniffing, swimming, meeting friends… and RUNNING!
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