You know, the great thing about dogs is, that they keep moving forward, no matter what, putting one paw in front of the other; and most of the time, they do this wagging their tails. I can get mad at my Seeing Eye pup for missing a curb, and/or running me into an over-hanging branch; however, two seconds later, I’m patting her side saying, “Good girl”, and she is trotting down the walk as though nothing ever happened.

Shouldn’t we all be that way?
Wouldn’t it be great if we didn’t hold grudges and could let the past go?
Wouldn’t it be great if we lived in the present?

Here are examples of how my dog lives her life. She:
Greets me like she’s never seen me before
Is enthusiastic and wags her tail every time she meets someone
Plays hard
Gets up, eats, and goes to bed at the same time every day
Takes a nap whenever possible
Sits quietly and waits for treats
Honks to let me know her needs
Barks when she is excited
Is leery of some dogs; for not all dogs are nice
Puts her paws up, snuggles, and kisses to let me know she cares

Sometimes we walk down life’s sidewalks expecting others to treat us the same way as we treat them. We have no idea what’s in their minds. Maybe they’re having a bad day. Maybe they need space and want to be left alone. The best thing we can do is offer a smile. If they don’t return it, that’s okay, at least we tried. You may not ever know how your smile touched them. Your job is to be kind.

Every one of us has obstacles and challenges. Sometimes all we can do is to put one paw in front of the other and keep going. During these times remember you are loving, lovable, and loved. You’ll make it down your sidewalk. You may need to turn completely around, ask for help around a barrier, side step around a tree branch; however, you will get there.

This morning on my walk there were over-hanging branches over the sidewalk. I heard a man putting things into his truck and I inquired if he knew the person on the corner. He did. “Do you think you can see if the owner of the tree could trim his branches?” After realizing that they were a hazard to pedestrians, he agreed to talk to his neighbor. I continued my walk. I decided to stop at the rec center to use their facilities; however, their doors were closed. Then, on my way home, I stopped by a coffee shop to buy some pastries.

I tell you this because you don’t know what’s going to be on your life’s journey. Sometimes we have to ask for help, sometimes we have to go around our obstacles, sometimes doors are closed to us, and sometimes, if we take an unexpected detour, we’ll find treats.

The only way to handle life’s challenges is to put one paw in front of the other. You have to meet life’s obstacles with curiosity and joy. Try living life like a dog by wagging your tail, Being in the moment, and prancing proudly. There’s the quote by William Watson Purkey which says, “Dance like nobody’s watching; love like you’ve never been hurt. Sing like nobody’s listening; live like it’s heaven on earth, and work like you don’t need the money.” Try it; in this way you will change the way you see, and change the way you live.