Learning from dogs and babies

As someone who spends their entire working day in the presence of dogs, and then the rest of their waking hours looking after small children…. Let me assure you that they are not too dissimilar.

They are both constantly looking to us for signs and guidance. They are a bundle of raw emotions. They can be quite chaotic in play. They are certainly messy eaters. But the most important common trait is that they live in the present.

Both babies and dogs rarely think far into the future. You can certainly warn a toddler or a puppy that they will tire themselves out if they continue at their frantic pace, but good luck. There is no off switch with either.

You have to manage their energy levels to avoid injury, tantrums, etc.

The only time a toddler might understand the future is if you mentioned that they can have ice cream for dessert. But then good luck making them eat the rest of their main course.

And yet the combination of raw emotions and the present moment leads to unbridled joy.

Just imagine being that happy if someone were to throw a stick or ball for you. Now imagine that you are in the woods and there are an infinite amount of other sticks around you which you are completely ignoring at that precise moment.

That, right there, is the focus we should aim to attain. I believe that if we are able to do so we will find unbridled joy in each and every moment.

Doggies: Lucille, Nils, Arya, Sonja and Henie