A Furry Tale/Tail

Life moves quickly and sometimes it leaves us looking back and wondering why we did not enjoy those precious moments when we had the chance.  A lot of times I am looking to the next best thing to find fulfillment; turning to my yoga mat to try to make this not so.  As of lately, it has not helped.  Time has been flying by and I have forgotten to take a good look at the beautiful life that surrounds me.  Perhaps that is part of the holiday season madness that ensues the normal household, or maybe not.  Regardless, I know it is not the way that I want to live my life.  Presence of the mind and presence in the heart are the key to living a life full of true presents.  Deep stuff.

Since it is the holiday season, I have been thinking a lot about the traditional gifts that come with this time of year.  Of course they are all wonderful, but a week after they are opened the novelty of them has worn off and we are left searching.  Continuously.

This new year, my resolutions will include nothing but learning how to let the endless searching go.  More on that in a few short weeks.

Until then, I am turning to my pets to clue me on what is special in my life.  Yes, this is actually a post about the importance of them.  “Them” does mean two, which means that we have a new furry addition to our family.   We adopted a four-year old fluffy 47 pound chow mix (mixed with what, we do not know) from the Denver Dumb Friends League on Friday afternoon.  She was named Jill by her previous owners, but we had to change the name.  Our seven-year old cat named Jack  would not approve of the nursery rhyme themed pet household.  We settled on the name, “Journey,” instead.

Why Journey?  We are her third owners in four years.  She was in an abusive household for the first few years of her life and then spent the following years as an outdoor dog to a family that decided they no longer had time for her.  The light name of Jill did not seem to suit a dog that has been treated so poorly, she deserved a name that shows her strength and the determination that she showed to find herself a better life.  Now her real journey begins with a family that showers her with belly rubs, walks, treats and occasional loving head bumps from a confused cat.

Yesterday I walked her for thirty minutes and watched her stop every so often to sniff her new surroundings and take what seemed like deep sighs.  When we got home I did some Christmas present wrapping on the floor and she came over and laid in my lap and licked my hand.  I am pretty sure she was telling me this new life is okay, she’s happy here.  She’s enjoying the new moments as they come, at the same time, she is slowly teaching me to do the same.

The real beauty of pets that are well-loved is that they pull us out of ourselves a bit and challenge us to slow down and experience life with them.   So pet owners out there, give some extra attention to your furry friend this season and slow down.  Look at the life around you, it’s beautiful.  Fur balls and all.