LIFE IS JUST A BOWL OF WORRIES . . .
BLOG POST FROM
A SPECIAL DOG
Hey People! My name is “Barnegat,” like the Bay—Barnegat Bay on the Jersey Shore. It’s where I spent my youth. I was a dumpy little tyke when I first jumped off the dock into the partly frozen February lagoon on the backside of our house that faced the open Bay.
Exhilerating isn’t quite the word, but I do get chills just thinking about that day. I guess the point is—that like a lot of things in life—I just took the plunge in stride. Maybe being young and innocent has a way of blocking off worries.
Sure, I was shivering when I got out and even after I shook off the freezing water and got wrapped into towels and blankets, and I have to admit that I felt relieved when Dad sprawled out across the icy dock and stretched and reached to grab me out from under.
Sometimes I wonder how he managed to pull me up, what with my frenzied fight or flight response going on, and me nearly pulling him in after me, but you know what? I wasn’t worried. He was worried. Mom was worried. Our neighbors were worried. It was a bowl of worries.
It’s funny, when I think about worrying, I think it really doesn’t accomplish anything.
How’s that for smart old philosophizing from a smart old (almost 11!), white-faced (but still truly adorable!) Golden Retriever? I think worry only creates stress, doesn’t it? And what does stress do? Stress gives folks ulcers, and headaches, and heart attacks, and addictive habits and literally every disease and ailment in existence. And then it finally kills people. So why would you choose to worry? Isn’t that like choosing . . . . . . . . .?
. . . besides, I’d rather choose tennis balls and chewbones.
PAW NOTE: Barnegat was Hal’s sweetest dog (out of a dozen), who lived to be 13 and who accumulated a hundred years of love (oh, and admiration for her ability to write blog posts)!
# # #
Your FREE subscription: Posts RSS Feed
Hal@Businessworks.US or 302.933.0116
“The price of freedom is eternal vigilance!” [Thomas Jefferson]
Thanks for visiting. Go for your goals. God Bless You.
easy for you to say…now just tell us how NOT to….
Dear Sarah, and any others who may be interested . . . please see “ARE YOU BREATHING?” under Magazine Articles tab on this blog site. Thanks for your post! halalpiar
Friends and Dearest Cousins Hal and Kat,
The greatest thing about dogs (and I have 5); is their ability to just be. They live in the moment; focus on what’s happening right that second; they aren’t burdened by what happened last year or in the last five minutes, or next month.
As the addage goes “worry is interest on a debt never paid”.
We can learn many life-strategies from our canine pals:
Only what you are doing at this exact point in time matters. Focus on what’s in front of your nose.
When you’re stressed, stop and pant a little;
Smell everything! Reserve judgement no matter how bad the stench;
Believe there is a bone in every dirt pile.
Once in awhile, eating someone else’s vomit is good for the conscience!
Don’t chase your tail for no reason.
To a DOG every morning is Christmas!!!
— ——————————————————————————
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.”
-Josh Billings
Thanks, Danielle. As great a post as you are a person! (or . . . dog?) halalpiar