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We are blessed to live in such a beautiful place. Most days I take Koda, our year-old Samoyed pup for a long walk in the mountains and truly enjoy the beauty of Colorado. Yesterday I was too busy with commitments and only had time to visit the dog park in North Boulder. Koda was excited to be there to play with the other dogs.

Our Beloved Koda
Our beloved Koda

I was struck by the simplicity of life at the dog park. Each time we enter, no matter if there are two dogs or twenty, Koda happily bounds up to each one, tail flying, nose sniffing, enthusiastic total body wagging, with a perky “Hey, how are you” attitude. He doesn’t have a care in the world. His one-track mind and every part of his body are shouting “Let’s Play!” He has no memory of the black dog that stole his ball yesterday, or the little Kaiser Sosay dog that bites his feet each time he’s there. He could care less about the size, color or age of the dogs- they’re all fair game and welcome to play. He greets them each individually, but all the same way- with a great zest for life. My dog inspires me.

The owners are talking on their cell phones, occasionally talking with one another, but not connecting like the dogs are. We’re too wrapped up in all of the “important stuff” that we seem to think matters more than enjoying that particular moment.  Almost makes me want to be a dog sometimes.

Dogs, like children, live in the moment. If they’re hungry they eat. If they’re sleepy they sleep wherever they are. If they’re awake they enjoy the moment fully. Life isn’t boring or stressful because they don’t know how to create it that way.

There’s no attachment to thinking about what tomorrow may bring and no regrets over lost bones or the remembrance of rain on yesterday’s walk. There’s no judgment about one dog being better than another. Someone else’s opinion of them doesn’t matter. They sing like no one’s listening and dance like no one’s watching, just because it’s fun!

And there is love- the warmest, sweetest most unconditional love ever! No matter what we do as humans, we still rock in a dog’s mind. When I grow up I want to be as cool as my dog thinks I am. Seriously, think about it. Who has a better opinion of you other than your dog? You really are as good as your dog thinks you are, but it seems that we struggle to believe it ourselves. And when we’re ready to embrace that part of ourselves, our dogs will be the first ones to say, “See, I told you so!”.

Can you imagine what it would be like if we humans greeted one another like we were dogs? So, let’s try something fun. Monday morning walk into your office with great enthusiasm, greet your co-workers with hugs and excitement (we’ll skip the sniffing part), share unconditional love with everyone around you and only do things that are fun. Live fully present in the moment with no baggage from the past and no fears about the future. And live with enthusiasm! Is your tail wagging yet?

Come on, try it! What could it hurt? You might just create your best day yet. And, I hear Milkbones aren’t too bad either. ☺

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Gail Lynne Goodwin is the founder of InspireMeToday.com, bringing the best inspiration to the world. InspireMeToday.com provides free inspiration, each day from a new Inspirational Luminary, to a global community of folks from over 150 countries. Gail has interviewed many well-known names including Sir Richard Branson, Guy Laliberte, Seth Godin, Tony Hseih, Gary Vaynerchuk, Michael Gerber, Marci Shimoff, Jack Canfield and hundreds more. According to Mashable, Gail was one of 2009's Top 25 Most Inspirational People on Twitter.

Prior to InspireMeToday.com, Gail spent several years as manager for her recording artist daughter, Carly. As a result of the success of their co-penned song, "Baby Come Back Home", Gail accompanied her daughter to bases in the US and to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where Carly performed for our troops. Gail and Carly created the 'World's Longest Letter' of love and support and delivered the 18-mile long scroll on a month-long tour of Iraq and the Persian Gulf in 2006.

Gail is excited to present her latest course, Love in 21 Days, a step-by-step guide to finding love online. Love in 21 Days is founded on a logical process that has been tested - and proven! - by not only Gail, but also by students around the world who too have found love.

Gail is a published author and a regular writer for the Huffington Post. She offers mentoring and mastermind services to clients worldwide from her home in Whitefish, Montana. Follow Gail on Twitter or Google+.

This Post Has 8 Comments

  1. That is so great – and spot-on. Emailed it to my husband whose computer is a full six feet from mine. I guess that just proved everything in this blog accurate! Thanks for writing!….J

  2. Greet each other like dogs? ROFL. I see dogs greet each other by sniffing each others naughty bits. Who-hoo – laughing again.

    Love the concept. Live in the moment – it’s all we really have – why not make the best of it? Absofreakinlutely (can I say that here?) I totally embrace this – I have yet to live it every day, but your post reminds me that is the only way to be truly happy and present and grateful for what we have. Whoever said it’s a dog’s life said a mouthful.

    Great thought provoking post. I have a sudden urge to go look for a frisbee….

  3. Thanks for your comments. Jo Ann, I hope your husband likes the blog post as much as you do. Lee Ann, your frisbee comment had me howling, like a dog. 🙂

    If they can have holidays for things like National Talk Like a Pirate Day, don’t you think we could launch National Act Like a Dog Day? Can you imagine the whole world acting like this on the same day? Sounds like a great movie premise.

    Regardless, thanks for your comments. I’m looking forward to seeing your tails wagging on Monday.

    Big licks and doggie kisses to you,

    Gail

  4. Great observations, Gail! I think I may even curl up on the floor for an afternoon nap. And can you have Koda talk to our cat at home. She seems to be much too critical of us. 🙂

    Joe

  5. I *am* your dog! haha… I’m certain my friends and neighbors can attest to that. I even wave and smile at the mean ones. 😉 Our dog park is a little different than the one you mention. The owners are usually talking to each other after a long day at work. I almost want to get a dog just so I can go hang out with them. Sometimes, it’s the human moms that can be hard to chat up… but that doesn’t stop me from trying. I really wish more people in this world were like your sweet little dog. Just happy and carefree… not caring who’s tail is the fluffiest or who has the best ball or frisbee.

    aaahhhh…

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