Mindful walking

Walking dogs has always been therapeutic for me and until I got this job, I didn't fully understand why. Of course, it was always good for me to be able to tell my troubles to such a welcoming ear. I never worry about any of my pooches blabbing a secret to anyone. And there's nothing more therapeutic than being outside all day, even when it is raining. But it took losing almost every single walk I had and going through this shelter in place order for me to really see that it was the simple nature of dogs and how they live their lives that helped me.

It's a common understanding that one dog year is equivalent to 7 human years, but that formula is actually very simplified. There are many factors that come into play including the breed of the dog and stage of development they are at when assessing their true age. The average sized dog, say a lab, is considered mature at around 18 months. That is equivalent to an 18 to 20 year old person. Larger breeds take longer to mature and aren't considered 'fully grown' until almost 2 and smaller breeds are adults at around 1. The irony (some might say tragedy) is that while aging in most breeds slows down with the lifespan of a lab being 14 to 17 years and over 20 years in smaller breeds, the lives of larger breeds happens in reverse with aging becoming much quicker. That's why breeds like Great Danes are called 'heart breakers.' Ten years is considered very old for them. 
Despite these statistics, all dogs embrace life with an equal fervor and mindfulness of every moment they are given. Whether it's lounging in the sun, rolling in the grass, or chasing the ball, our canine companions live these moments fully present and engaged. The one thing that has stunned me over the near decade I've been surrounded by these quite zen creatures is it doesn't seem to matter much how they feel. They often are quite oblivious to their own aches and pains. 

Miss Martha

Take this amazing girl. This photo was taken 24 hours after she had surgery to remove a large growth in her mouth. The veterinarian said that the mass didn't 'look good' and, because it had seemingly grown very quickly, could be a very aggressive cancer. Fortunately, Martha had no understanding of any impending doom when I put her leash on. She was just ecstatic to get out after the incredibly long day she had just had. Sure, she did begin to slow down some about 20 minutes into the walk. Is that a surprise? I was just stunned that she had the amount of energy she exhibited. Sadly, the news has turned out to be dire. She has canine oral cancer. The full prognosis isn't known as the vet is doing further testing to determine the course of treatment that would be best, but this sweet girl has not faltered in her ability to put a smile on my face. She loves her walks and takes in every aroma she finds. She is thrilled to roll heartily on any lawn she can. I'm sure many would say it's because she doesn't know and that ignorance is bliss. Believe me, I agree, but I've witnessed dogs (recently my own dog) who have ignored their sore bodies or upset stomachs in favor of getting out and being present in the world. Many believe that canines have learned to mask pain because, ultimately, their job is to please us and care for us. In many cases, that is accurate; however, our furry companions also seem to put aside their troubles for the opportunity to sniff, roll, chase, and play whether it's with us or on their own. 
This is the true reason why my job is therapy for me. So many times, especially right now, I have become consumed with my problems. I will focus on the negative and allow it to drive my mood and control my attitude. As I'm walking along side Miss Martha or any one of my other dogs, it often dawns on me that they are doing it right. They embrace the now. They don't worry about what will happen tomorrow or stew over what occurred yesterday. Today is all that matters. That good smell, that stick that must be chewed, that lawn that has to be rolled on right now! We can learn a lot from their mindfulness. And I need to remember that this moment is truly what matters and to embrace everything, the good and the bad, fully and not let past woes and future worries consume me. Because when I do, I miss the importance of what life should really be about, the only thing that is real, this minute right now!