Gretchen Rubin wrote in The Happiness Project about the year she spent “test-driving the wisdom of the ages, the current scientific studies, and the lessons from popular culture about how to be happy.” The Puppiness Project is my attempt to learn the same from Honey, my Golden Retriever.
Honey isn’t the only creature that reminds me to do good things. Sometimes I’m reminded by other bloggers.
Kristin, over at Dogs Rock!!, wrote a post last week entitled, Cherish Every Day. She started with a story about a gate accidentally left open and the two dogs that took advantage of the fact. My heart sank into my stomach because I’ve been there and know that feeling of fear. You probably do too.
I won’t leave you in suspense. Xander, Zoe, and Roxie are home safe and secure. But then Kristin shared about the sudden death of her brother-in-law two days later. I don’t know that feeling. I’ve been very fortunate to never have lost anyone close to me who wasn’t advanced in age.
But I did start thinking about how you would say good bye to someone if you knew you wouldn’t get another chance. And how grateful we should be every time we come home to the ones we love.
Dogs know how to do it right. One of the reasons I think we love them so much is because they appear so glad to see us when we come home. My pictures of Honey when we get home are a big blur. But Elizabeth of Dog Blogging with Luna… and Penny has a great video here if you don’t know what I mean by a good greeting.
It feels so good to get an enthusiastic greeting at the door. Maybe I can learn how to offer them myself.
I’ll probably refrain from wagging my butt like a perpetual motion machine when I get into work tomorrow. But I can at least offer a nice cheery, “Good Morning.” And I’ll definitely try harder to show my Sweetie how glad I am to see him at the end of the day.
I felt my heart stop when I read Kristin’s blog this weekend, too! As a Greyhound owner, we share a special fear about our dogs getting out, and I was so relieved when I read she got both of the Whippets back. I completely agree with you! The best part of my day, every day, is coming home to the dogs. There’s nothing like it anywhere!
Hands down the best part of my day is coming home and collapsing into licks, barks, whines, wet noses, and various toys being thrust at me.
OH no doubt!! There is nothing like feeling like royalty when you walk in the dog and they all can’t get to you fast enough!! Sometimes they even greet us with songs and parades!! Can’t beat that kind of love!!
Nothing like a wiggly butt to make one glad to be home! I am so glad Kristin’s dogs have returned home safely. Losing my dog is an ever-present fear. What a relief!
We definitely don’t take the time to appreciate the people in our lives. I know I often take them for granted. Sometimes just smiling and saying a cheerful hello, taking the time to stop and recognize, goes a long way.
I love coming home to the kids and I also love how they’re so enthusiastic to go anywhere with me. You never know where a ride in the car could end up! I don’t feel so good when I know they’re going to the vet though:( Thankfully that doesn’t happen often, touch wood. Hey, I just love their enthusiasm for just about everything, they don’t miss any opportunities and are so positive about most things:)