It seems funny to set a day aside to be grateful. I don’t really get it. I’m pretty grateful all of the time,
and I show it by excessive licking on the people I love the most. They don’t always appreciate my
gratitude but I think they get the message anyway. But I know that there’s this Thanksgiving thing where
everyone gets all in a tizzy cooking (which by the way I am happy to help out
with leftovers, dropped morsels, or even plates left unattended!) and speaks
about being thankful for their blessings and grateful for the gifts in their
lives. Sounds great, but shouldn’t
that be an every day thing?
My mom used to write every night in this little book five
things she was grateful for.
Obviously, I was usually at the top of the list, along with friends,
family, and other small joys like the warm sunshine, feeling energetic, having
legs that can run and eyes that can see.
It was a good practice, but for some reason she doesn’t do it anymore. I don’t think it’s that she doesn’t like
those things anymore. Rather I think that she forgot that it was important amid
the cachophony of daily living.
It seems to be due to something called “stress” and
“anxiety” which I don’t really understand. Well, I take that back. When I’m wandering towards spotted food at the park and my
mom is yelling for me, I feel a moment of stress at the impending trouble I’m
going to be in when I ignore her command to “COME!! RIGHT NOW!!” but then I’m
happy-go-lucky as I trot off in search of my hidden treat. But my mom, also known as Lauren to
other tall beings, seems to feel “stress” and “anxiety” even when no one is
yelling at her to come!
She has this list that never seems to end. Her list is like her leash, always
tugging at her neck, pulling her back from good smells and grassy fields to
explore. I hate the list because
a) it makes her “stressed” b) I have to wait in the car sometimes while she
runs errands to check off on her list and c) we have to leave the park to do
things on the list! And it’s not even my list! You’d think that we’d finish the list and then we’d get to
be done, but no…this is a magic list that never seems to end. The to-do list that rules her days and yanks
on her neck.
So maybe the gratitude list helped with the stress and maybe
it didn’t. But I’m voting to
instate gratitude on a daily basis and not just one day a year. And today I’m grateful for:
- my mom
- the park
- yummy food
- my doggy friends: Tillie Lou, Parker, Coltrane,
Moose, and Navarre
- treats
- playing fetch
- dropped food
- my aunts: Tammy, Shalene, Linda, and Lise
- treats
- anything
edible (sense the theme??)
I get to walk off leash in the neighborhood and at the park
I roam free. I wonder when she
gets to take off her leash…
I might be in the minority, but I think this is great. Less work = more time to
play with Miss Gracie Joy. What’s
the problem? The way I see it, we have less obligations, less stress, and an
increased availability to romp at the park. Win-win situation! No? What’s that? Ah, right…those grown-up
piddly concerns of bills to pay and gas money. My bad. Ok, so perhaps not all is rosy. But still, let’s keep some
perspective. There’s more time for
her to do her own writing which always makes her smiley, more opportunity to
write about things she’s actually interested in, and more chances for snuggling
with me. So yes, I get it. Less work might not be the greatest
news, but still…when one doggy door closes…
