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Everything I Know About Life… I (Re)learned from My Puppy

People close to me… ok, my husband and my daughter specifically… told me I should get a dog.

“You love dogs… you’ll really enjoy having a the unconditional love…. they’re so much fun!” They said it to me often enough and I finally relented and here she is. Her name is Gildie (means ‘celebration’ in Icelandic) and she’s an Australian Terrier.

I call her a terrior’ist’ because she attacks the world with a quiet ferocity. She doesn’t bark a lot… she just waits until the time is right… sizes up her opponent..(right now that’s often a two liter soda bottle rolling around on the kitchen floor) and then in she goes for fun and exercise.

I’m exhausted from all the up and down and in and out. It’s a relentless schedule of training, positive reinforcement and the occasional distraction/accident/discipline.

I can see why my family wanted me to have a little companion. She reminds me of the basics of life…

— Don’t sweat the small stuff.. and it’s all small stuff

— Be here now. Wherever Gildie is… that’s where life is best. Be in the moment

— Love is the answer

— Curiosity is a wonderful thing

— Remember to play, rest and make friends

There will likely be more updates from the puppy front. In the meantime.. what does your pet teach you? I’d love to hear.


4 Responses
  • Carl Hoffman
    September 13, 2012

    In 2003 at the apex of my burnout for some unknown reason I wanted a German Shepherd. Our PhD pursuing clinical psychology son egged me on to get Sadie. As a child, I was a problem eater and so was this puppy. My mother always said she hoped I would have one like me. It happened with Sadie. At this time my mother had been deceased for 4 years. One morning when my dog was refusing to eat I looked into her eyes and saw my mother’s eyes and somehow the undercurrent of a lifelong anger was gone like air going out of a balloon. This was one of the most valuable life lessons I learned. For some reason I think you and I have much in common besides similar (I think you are a year younger) age and successful children. We have a PhD son and daughter in law who live in Connecticut. I always assumed you have been married for a long time but in one entry you mentioned being a single mom. Sharon and I have been married for 40 great and enjoyable years.

  • Deborah
    September 14, 2012

    What a lovely story. Sadie and Gildie are surely guardian angels.

  • cynthia iannaccone
    September 18, 2012

    Adorable!….. My three remind me,(continually)
    that I’m loved and needed…
    Thank you for a fantastic presentation at ABG today!

  • Deborah
    September 18, 2012

    Thank you so much for your kind words and I’m glad you found somethings of interest today. Thanks for all you added!

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