Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Are you as happy as your dog?

An attention grabbing title... but i arent the one who came out with this innovative thought/idea.
It came from a book that i'd just read. Very interesting book i would say, so i shall share some parts of the easy-reading book here^^

It starts something like this:
I met a man who told me, 'For years i was so miserable that i prayed to God daily to let me wake up as happy as ,my dog!'
I went home & thought about it. Hmmm...
I began to observe my dog Munchie who is happy all the time. It became clear to me that Munchie knew something that i didnt know (or at least cant rmb) So i decided to study Munchie's attitude to see what he was doing that i was missing.

BE HERE NOW
-Munchie is fully present, whatever he's doing. He has no sense of the past or future. You'll not find him at a local bar nursing a beer over lost love. He has no lost love. He loves whatever is before him.

SEIZE THE DAY
-Munchie regularly shows up at my front door asking to come in and play with me. Sometimes, i let him in. The moment i open the door, he charges in. He doesnt give me a moment to change my mind. He knows what he wants, asks for it, seizes his opportunity the moment it's offered. Munchie is a master of Carpe Diem.

ASK FOR WHAT U WANT
-On cold nights, Munchie jumps up into my bed.
When he sees me going for a walk, he follows me.
When he spies an attractive tree, he tugs on his leash.
When i open my car door he tries to jump in.
Munchie knows it's ok to have desires. When he wants something he made it clear. Sometimes he gets it & sometimes he doesnt. At least he asked.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL
-If u want to learn the power of one-pointed concentration, watch Munchie keep his eye on the tennis ball as i am getting ready to throw it.
I swear, his eye doesnt leave it for a moment. I can change the hand that holds the ball, stuff it into my pocket, he doesnt miss a movement.
If i would stick to my goals as intently as his eye sticks to the ball, i could get everything i ever wanted.

ENTERTAIN YOURSELF
-When i'm not at home, Munchie finds plenty of amusements. He chases cats, sniffs dead frogs, naps & visits neighbours.
The world, through Munchie's eyes, is a big playground. There's always someone or something to keep his life exciting.
He doesnt divide life up into work and play. He finds joy wherever he is.

CHOOSE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS
-When Munchie trusts someone, he's fully present with them.
When he doesnt like someone, he steers clear of them. He doesnt stay with people who hurt him.
He has no concept that he has to be with anyone. He doesnt suffer to pay off karma from past lives.
He is loyal to his friends & lets everyone else go their way.

PROTECT YOUR BOUNDARIES
-My dog has no questions abt the right to his space. He knows his territories & protects it.
The moment any foreign object with wheels or legs comes near my house, his hair-trigger bark alarm goes off. Night or day, he's there to announce potential intruders. (If they dont run away when he approaches, he starts kissing them: we're still working on this one)
Munchie's intention is so strong that he intimidates big dogs. Sometimes, a Doberman comes around, she yields to the Munchie Security Service. The fact that he's no bigger than a rabbit doesnt matter; he knows his rights & his neighbours honour them.

GET TO KNOW SOMEONE B4 YOU COMMIT
-When Munchie meets a dog on the beach, they sniff each other for a while.
Sometimes they make friends & play for a long time. Sometimes they just keep going on their own paths.
I've met a lot of people who, after failed marriages, admitted. 'I wish i'd sniffed him a little more b4 i went home with him'
Sometimes a few extra sniffs now can save a long time living with a really bad smell.

DARE TO BE YOURSELF
-Munchie doesnt need to impress anyone or prove himself. He is what he is, that's enough.
He isnt concerned abt his social image. He is concerned about being jappy.
I can usually tell what he'd for breakfast, since it hangs out on his chin for a while.
When i take him to the beach he comes out of the ocean looking like a rat from the vat.
I think he's cute all the time, and he seems to agree.

KEEP IT SIMPLE
-Munchie deals with what is in front of him. He doesnt schedule into the next decade or wrestle with decision whether to lease or buy a car. None of his brain cells are occupied remembering various PIN numbers.
All of life is exactly where he is.

THINK BIG
-No one ever told Munchie that he was little, so he acts big.
When i take him on walks thru the country, he chases cows & horses.
Once he got a cement truck to stop. He sat in front of it and barked until it came to a halt.
Munchie thinks big, so he lives big.

THINK POSSIBILTY
-Every few months Munchie disappears for several days. Once i went searching for him and found him at a house down the road, trying to romance a German shephard. The little guy reached no higher than the big lady's knee, but that didnt stop him.
At least he tried.

HOWL AT THE MOON
-Pick a goal that is beyond your limits, then sing to it.
You may get it.
Even if u dont, you'll have fun singing.

GO ALL THE WAY
-When Munchie digs in the sand, he doesnt stop until he hits the bedrock.
Sometimes he finds a treasure, someimes he doesnt. But he never stops until he has moved ever bit of sand out of the way.
While he's digging, you could not distract him with all the Milkbones in the world.
When he's done, he walks away, triumphant. He went all the way.


As far as i can tell, Munchie is an enlightened being. He doesnt read a lot of books, has never gone to a seminar, and has no problem balancing his checkbook. Perhaps if i can play my cards right, one day, i will wake up as happy as him.


A fresh new take on a dog's life.
AMAZING! Isnt it???

yunn. at 4:20 PM