Above all, Do
March 29, 2010 • Most Popular
ife is all about choices. Right now, you can choose to continue reading this blog entry or tune out and click on another entry in FIDO Friendly’s blog (though I hope you’ll do both).
If you are still reading this, then the incentive worked. We all have internal incentives which keep us going, whether they are voluntary incentives or those which are necessary to keep our lives performing to their optimal capacity. Someone in your household pays the bills, and perhaps that person is you. Going to work, writing those checks, ensuring your lights stay on and water runs from your tap—those are necessary incentives. In other words, get out of bed, get to work, and pay those bills. Are you happy about the price of gas per gallon these days? Of course not, but you stand at the pump and fill your tank up. Without that fuel, you don’t get to point B from point A. You need gas: A necessary incentive.
Life is also full of voluntary incentives: those things we choose to do which give us a sense of fulfillment far greater than paying the bills and filling the tank. We educate ourselves, change careers, join a fitness club, take a family vacation, read a book, get a new haircut, shop for some new clothes, and yes, add a canine family member to our pack. Whatever your personal incentives, these are the things you look forward to, the “stuff” of which life is made.
Why share all of this? I’ve been working extra long hours lately to pursue some writing and personal goals. With this in mind, my ever loyal, canine BFF has never complained, whined, wavered, or strayed in his “I must sit under your desk ON your feet while you work” spirit. So this past Sunday, leash in tow, rain in the forecast, we wandered to a nearby park for some much-needed time away from anything beeping, bleeping, flashing, or needing my electronic attention.
About 10 minutes into the walk, I gazed down to see that soulful “wow, this is the best, I love running, do you mom, do you do you” look from my cocker boy. And then it happened. The skies turned dark and the rain began to fall. No umbrella, nary a spring jacket to keep me warm, and a primarily white-colored cocker by my side, I took a few strides for the dry car and changed my mind. There was little Dexter, traipsing through mud puddles, sloshing through thick wet grass, having the time of his life as he danced in the rain. So what if my mascara ran? So what that I smelled of wet hairspray? The look of “isn’t this fun, mama” immediately jolted me to live in the moment. Having loved and lost a cocker of 15 years, I know those moments go way too fast. So we ran in the rain. And ran. Then ran some more.
No matter how much we whine, complain, daydream, or postpone, the bottom line is our necessary incentives aren’t going away. So why should our personal incentives be any different? Embrace your personal incentives. Make plans. Spend time with your dog(s). Get out at lunchtime and take a walk, sit in the sun, turn on the IPod. The necessary aspects of your life aren’t going anywhere, so why push the fun things you enjoy out the window? It’s all about balance, not just this time of year, but throughout our lives.
Planning a vacation or thinking about one? How about taking Fido along? Have you heard, there’s an entire magazine devoted to the topic (wink wink nudge nudge). If you plan now, budget the time and money to get away, again you’ll have a personal incentive to work towards as that sun glistens in the sky and the temperature rises. And if your finances simply won’t allow such an expenditure, picnics in the park, camping, and/or, getting a group of friends together for a doggie meetup are all feasible options on a shoestring budget. Enjoy the time you have with Fido, for those moments go way too fast. Do with what you have; but above all, do.
Question: When’s the last time you had some Fido-friendly fun?
