Life Lessons Through the Eyes of Rusty
One afternoon, I sat on my porch reading while Rusty (our dog) lay in the grass. I paused my reading for a moment to watch him. Rusty is almost 15 years old. He is not having his best year, and I know he won’t be with us much longer. So, I began thinking about our life together. He came to us when he was 8 months old, and my son was only 5 years old. It was fun watching them grow up together. He was a very excitable puppy and had a thing for eating ALL of my flip-flops, that is not the way to win me over. However, he was such a blessing to our family and brought us so much joy. While reflecting on the memories we had with Rusty I realized that there are some valuable life lessons to be learned through the eyes of our dog.
Lesson 1: BE ADVENTUROUS
We always referred to Rusty as our adventure pup. We took him on at least one adventure every day, he went on every vacation with us, every camping trip, and every hike. He would come to life when he hit the trails, so many scents and things to look at and pee on. Adventure doesn’t have to be in the form of a hike, it can be anything. What are your interests, your desires? I’m an outdoorsy girl, I love exploring new places, hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, etc. I love seeing landscapes, trying new things, and learning about other cultures, especially through food. Be adventurous in your way, don’t hold back…live!
Positive Attitude, Limitless Altitude Notebook: Pott, T.S.: Amazon.com: Books
Lesson 2 LIVE A SIMPLE LIFE
This is so true for Rusty, give him shelter, adventure, food, water, and love and he is content–except for when he wants more adventure or endless trips outside. Over the years, Vet and I have found that having a simple life brings us much more joy than a life of unnecessary things. We are not ones to keep up with the Jones’, and we don’t spend money on frivolous things. We have scaled down our belongings to have less “stuff” that can clutter your life/mind. We have tried to spend our time living and making memories. We, of course, like things such as shelter, clothing, etc., but give me a reliable vehicle, a tank full of gas, and a cooler with food and drinks and I will be as happy as can be. Keeping life simple frees up more time to make memories with friends and family. It also allows you more time for reflection and understanding of what’s truly important. A camera roll full of memories and experiences is more meaningful than the belongings in my house. This lesson is also important with the holidays. We have witnessed some extreme things around the holidays that made us look at the holidays differently. I love all the lights, music, Hallmark movies, and cookies at Christmas time. I don’t, however, care for the commercialization of the holiday. The hustle and bustle, the stress people put on themselves to buy presents, attend parties, host parties, and do all the other holiday activities. There have been times in our life when people have been downright rude and ignorant during the holidays or made themselves sick and broke…for what? That’s not the point of the season. The gift of a clear mind is a valuable thing. I believe a simple life with gratitude and appreciation helps you achieve that. It’s interesting to see the ways of others more clearly rather than getting wrapped up in the chaos yourself. Live a simple, meaningful life.
Grateful and Thankful Wreath Notebook: Pott, T. S.: Amazon.com: Books
Lesson 3 CELEBRATE SPECIAL MOMENTS
This one comes to mind when I think of Rusty every spring and summer running down the embankment off the trail to get to the stream. He would sit there for a while, sometimes a long while! Then, he would run up the hill and very excitedly drop down to the grass and roll around on his back, all the while, making funny grunting noises with a huge smile on his face. He was celebrating the nice weather and being able to swim. Celebrating moments are not reserved for holidays and special occasions, it’s for anything you want. Celebrate a goal you have accomplished, the first sunny day after a very gray winter, celebrate (like I do) the first sight of daffodils and tulips growing, celebrate the achievements your family members have made, the harvest you grew in your backyard, and so much more. There are so many things worth celebrating, what will you celebrate today?
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Lesson 4 BE GROUNDED
Rusty loves to lay in the grass, he will bury his face so deep into the grass that he becomes one with the ground and is so content. Kev and I will ground ourselves by walking barefoot in the grass, but I’m not talking about just being out in nature. Being grounded is about having inner peace and being present-minded instead of being wrapped up in chaos or drama. Being grounded is about keeping your mind clear which allows you to make sensible decisions. Some people may choose meditation, yoga, or hiking as a way to ground themselves. What works for you?
Amazon.com: Dog Notebook: Pott, T. S.: Books
Lesson 5 NO SHAME IN NEEDING HELP
Rusty was always pretty independent and able to do things on his own–within reason. However, he did have moments in his life where he needed help. Once he got his paw stuck and couldn’t get free, so we helped him. After a strenuous hike, he needed help getting to his favorite spot on the couch. As of late, he needs help going outside, getting repositioned, and help reaching his food and water. I know it can’t be easy for him since he was always able to do things on his own, but I know he appreciates the help. There are always moments in our lives when we may need help–maybe you need help picking up your child from school, help with a project, or with a problem you are dealing with. Maybe it is financial help you need, finding a job and so much more. Some people are afraid to ask for help and put unnecessary stress on themselves. There are so many good people still in this world who are willing to lend a hand–it never hurts to ask for help.
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Lesson 6 HAVE A GRATEFUL HEART
You could always see how grateful Rusty would be to go on his daily adventure, grateful to have his cozy blanket or his favorite spot on the couch. He was grateful for food, especially cheeseburgers, and grateful to have his family home with him. We all have so many blessings in our lives that we can be grateful for–not just big things but small ones as well. The things we all take for granted are things we should be grateful for instead. I’m grateful for my family, my job, clothes on my back, a meal every day, running water, electricity, my health, and so much more. There was an exercise I heard about once where you spoke aloud about all the things you are grateful for, incessantly. It’s amazing how that opens your eyes to the blessings that are all around you. Try it on your way to work one day if it is a 10-minute drive or 30-minute drive speak aloud, incessantly, the things you are grateful for in your life including the things that happen during your drive to work. What are you grateful for today?
Grateful Notebook: Pott, T.S.: Amazon.com: Books
Lesson 7 BE JOYFUL
Rusty has always been joyful; he would always be excited to meet people and would, in turn, bring joy to the other person and put a smile on their face. Rusty would always say “God told me to be joyful and spread cheer to others, so I have to listen to God.” If we could apply that to our own lives just imagine how it could change a life of someone you meet that day. I consider myself to be a joyful person, but I also fall short at times. Making someone else smile not only helps that person but helps you as well. Spread joy!
Rusty has had a good life, a life full of memories, celebrations, and adventures. A life worth living! We will always cherish our memories we had with him and remember all the joy he brought into our lives. I’m grateful that he was part of our family. He will be missed when he is gone, but the lessons we have learned from him will live on forever.