It has been hectic around here. My dog sense has been tingling for a while now telling me my humans are feeling the pressures of the holiday season.
They talk about their church services and their music obligations. They get organized for the parties and family get-togethers. They check the grandkids’ lists at least twice to make sure their gifts are equally allotted. They hustle to the stores for special foods then bustle in the kitchen as they prepare it. They dig out the holiday clothing and make sure that old red and green sweater — yes, it is still ugly — is wearable for another year. All the things they feel they have to do at this holiday season.
I am Luna, their companion animal. Since I am a dog, and it is in our nature to try to do the right thing, I have offered to help my humans, especially the one who writes the column. I think he especially needs to relax and to take a breath. Helping him is something I can do. After all, I realize my new life here with them is also an added challenge for them. The challenge that results in me knocking over a glass with my tail or snatching food that was not meant for me, for example.
It is the end of December and once again the human calendar year is nearly over. “Years” are one of the ways these human animals measure time. It works well enough for them, I guess. Measuring time for the rest of the animal world works on different principles. Nevertheless, This is the time of year when many humans make resolutions to change something about their lives going forward. This is not a terrible idea, I must say. It never hurts to think about ways to improve.
I had to ponder for a while to come up with ways I might improve myself. It was hard because I believe we dogs are generally good examples of how to be in the moment and go with the flow, both desirable qualities. Of course, some of us canines who were trained (by humans) early to be mean and aggressive are not living their best doggie lives, but I believe they are the exceptions.
As for my resolutions, I admit that sometimes when I am in the moment, say focusing intently on a particularly fascinating smell while we are on a walk, my human will insist that I be in his moment. I also agree that, for me, going with the flow sometimes means chasing squirrels which, I suppose, might be seen as a bit aggressive towards squirrels.
I overheard my human, the writer, mention some of his resolutions. He admits most of them are similar to his resolutions from last year: Read more; Watch less television; Exercise more; Stop eating as much junk food; Keep better hands on finances. Turns out these are also the top resolutions on most End-Of-The-Year resolution surveys, so he is normal. But a couple of his additional resolutions seem a bit more original.
“I resolve to be kinder to people,” I heard him say, “and be less judgmental.” He also stated he is going to make every effort to limit his intake of this week’s “breaking major crisis” and the latest “existential fears” that pass for news reports. I wish him good luck with those. Each of those resolutions surely will help his blood pressure.
I wish he would have included “Empathizing with dogs and taking a breath when they are discovering a fascinating smell.”
Norman Knight, a retired Clark-Pleasant Middle School teacher, writes this weekly column for the Daily Journal. Send comments to [email protected].
