A Present Moment

As I was scrambling around the house before leaving, I looked down at my desk and saw a notebook. On the cover of the notebook reads, “Live the life you’ve imagined. ~Thoreau”. I use that notebook daily, but I was present that day, at that moment, and stood there soaking up the quote.

I started to think what the life I imagined was. My mind flashed to a life with a dog – a stocky, blocky, brown pit bull (or Staffordshire Bull Terrier), who made me laugh, went for long walks, and let me hug him (or her). It dawned on me at that moment, that I’ve been making excuses for a long time about why I can have a dog “one day”, but not now (I need more money; I need a bigger place to live; I need a house with a yard; I don’t have enough time; I don’t want to wake up early every morning to take the dog out; I’m scared I won’t be a good “pack leader”; what if I suck at training, and the dog doesn’t learn that biting isn’t acceptable?). The list of excuses went on and on.

I thought about how homeless people own dogs. The dogs that I’ve seen that have no home address, usually look happy and relaxed! They aren’t acting wild, nor do they look emaciated or sad. If a dog is happy and “at home” without a house, why couldn’t I invite a dog into my life and my apartment? I realized that things don’t have to be set up in a certain, specific, perfect way in order for a dog to be loved, cared for, and to feel “at home”.

I may not get the exact dog I imagined (maybe I’ll end up with a French bulldog), but I do know that I could’ve gone through my entire life without a doggie companion, if I didn’t have that one present moment.

This is my new journey. I’m now opening myself up for a dog. I am talking to a good friend who has been in the dog trainer, dog show, and breeder worlds, and went to check out some rescue dogs. Things are starting to move because of one moment. Imagine all the ideas and aha moments we would become aware of if we were present more often.