Where did the time go?
You were just a puppy.
Now you are full-grown.
Where did the time go?
You were once small.
And now you stand tall.
Where did the time go?
Then you were so fragile.
Now you are so strong.
Where did the time go?
The puppy I had at the start,
Will always be a puppy in my heart
Even though you are an adult.
Just thinking about joyful things instantly make me happy! ~ Dr. Angela Kowitz Orobko
I am certain there are more than ten things that instantly make me happy; but, these are the top ten things that make me instantly happy that I can think of at the moment! I encourage you to create your own list.
1. Seeing a butterfly flutter by.
2. The scent of home-baked breads, cookies or pastries, especially if there is a hint of cinnamon.
3. The warmth of the sun on a cold winter’s day.
4. A cool, gentle breeze off the ocean on a hot summer’s day.
5. Rainbows.
6. Waterfalls.
7. Seashells.
8. Sasha, my fur-baby, greeting me at the door after I have been out.
9. Sandcastles.
10. A full moon on a clear night.
These are in no particular order as each of these equally and instantly bring a smile to my face, joy to my soul, and tickle my heart! I would love to know what instantly makes you happy. Please share in the comments below.
I heard this story a few years ago and I felt compelled to share it here. Once when some adults were discussing and wondering why dogs have shorter lives than people, a six-year old boy, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ”I know why.” Startled, they all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned them.
He said,‘ People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The young boy continued,‘ Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.” They had never heard a more compelling explanation and it had made a lasting impression on them.
People take years to learn to: Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.
We can learn from how dogs live their lives. My puppy dog, Sasha, has taught me some very significant lessons such as:
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!
The sun’s warmth and the gentle breeze of the season made it an excellent day to just absorb nature. Here are a few of the 240 photos I took today to give you a sense of the loveliness I experienced with my husband and my puppy-dog Sasha. It was both magnificent and magical! Nature’s treasures were alive from dancing butterflies to fragrant honeysuckle.
Each of my senses were delighted! I am reminded that God’s presence is everywhere and my heart is filled with thanksgiving. I truly feel blessed! I think sometime this week I will create a painting or two based on these pictures. Nature has such a soothing effect on the soul. I hope each of you had an equally tranquil day and may you be blessed with a glorious week.
I have so many ideas stirring in my head for the upcoming week on which I plan to post here; but, this weekend I want to keep this blog fun by telling you what I did today. I helped bathe my puppy-dog, Sasha. It has been over 5 weeks since her last bath; and, she was starting to smell like, well, a dog. (warm laughter) She appeared clean, as she is mostly a pampered house pup, but she had a distinct odor. My husband and I cannot seem to have children, so Sasha fills that role/void in our lives. She is going on 4 years old (in late June) and has the intelligence level of a human toddler.
She is quite smart (as all who have pets say of their beloved animal friends). Really, she is. We often joke that we have the female version of Marley (from the book & movie, Marley and Me). We did not even have to utter the word bath. She knew! Usually she does not object to getting a bath; but, today she went straight for her crate, where she feels safe, secure and where she could avoid the bath. Well, Sasha loves praise. So, all I had to do is say is, “Sasha is such a good girl, she wants to take a bath now.” Sasha is grinning and wagging her tail as she comes out of her crate and heads to the bathtub. I think she knew all along she would get a little extra attention, so she went through this conjured up routine of not wanting a bath on purpose.
Many would think, dogs cannot scheme like that. Oh, really? Well, I am here to let you know that many can and do. I have had Sasha since she was 9 weeks old; and, I created a dog who can think independently by playing games where she had to make decisions, like get your favorite toy and find Mommy or Daddy. Sasha and I often play games like hide-n-seek and tag. She is pretty good at it, too. Seek and find toys/treats is another favorite game of hers.
Once she was in the bathtub, she was compliant. She enjoyed getting lathered up, the warm water and the rinse off. My role on bath day is to dry her off. Sasha is really quite the “ham” when it comes to getting dried-off. She rolls around in the towels and plays peek-a-boo with them. She gets into her play stance with her romp in the air, head to the ground and front legs stretched like she is taking a bow. Then she pounces the towels and noses under them. She then gets up shakes and wags her whole body as I manage to wrap a large towel around her to dry her. Oh yes, Sasha loves this part of bath time. What an amazing day we had!
Puppies have a way of bringing out joy in my heart! Not only are they adorable, but their whole carefree lifestyle delights me. I love the way they explore new things and territories. We can learn so much simply by watching a puppy. They eat when they are hungry, drink when they are thirsty, sleep when they are sleepy and they are always curious and willing to learn new things. They live for the moment. What could you learn from a puppy?
A Kiss Of Bliss 