Every morning when I first see Chandler, I can’t help myself but smile. She wags her tail and wiggles as I greet her with good morning scratches.
I’m reminded of a book my father and his wife gave me a few years back called Guardians of Being: Spiritual Teachings From Our Dogs and Cats by Eckhart Tolle and Patrick McDonnell. For me, the underlying message is about living in the present moment, and the joy that can come from being present. There is a sweetness and a simplicity about the way the book is written and illustrated, and at the same time, its message is profound.
I find great Peace in being with Chandler, regardless of the activity we are engaged in. In some way, simply being with her helps me get completely out of my head and into my body, which then brings me into the experience more fully. When I have gone out for a period of time, whether it is five minutes or five hours, Chandler greets me with enthusiasm and energy. If we are walking, she explores the nooks and crannies as if there might be a treasure hidden deep within. And when she turns over and scratches her back by wiggling on the carpet, she engages every fiber of her being in the activity, continuing until she is fully satisfied that the “itch” is gone.
I certainly learn about presence as a way to Peace through Chandler. So much of what we share is done through our energetic connection, which seems to transcend the stories by which many human to human connections become derailed.
What creature do you find helps you to be in the moment when you are together? Ho does it make you feel when you are with that creature? And how can we translate the messages of Peace that our Guardians of Being so readily give to us?