I’ve been sniffed and snarled at, jumped on, tripped and chased by dogs. No, I am not a letter carrier – I am a runner.
I’m not talking about stray dogs. I’m talking about beautiful, well-kept dogs whose owners care enough about them to exercise them on the same trails I choose to run. And I’m okay with that. What strikes me is how the number of people on the trails with dogs, outnumbers the number of people without dogs.
"I wouldn’t be walking everyday if it weren’t for the dog," you’ve told me. Can we deduce that humans put more value to their pet’s health and fitness than their own?
Of course this is not a scientific study, but I’m going to step out one more time and suggest that humans also put more value to their dog’s diet than their own. I have never seen dogs chow down pepperoni pizza and Pepsi, though they would probably enjoy it. We generally feed them the high-protein dog food their bodies require and give them plenty of good, old-fashioned water to drink.
Maybe we need to elevate our self-worth to at least match, if not exceed the average house pet. Aren’t we the superior species after all? (We stop at eating shoes and socks.)
If you are someone enjoying life on the edge and don’t see your health as a priority, it might be worth considering who else you’re hurting. You can be sure there is someone who is concerned about you, even if you’re not.
Stop to consider who sees you as important.
How many lives do you impact on any given day?
Who would miss you if you were gone?
Before you eat another Twinkie, take another drag on your cigarette, work another hour, or have one more drink, think about how long you want to be around, in what condition and for whom?
Snuggle up with someone you care about, maybe even Fido, and consider what you can learn from dogs.
- To be playful
- To not be afraid to look silly
- To play rain or shine
- To not make excuses
- To take time to rest
- To leave food in your bowl
- To appreciate simple food
- To be loyal
- To have balance
- To be curious
- To be friendly
- To find joy in simple things, ie: shoes and socks
- To be affectionate
- To be a good companion
- To love unconditionally
From my viewpoint, one of the best things about dogs is that they get people out on the trails, in the streets and in the parks. Together, people and dogs reap physical, emotional and spiritual benefits. But I’m not here to sell dogs. My goal is to convince you that you and your body are important too. When you really believe that, you can’t help but practice making healthy choices. That’s all it takes; one decision after another, one step at a time, to a healthier you.
When the pressure mounts, practice what dogs do and watch your health and relationships prosper. Be the dog. "Woof."