Greetings from Canine Hotline. Today is Tuesday which means it is dog advice column day. You asked questions, and we fetched answers. Remember: If you need dog advice, send a message to info@thecaninehotline.com. And don’t forget to subscribe:
Today we are talking about dog bucket lists and the very simple and non-stressful concept of, um, time. Our question today comes from Peggy’s mom:
Dear Peggy’s mom,
I have an obsession with making little to-do lists. When I found out my best friend (a 160-pound mastiff) was sick, I made a “bucket list” of things I wanted to do with her before she died. We went to the beach, napped in the grass, and jumped in the ocean without towels, just to enjoy the sun drying us. We ate some steak, had an ice cream cone. Gizelle’s bucket list wasn’t exactly about achieving extraordinary adventures. It was about prioritizing simple adventures. Which is what I think you should do with sweet Peggy.
I don’t think our dogs are totally here to remind us to go, go, go! I think they are better at reminding us to stop, stop, stop! If life were music, I think dogs would be the pauses (forgive me: Paws-es). You probably don’t always notice the pauses and rests in music, but these things are just as important as the music itself. Without the pause, the music would just jumble together, it would go too fast and not make sense and probably just sound stressful.
Often, I try to go really fast in order to “make the most” of things. I make enormous lists of things I want to do and achieve, and then I reach the end of the day, look at my list and realize: Wait! I didn’t finish the things! What a failure! I cannot enjoy my life or do anything fun until ALL of this crap is DONE!!! It’s as though I seriously believe that one day (like, tomorrow, hopefully!) I might “make time for everything,” or achieve this magical work/life balance, or finally purchase the right productivity journal that will teach me how to make the most of my time.
Anyway, this is where our dogs can help us. This is where Peggy can help you! As awful as it is that dogs don’t live as long as we do, dogs are the best reminder we have that days are limited. It’s stressful when you feel like you do not have time to do everything. But there is also some relief when you accept: I don’t have time to do everything. Days are limited. So, what do I really want to do? I should do that, like, now!
I remember when I took Gizelle to the beach for the first time, I was soooo stressed about missing work. But lounging on the beach with Gizelle was one of the best memories of my life. It also wasn’t like the stress of work and losing her went away at the beach, I was just at the beach….anyway! I was on the beach even though I had my own massive to-do list (and endless worries) running in my head. I was at the beach even though I had “too much to do” and “didn’t have time” to be at the beach.
I like how dogs add the necessary, mandatory pauses in our days and lives. We’re so busy with our human tasks and chores, but our dogs are like, hey! I need to go outside! I need to go for a walk! Also, are you gonna stop and check out this tree? Because there are squirrels up here! Do you see these things? Fascinating! Look! Woof! Woof! Woof!
Anyway, I do think you should make a little bucket list for Peggy. :) Not to pile things on and try to help Peggy’s productivity speed up, but to help you slow down. It’s important to pause and prioritize those simple adventures. Has Peggy ever walked on a forest trail? Is there a fun car ride or road trip in your future? Maybe a little visit to the beach or park?
Also, add things to Peggy’s bucket list that she has already done. Has she raced through the leaves in the fall? Walked in the snow? Chased a squirrel? Been on a date with you? Maybe even now she is “helping mom slow down.” Add that to her bucket list! Check it off…
Sending lots of love and fun adventures,
Your pals at Canine Hotline