Pyra 04/94 - 04/09

Maybe I should rename this blog “My Dog Blog”, because here’s another post about dogs. But simply put, dogs aren’t just great companions who give us their unconditional love, regardless, they are also very smart and great teachers. We could learn a ton from them…if we’d only be willing.

This story landed in my inbox from a very successful business man, Paul Hartunian, and I would like to share it with all of you here:

Many years ago my Godson gave me a little book called “Are You As Happy As Your Dog?”. I’ve read that little rascal dozens of times. If you don’t have it, get it. It has some of life’s great lessons and can be read in less than an hour.

But until you can get a copy, here are some of the reasons dogs have so many friends.  Another bunch of great life lessons.

Enjoy them. I’m going to lay on the floor and get covered by my seven dogs…

This Is Why Dogs Have So Many Friends

The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.
-Anonymous

Don’t accept your dog’s admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.
-Ann Landers

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.
-Will Rogers

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.
-Ben Williams

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.
-Josh Billings

The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.
-Andy Rooney

We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare.
And in return, dogs give us their all. It’s the best deal man has ever made.
-M. Acklam

Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, quite unlike people, who are incapable of pure love and always have to mix love and hate.
-Sigmund Freud

If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons.
-James Thurber

If your dog is fat, you aren’t getting enough exercise.
-Unknown

Ever consider what our dogs must think of us? I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul — chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we’re the greatest hunters on earth!
-Anne Tyler

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man.
-Mark Twain

You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, ‘Wow, you’re right! I never would’ve thought of that!’
- Dave Barry

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
-Roger Caras

If you think dogs can’t count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them.
-Phil Pastoret

Using Twitwall?

It seems like the whole world is on Twitter these days. Fom politcians to actors you can find everyone tweeting. I keep getting invites to join from friends, aquaintences and even from people I don’t even know. ‘ Twitter Fever’ has definitely grabbed ahold of me. I’m tweeting on a daily basis now. And it’s a lot of fun too.

You can tell the whole world in 140 characters or less what you’re doing at the moment. For those of us who sometimes are having trouble expressing ourselves in only 140 characters, there’s Twitwall which you can use more like a blog and which also lets you post videos.

Want to post your favorite pictures on Twitter? Well, there’s Twitpic to do just that. (If you have a Twitter account you automatically have a Twitwall and Twitpic account also.)

Sign up for a Twitter account and start tweeting. Invite your friends. Tweet for fun or tweet for business. If you are totally lost, there’s even Twitter Training. So what’s stopping you?

And while you’re at it, make sure to add me to your friends.

Achievers concern themselves with excellence, but do not obsess over perfection. Things get done by doing them in the real world, not by putting them off until conditions are perfect.

In the time you spend worrying about whether or not to do something, it could have been done. In the time you spend worrying aobut whether it’s the perfect time to get going, you could already be far ahead.

Achievers and excellence are built not by fearing the mistakes but by confidently handling the mistakes and the surprises that come along. The will to succeed includes the willingness to live with the very real possibility that things can go wrong.

Go beyond merely dreaming and planning and speculating aobut the ideal way to reach your goal. Make use of whatever you have available to get it done.

Ralph Marston

11/29/01 – 04/12/09

It’s unbelievable. After losing Pyra two weeks ago, we now lost Tyson, our beloved Boxer as well. He was only 7 and showed no signs of illness. He greeted me yesterday morning with his usal tailwagging and wet kisses and 20 minutes later he was gone. Totally unexpected. Totally out of the blue. Leaving behind broken hearts and a family that will never be the same.

A Dog’s Purpose (6 year old’s perspective)

Little 6 year old Shane was brilliant beyond his years. Dogs are too. We can learn a lot from both.

Here is the story:

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker’s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ‘I know why.

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation.

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 Six-year-old continued, ‘Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you’re not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!