Showing posts with label dogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dogs. Show all posts
Friday, June 01, 2012
Finding Contentment via My Dogs
My doggies are asleep on the carpeted floor beneath my desk chair as I write, one on either side.You'd think the tap-tap-tapping of the keys would keep them wide awake, but the opposite always happens: the rat-a-tat literally acts as a kind of 'white noise' and they fall fast asleep, whether I'm writing at 7:00 A.M., 5:00 P.M., or 12:00 Midnight.
I think these two German Shepherds offer opposing sides of "psychological nature". Our female, 4-5 years-old (she's a rescue, so we don't know for certain her age)"Afton" (so named, because that is the name of the road she and her five puppies, were found wandering on), is outgoing, gentle, and always wagging her tail. I like to think she's my center, that she embodies alot of me, but this could be projection, or worse, ego. "Agent", our male, approximately 2 years old, is a black-and-tan-German Shepherd, rescued, just like "Afton", but the similarity ends there. He's much darker, in both hue, and temperament. It's not that "Agent" is mean, he's just extremely wary. Once he sees you are not a foe, he'll approach, his head down, submissive, possibly wetting himself when you reach out to pet him (we often introduce folks new to "Agent", to him outside, since his peeing is pretty unpredictable). So one dog is open, trusting, friendly.The other? Closed, anxious, (possibly still reeling from the incredible neglect, and obvious abuse we were informed of, before we adopted him), not particularly friendly. While "Afton" is much like my outer persona, "Agent" has a few of my not-often-seen, less-than-desirable qualities: I too, am often very unsure; insecure about what I may have, if anything, to offer. Perhaps it's what I told my Mom, the other evening, "Is this a Middle-Age crisis?...but hey, at nearly fifty-five...unless I live to be A Hundred and Ten, how can I call this 'Middle Age'?!
Here's the thing: it doesn't matter whether you are outgoing, or shy; optimist, or pessimist; young or old; you can still commit. I guess I'm giving you kind readers and followers of this blog, advice....but I'm giving myself a bit of a pep talk, too...I mean, if "Afton" can survive neglect and abandonment, and "Agent" can survive neglect and abuse, and what separates them is how they cope, well, then, might not we all learn from them? I mean, sometimes it takes warmth (my smile; her wagging tail) to engage, to get others to open up,(and become my friends; offer her a treat) and other times, restraint (my mouth shut; his head lowered), in order to listen, and hear (and learn more about my friends; offer him a treat)what others feel.
We're (hubby and I, who parallel our dogs in myriad ways and...that's for another post)working on socializing our dogs with other doggies, taking them to dog parks, enrolling them in classes, so they can have a happier, better-adjusted life.
In the meantime, I'm working on me: writing, writing, writing, and hopefully, becoming happier, better-adjusted.
Peace, kids.
Sunday, August 07, 2011
Andrew Pope, of Lawrenceville, Georgia.Guest Editor.
It's been a long time since I posted here at Lisa Allender Writes, but today, Sunday, August 7th, I'm going to be posting from a dear friend's Facebook Notes. My ol' pal, Andrew Pope posted recently about a renewed sense of appreciation, and I think it bears posting here. Below,enjoy kids.
From Andrew Pope, posted on his FB Wall, July 22nd, 2011.
Don't Wait.
I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting since our Australian Sheppard “Jazzy” was diagnosed with lymphoma. We have all shed a few tears and have done a lot of reminiscing since the diagnosis. After discussing it as a family, we decided to do the emotionally driven, illogical thing and go for the chemotherapy treatments. Jazzy is doing well and the lymphoma is in complete remission even with a few months left of her treatments to go. She’s back to tugging my arm to chase squirrels (though not with quite as much gusto) as well as herding the kids as they run around the house and games of tug o war when she’s feeling up to it.
As painful as it has been for the kids (and Bonnie and I), I think we made the right choice even though it is so completely out of character for us to let emotions rule over logic, rationality and fiscal responsibility. Y’see, they can’t kill the cancer (that was not listed as even a possibility); they can only drive it back a bit to give us more time to say goodbye. And we’re willing to accept that as a gift.
The silver lining to the whole situation is this: I have noticed that all of us are much less likely to wave her off when she comes looking for attention or the plain ‘ol expression of love that a dog gets from petting. We've all become even more sensitive to these needs on her treatment days – when her need for the confirmation of our love of her seems to multiply tenfold. It has made us stop taking her for granted; to appreciate her like we did when we first got her from the dog rescue organization. We've returned to treating her like we ought to all treat our loved ones all the time. I will get down on the floor and pet her for extended periods of time. I am less likely to tug her along when she stops overlong (for what I often feel is a ridiculous amount of time) sniffing this or that indiscriminate spot along our walk route. We’re all playing with her more and pampering her more. We’re even letting her on furniture that used to be off limits. We’re appreciating her more…
It struck me recently how much better off we’d all be if we thought (realized) that there is only a finite amount of time that we have with ALL our loved ones. I’ve begun calling my parents more, just to check in with them. I’m concentrating on staying in touch more with friends and loved ones and trying to reconnect with ones that have become distant. . I’m trying to please my wife more and lift up my kids more that I used to. I’m tying to appreciate them more…
Did you think of someone there? Someone that you think you’ve perhaps started to take for granted? Whether you have or not isn’t important. The fact that you think you may have is enough. Give that someone (at least the first one you thought of) a call. Let them know how you feel. Appreciate them for what they are in your life; a blessing.
Here endeth the sermon.
Thank you, Andrew, for the (uplifting) reminder.Sunday feels like a good day to post this.
Peace, kids.
From Andrew Pope, posted on his FB Wall, July 22nd, 2011.
Don't Wait.
I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting since our Australian Sheppard “Jazzy” was diagnosed with lymphoma. We have all shed a few tears and have done a lot of reminiscing since the diagnosis. After discussing it as a family, we decided to do the emotionally driven, illogical thing and go for the chemotherapy treatments. Jazzy is doing well and the lymphoma is in complete remission even with a few months left of her treatments to go. She’s back to tugging my arm to chase squirrels (though not with quite as much gusto) as well as herding the kids as they run around the house and games of tug o war when she’s feeling up to it.
As painful as it has been for the kids (and Bonnie and I), I think we made the right choice even though it is so completely out of character for us to let emotions rule over logic, rationality and fiscal responsibility. Y’see, they can’t kill the cancer (that was not listed as even a possibility); they can only drive it back a bit to give us more time to say goodbye. And we’re willing to accept that as a gift.
The silver lining to the whole situation is this: I have noticed that all of us are much less likely to wave her off when she comes looking for attention or the plain ‘ol expression of love that a dog gets from petting. We've all become even more sensitive to these needs on her treatment days – when her need for the confirmation of our love of her seems to multiply tenfold. It has made us stop taking her for granted; to appreciate her like we did when we first got her from the dog rescue organization. We've returned to treating her like we ought to all treat our loved ones all the time. I will get down on the floor and pet her for extended periods of time. I am less likely to tug her along when she stops overlong (for what I often feel is a ridiculous amount of time) sniffing this or that indiscriminate spot along our walk route. We’re all playing with her more and pampering her more. We’re even letting her on furniture that used to be off limits. We’re appreciating her more…
It struck me recently how much better off we’d all be if we thought (realized) that there is only a finite amount of time that we have with ALL our loved ones. I’ve begun calling my parents more, just to check in with them. I’m concentrating on staying in touch more with friends and loved ones and trying to reconnect with ones that have become distant. . I’m trying to please my wife more and lift up my kids more that I used to. I’m tying to appreciate them more…
Did you think of someone there? Someone that you think you’ve perhaps started to take for granted? Whether you have or not isn’t important. The fact that you think you may have is enough. Give that someone (at least the first one you thought of) a call. Let them know how you feel. Appreciate them for what they are in your life; a blessing.
Here endeth the sermon.
Thank you, Andrew, for the (uplifting) reminder.Sunday feels like a good day to post this.
Peace, kids.
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Collin Kelley is my Time-Management Muse.
Does anyone out there have any tips for better managing time?
Although I am able to work from home,and I have many distractions(two dogs; renovations currently ongoing here at house;numerous e-mails and Facebook Friend messages to check, etc.), I still feel I should be more "ahead" than I am.
Some things that I do right:
1) At night, when I'm planning to do a scrub or face-mask, I make sure I wait to do my e-mails until I've applied it, so I can answer e-mails and check Facebook messages while my skin is getting prettier.
2) I do laundry and fold clothes, while catching up with family by phone(I use the "speaker" feature).
3) After washing my face, and applying moisturizer, I then take my shower so that the moisturizer can "sink in" so that when I get out,if I'm applying make-up--it will go on faster.
4) I use e-mail for almost all correspondence. Lately, I prefer private-messages sent via Facebook. Faster, easier.
5) Rarely use the phone at all, except for family.
6) Cook large quantities of food, so I can freeze it, and then heat up later.
Any suggestions for accomplishing more writing, in less time?
I'd surely appreciate it!
If you don't understand the title of this entry, just checkout my eternal friend and poet pal, Collin Kelley's blog, Modern Confessional, and you'll see what I mean.
Peace,kids.
Although I am able to work from home,and I have many distractions(two dogs; renovations currently ongoing here at house;numerous e-mails and Facebook Friend messages to check, etc.), I still feel I should be more "ahead" than I am.
Some things that I do right:
1) At night, when I'm planning to do a scrub or face-mask, I make sure I wait to do my e-mails until I've applied it, so I can answer e-mails and check Facebook messages while my skin is getting prettier.
2) I do laundry and fold clothes, while catching up with family by phone(I use the "speaker" feature).
3) After washing my face, and applying moisturizer, I then take my shower so that the moisturizer can "sink in" so that when I get out,if I'm applying make-up--it will go on faster.
4) I use e-mail for almost all correspondence. Lately, I prefer private-messages sent via Facebook. Faster, easier.
5) Rarely use the phone at all, except for family.
6) Cook large quantities of food, so I can freeze it, and then heat up later.
Any suggestions for accomplishing more writing, in less time?
I'd surely appreciate it!
If you don't understand the title of this entry, just checkout my eternal friend and poet pal, Collin Kelley's blog, Modern Confessional, and you'll see what I mean.
Peace,kids.
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