Hi collaborator,

The other day, Muggins asked to go for an evening walk. Walks with Muggins are either miles-long, or…we go nowhere. This particular day was a “nowhere” walk because Muggins wanted to sniff the air and watch the neighborhood. They’ve always had this desire to be present with where we are and take it all in through their senses.

In the summer, this is very inspiring and lovely and I look forward to it.

But now…the temps are hovering around freezing and drop quickly in the evenings. I wanted to walk to stay warm and I felt some frustration rising as Muggins sat down instead of moving forward.

I sighed and said, “Okay, Muggins, we can watch for a bit.”

As I took a breath and stood still, I felt something else.

I felt my knees bend and straighten as I bobbed up and down to generate heat.

I felt my fingers staying warm inside my double layer of gloves and mittens.

I felt my body settle as stood next to Muggins.

I felt myself staying there, still, with Muggins. Then I looked up.

I saw some gray clouds that also seemed painted still against the sky. But only for a moment. Because as my body rooted into the earth, I found a deeper level of stillness that allowed me to see that the clouds were not still – they were moving.

How wonderful, I thought, that I get to be still enough to see the clouds move.

A lot of the time, and especially during the December holidays, we are hustling and bustling and continuously moving. We do need to move, and work, and connect with others, and buy groceries, and walk with our dogs, and celebrate holidays, and do all the things. But constant movement can cause us to be distracted and numb.

Continuous doing without pausing to be still and present can contribute to losing track of what we feel and neglecting what we need. Over time, this can result in all kinds of unpleasant things, from giving beyond our capacity and then snapping at someone in resentment, to becoming so chronically ill or burnt out that we can’t work full time.

I don’t want that for me.

I don’t what that for you.

Our dogs don’t want that for us.

So, the next time your dog plants themself down on the ground during a walk, or refuses to get in the car, or demands belly rubs in the middle of to-do list frenzy…

Take a breath, sigh out your frustration, and be still.

Your dog and your body will thank you, and you might even notice something wonderful.