Jack and Sawyer
These are my dogs, Jack and Sawyer (yes, just like in “Lost”). They are the loves of my life (but don’t tell my husband…Steve is holding out hope that it’s him). They are rescue dogs, meaning a little damaged, a little neurotic, and 110% devoted.
But to get to my point. If I ever do, in fact, grow up, I want to be just like them. Because dogs get it right.
Jack and Sawyer have no aspirations. They are utterly and completely satisfied with precisely where they are (unless they hear the leash jiggle…then they are utterly and completely satisfied if they are going for a walk).
Jack and Sawyer have zero ego. They don’t get embarrassed that they’ve put on a few extra pounds, shed incessantly or occasionally lick their behinds. They don’t get their feelings hurt when I tell them they have bad breath or that they need a bath.
Jack making a spectacle of himself.
Jack and Sawyer don’t strive for success. They don’t compare themselves to other dogs and wonder if they are living up to their full canine potential. They don’t run three miles with me only to think to themselves, “we’ll run five next week, for sure.”
Jack and Sawyer live for today. Because dogs have no sense of time. But also because they don’t plan for tomorrow. They don’t let today pass them by because they think tomorrow might be better because I promised to take them in the car. No, they are going sprawl out on the floor like it’s spa day and they have the VIP package. To hell with tomorrow.
Jack and Sawyer find joy in the little things. That patch of sunshine on the deck. The sound of me coming through the door after work. A doorbell ringing in a TV show making them feel justified in barking as if a herd of cats and mailmen is trying to break in through the front door. The fact that, while typing this, I’m rubbing Jack’s belly with my foot, making him sigh contentedly.
Jack and Sawyer forgive. When Steve yells at them for getting into the cat’s litter box for an afternoon snack, or if I get annoyed because they tried to cuddle when I was leaving for court in a black suit, they let it go. Sure, it could be because they have a short attention span, but I choose to believe it’s because they just don’t have it in them to stay mad.
Although Sawyer does a decent job of holding a grudge after a bath. Obviously Jack does not.
Sawyer giving me the silent treatment after a bath. Not Jack’s style, though.
So I’m going to not think about whether or not an agent will call me tomorrow…or that stupid ruling the judge made yesterday. I’m not going to wait to be happy till I get published, or make more money or lose 10 pounds. I’m going to enjoy the wine in my glass, the way Jack and Sawyer wag their tails whenever I smile at them, the way Steve winks at me when he catches me looking at him.
Hell with tomorrow.
Erin Lyon 
We can learn so much from our pets. Though, it would be great to not have to go to work and sleep when we felt like it , just like the pets do. Lol
Yeah, we might all be happier people if we didn’t have to make a living 😉
I don’t have a dog now (2 cats though), but there are days I would have traded my routine for any of my pets’. Except fish. Don’t want to be a fish. My cats are lap cats though and share many traits with your dogs. Great post. And your secret is safe with me.
See, my dogs are my role model for being happy. If I used my cats for a role model, I’d be a dictator of a third-world country…or a Kardashian. 😉
Too funny. If I actually traded lives with them I’d be 300 pound overweight (cause all they do is eat and sleep yet not gain weight), and definitely have my own tv show.
Love it! I wanna come be a dog at your house!
Yes, but I give *you* wine when you come to my house 😉 The dogs are on the wagon.
This is why I love dogs. It’s incredible how much you can learn (especially about yourself) when you have a dog.
Jack and Sawyer are the cutest. Love their personalities! And love their names.
Thank you 🙂 Yes – I was having a very un-doglike day yesterday, so I needed a reminder!
Good Gawd, I only had to read a few random sentences from your most recent posts and I knew I wanted to follow you back! HEEEElarious! Thanks for the follow….good luck on those “fulls” and what not! Will hope to hear you whoop it up soon!
Well, thank you so much! And you had me when you used “fancy schmancy”…because it is criminally under-utilized 😉
If people were more like dogs, the world would be a better place.
True. Unless they were more like German Shepherds. Everyone knows German Shepherds are racist and can’t manage their money.
Or Chihuahuas. If we were like them we’d spend all day squeezing under fences and getting trapped in our neighbour’s garden.
Yes! Don’t even get me started on Chihuahuas. 😉
Thank you for the follow, your blog is great and this post is hilarious! I wanna be your dogs when I grow up too, LOL! I miss having dogs, I’ve been doing cat rescue for a long time, and just haven’t had the reliability needed to care for dogs well for a fair while. But bless you for rescuing them, and bless you for showing their best sides in this post! Look forward to reading more! Peace.
Thanks so much 🙂 I have three cats as well (and an ultimatum from my husband forbidding me from any more recreational visits to the SPCA).
Too damn cute. My partner had a dog that passed away a year ago, but I’m sure glad I got to meet and know that old, heart-warming companion. Even though she was 11 years old, she’d love to romp in high grass and went crazy in snow. I’m envious of her youthfulness and hope I’m inspired to be not so senile when I become “old.”
So true! And I’m okay with getting senile as long as I’m still wagging my tail 😉
Haha, love it! 😀
Great title for a blog!
Thanks for “liking” my post on the emergency room visit. I love your dog analogy. I think we have a similar sense of humor.
I’ll try not to hold that against you. 😉
Fucking LOL! I think you’ve hit on something…I’m going to go practice Being dog like. I have a very good feeling about this…I think I’m gonna get treats and all kinds of good stuff!
And they sure seem happy most of the time so they are clearly onto something 😉