Lessons from the Dog - Play Daily

It’s the middle of summer and I’m in the thick of peak season of pet sitting. When folks are traveling, that’s when I’m busiest taking care of pets who can’t travel with their families. The busier I get, the less free time I have. Which means that my dogs spend more time home alone and get walked less often. I always say the best part of my day is coming home to them. Not only do I get to take my shoes off and put my feet up for a break, but I get to spend time with them.

Izzy and Kita on the other hand are full of energy and ready to play. Often, I push them away and say later. I’ve got emails to check, phone calls to make, laundry to finish and so on. Kita being the younger of the two, is usually more excited for some playtime. If she’s especially bored, she’ll get the toys from her toy box out and spread them all over the living room. To get my attention or to entice me to play, she’ll grab a toy and bounce over to me, wiggling her butt and then running away when I make a move toward her. Time for a game of chase, I can hear her thinking! It’s hard not to engage her, no matter what. And when I do, I’m always grateful I did.

Yes, phone calls are important, and I do need some clean socks to wear tomorrow, but seeing how happy they are after a game of tug of war, or chase makes me feel better than any amount of clean laundry! So I try my best to make time daily to play with my girls. Just like going for a walk, breaks from work, chores and the computer are good for my mind. Kita is so goofy when she plays she often makes me laugh. And laughter is good for the soul.

When I’m having an especially stressful day, Izzy and Kita are always there to remind me it’s the little things in life that matter most. Spending time together, having fun and most of all playing, even just for 10 minutes a day, can put the things I stress about in perspective. At the end of the day, what I remember most is how I spent my time with my girls simply living and enjoying life.

PIN IT!