Today, August 26, is National Dog Day. It is a day to celebrate that all dogs live happy, safe, and abuse free lives. Have you had a special dog at some point it your life? Maybe you were fond of a friend’s or neighbor’s dog. I had a beloved lab. He provided me with unconditional love and throughout my dark divorce years, was my constant companion.
Grizzly was a passionate 80 pound lab that thought he was a lap dog. He would jump on the couch to sit on our laps. He loved to swim and would spend entire days in the pool swimming back and forth with a ball in his mouth, only putting it down to rest on the pool steps. It always amazed me how well he knew the time. When it was 6:00 pm, he would come and find me, tap his nose against my knee, and try nudging me toward the kitchen so, he could have his dinner. I miss Grizzly, but, life is impermanent and I am so grateful he was a part of my life.
If you have has a special dog or any special animal in your life, try this Gratitude Meditation.
Fill Your Heart with Gratitude
Find a comfortable place to sit. Close your eyes and take three deep breaths. Try to relax your body. Begin to focus on your heart. Feel its beating and become aware of the space it occupies in your chest. Imaging it expanding just a little more. Continue breathing. Think now of any animals you love or you loved in the past. Picture them happy and healthy. Try using all of your senses. What do you smell? What sound are they making? How do they feel? Fill your heart with these images and thank them for blessing you with their love. Feel your beating heart again and know that these memories that you cherish will always be there for you to tap into.
