Living In The Moment

How Dogs Can Help You Stay Present

From The Magazine

(c) LIFE+DOG. Feature Story by Dani DiPirro.

All Photos by Fetching Images

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As most dog lovers know, our canine companions seem to have very little trouble existing in the present moment (unless, of course, they’ve heard the promise of a treat). Generally they focus fiercely on the now—investigating their surroundings, assessing the status of their fellow humans and dogs, feeling so utterly worry-free that they fall asleep in the middle of a crowded living room. When it comes to living in the now, dogs have it down—and there’s a lot we can learn from our present-moment focused pups.
Over the past seven years I’ve been learning about living in the moment from one special pup: my dog, Bella. This little eight-pound bundle of personality and spunk has proved to be the greatest role model when it comes to looking for live-in-the-moment inspiration. Every single day I learn from her how important it is to live in the now. Here are some of the wise lessons Bella has taught me.
Do less every day. Bella doesn't overwhelm her schedule with to-do lists and appointments and activities. She knows how to take it easy. Most dogs spend their day relaxing and playing. Many of us would love to play and rest all day long, but since that's not an option, we’ll have to put Bella’s advice into a context that works for humans. Though we can’t all quit our jobs and lie around all day in relaxing “Bella-style,” we can still take inspiration from our four-legged family members and just do less. Rather than cramming our days full of things to do, we can start spending more time living in the moments we’re experiencing right now.
Focus on right now. Never once I have noticed Bella fretting about the past or panicking about the future. (Okay, I have seen her excitedly anticipate a treat, but that’s about as future-focused as Bella gets.) Most of the time our dogs focus on the here and now. What catches the attention of a curious canine is whatever is happening to him right in that particular moment. Unlike their human counterparts, dogs don’t let the past or the present bog them down. Take a look around you right now. Pause your worries and wondering and ask yourself: “What’s actually happening right now?”
Experience more joy. There's no joy quite like that of Bella with a new toy. It doesn't matter what it is, if you give her something new and call it "new toy" that tail is wagging and she's all over it, pawing it and biting it and flipping it up in the air with excitement. It could be a piece of cloth and she wouldn’t be any less ecstatic. That’s the thing about our dogs: when they’re happy, they’re happy. They don’t let worries or regret or frustrations of any kind hold them back from their happiness. They allow themselves—unlike so many of us—to be 100% happy. We all should take a lesson from the dogs in our lives and start fully embracing the joyful moments in our lives.
Worry less often. From what I’ve seen, Bella doesn't worry much. Sure, she gets stressed out when the FedEx delivery person comes to the door and she gets a bit of anxiety when I leave her alone for too long, but generally she's not a worrier. She doesn't worry about things that are out of her control, the way we humans usually do. Unlike dogs, we tend to fret not only about what’s yet to come but also what has already happened. How much of your time do you spend thinking about things that have already happened or have yet to happen? If you’re anything like most people, the answer is probably a lot. But dogs seem aware of something we humans don’t always grasp: worry gets us nowhere. Yes, we must be concerned with our actions, and we have to plan ahead in a way dogs don’t; but that doesn’t mean we should be bogged down in worry. Take a tip from Bella: worry less, live more.
Be open to new experiences. Curiosity isn’t just for cats. Though it might not seem like it when she's lounging on the couch like a lazy sack of fur, Bella is extremely curious. Everything she can see or smell is interesting to her. Take some time to watch a dog you know in action—especially in a new environment. Watch how completely interested they are in everything. They want to meet new people and dogs. They want to investigate their surroundings. Now think about how you act in a new environment. Most of us hesitate and hold back. Often we’re either not interested—too wrapped up in our own thoughts—or not comfortable sharing our interest with others. The next time you find yourself in a new situation, ask yourself how a dog would react. (Note: this is not an invitation to smell people, lift a leg on plants, or stick your nose in inappropriate places.)