One of my favorite sections of UPWARD DOG is FOCUS ON THE STICK where I talk about Belle’s concentration giving her the same benefits we humans want from meditation.
Well, Belle has taken this to entire new levels with her newest game: PLAYing in the sand between rounds of Fetch.
Take a look — and note the extreme happiness on her face in the near final shot!
“People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us.”
–– Iris Murdoch
Almost every dog owner reports that one of the great satisfactions of their lives is being greeted by their four-legged friend.
Sometimes it doesn’t matter whether it’s been a trip around the world or a trip to the grocery store, our dogs are just so wonderfully appreciative of us each and every time we appear.
We, on the other hand, often take great things for granted, often until...
To change one’s life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly. No exceptions.
~William James
I don’t think Belle really wants to ever change her life.
In fact, her blend of friendship, beach fetch, lots of food and lots of sleep, seems near perfection.
However, I do like how much enthusiasm she puts into everything she does, whether it’s running after a stick or greeting each person she likes.
She’s really not afraid of “just going for it” –– ie, doing it FLAMBOYANTLY –– because she’s...
Be gentle with yourself. Kiss away your (imagined) faults and remember, if you saw you as God sees you, you would smile a lot.
Neale Donald Walsch
I love the way Belle smiles at me.
At this time of year, because I’m figuring out all my goals for 2012 and beyond, it’s easy to start getting very critical of where I am right now. It becomes about fixing flaws (I like that Neale Donald Walsch has “imagined” in parenthesis), and I really like the idea of KISSING THEM AWAY –– who better than a loving pup to do...
“Wisdom tells me I am nothing. Love tells me I am everything. Between the two my life flows.”
Nisargadatta, I AM THAT
In this “empty” week between Christmas and New Year’s, Belle and I are treasuring the space we have to play and create and rest.
I’ve been musing about how I have so many projects I’m excited about, yet not a single appointment until early 2012.
It’s a minor miracle to be in this wonderful position: infinite choices and yet no heavy obligations.
I think this is how Belle lives her...
Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind.
To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.
~ Calvin Coolidge
Belle –– and all loving animals –– embody the spirit of Christmas all year round.
She’s always reminding me that being connected to other people, radiating a loving presence, and celebrating each moment are what’s important.
Right now we’re off to the beach so she can frolic –– one of my gifts to her –– but athough I do feed her and take...
We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.
~George Bernard Shaw
Belle, like all good dogs, never loses her sense of play.
Yes, she is calmer now that her puppy days are past. Nonetheless, the instant the beach is in sight or the moment we enter a hiking trail she loves, her spirit of play is completely undiminished.
HAVING FUN is one of the most important lessons Belle teaches me, a lesson that not only makes life more enjoyable, but also keeps things constantly...
Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.
~William James
Belle wore her Service Dog outfit today to the Parking division of the DMV (I may have this slightly scrambled but …) which we had been warned was not always the uh … smoothest experience a person could have.
Instead, it flowed perfectly.
The clerks were helpful.
The lines were short.
We had to recalibrate the forms and get new info, but were given a “FRONT OF THE LINE” voucher.
I don’t know if it was Belle’s magic per se, but I do...
A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do.
— Bob Dylan
[Or A Dog!]
Yesterday was such a perfect San Francisco Day.
Belle attended her eight-year old friend Jonah’s Friends and Family Holiday Event at his school and then in the evening, the Holiday Party at the Laughing Lotus in San Francisco.
All day long, I realized how wonderful it was that pretty much everything we were doing was because we both wanted to be doing it. Even with momentary challenges (parking in...
Here’s our latest video (just click on the link) that show what Belle teaches me about how being FOCUSED helps you stay present.
CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO
I think you’ll agree that Belle is a real Meditation...
Snapshots from Belle's Exciting Life
Focusing on The Stick (and more)
Posted by Upward Dog on Mar 14, 2012 in Uncategorized | 0 comments
One of my favorite sections of UPWARD DOG is FOCUS ON THE STICK where I talk about Belle’s concentration giving her the same benefits we humans want from meditation. Well, Belle has taken this to entire new levels with her newest game: PLAYing in the sand between rounds of Fetch. Take a look — and note the extreme happiness on her face in the near final shot!
read moreMad With Joy
Posted by Upward Dog on Jan 6, 2012 in Belle's Daily Adventures | 1 comment
“People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us.” –– Iris Murdoch Almost every dog owner reports that one of the great satisfactions of their lives is being greeted by their four-legged friend. Sometimes it doesn’t matter whether it’s been a trip around the world or a trip to the grocery store, our dogs are just so wonderfully appreciative of us each and every time we appear. We, on the other hand, often take great things for granted, often until...
read moreTo Change One’s Life
Posted by Upward Dog on Dec 31, 2011 in Belle's Daily Adventures | 0 comments
To change one’s life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly. No exceptions. ~William James I don’t think Belle really wants to ever change her life. In fact, her blend of friendship, beach fetch, lots of food and lots of sleep, seems near perfection. However, I do like how much enthusiasm she puts into everything she does, whether it’s running after a stick or greeting each person she likes. She’s really not afraid of “just going for it” –– ie, doing it FLAMBOYANTLY –– because she’s...
read moreYou Would Smile A Lot
Posted by Upward Dog on Dec 29, 2011 in Belle's Daily Adventures | 0 comments
Be gentle with yourself. Kiss away your (imagined) faults and remember, if you saw you as God sees you, you would smile a lot. Neale Donald Walsch I love the way Belle smiles at me. At this time of year, because I’m figuring out all my goals for 2012 and beyond, it’s easy to start getting very critical of where I am right now. It becomes about fixing flaws (I like that Neale Donald Walsch has “imagined” in parenthesis), and I really like the idea of KISSING THEM AWAY –– who better than a loving pup to do...
read moreEverything and Nothing
Posted by Upward Dog on Dec 27, 2011 in Belle's Daily Adventures | 0 comments
“Wisdom tells me I am nothing. Love tells me I am everything. Between the two my life flows.” Nisargadatta, I AM THAT In this “empty” week between Christmas and New Year’s, Belle and I are treasuring the space we have to play and create and rest. I’ve been musing about how I have so many projects I’m excited about, yet not a single appointment until early 2012. It’s a minor miracle to be in this wonderful position: infinite choices and yet no heavy obligations. I think this is how Belle lives her...
read moreA Christmas State of Mind
Posted by Upward Dog on Dec 24, 2011 in Belle's Daily Adventures | 0 comments
Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. ~ Calvin Coolidge Belle –– and all loving animals –– embody the spirit of Christmas all year round. She’s always reminding me that being connected to other people, radiating a loving presence, and celebrating each moment are what’s important. Right now we’re off to the beach so she can frolic –– one of my gifts to her –– but athough I do feed her and take...
read moreDon’t Stop Playing
Posted by Upward Dog on Dec 20, 2011 in Belle's Daily Adventures | 0 comments
We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing. ~George Bernard Shaw Belle, like all good dogs, never loses her sense of play. Yes, she is calmer now that her puppy days are past. Nonetheless, the instant the beach is in sight or the moment we enter a hiking trail she loves, her spirit of play is completely undiminished. HAVING FUN is one of the most important lessons Belle teaches me, a lesson that not only makes life more enjoyable, but also keeps things constantly...
read moreIt Makes A Difference
Posted by Upward Dog on Dec 19, 2011 in Belle's Daily Adventures | 3 comments
Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. ~William James Belle wore her Service Dog outfit today to the Parking division of the DMV (I may have this slightly scrambled but …) which we had been warned was not always the uh … smoothest experience a person could have. Instead, it flowed perfectly. The clerks were helpful. The lines were short. We had to recalibrate the forms and get new info, but were given a “FRONT OF THE LINE” voucher. I don’t know if it was Belle’s magic per se, but I do...
read moreSuccess
Posted by Upward Dog on Dec 17, 2011 in Belle's Daily Adventures | 0 comments
A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do. — Bob Dylan [Or A Dog!] Yesterday was such a perfect San Francisco Day. Belle attended her eight-year old friend Jonah’s Friends and Family Holiday Event at his school and then in the evening, the Holiday Party at the Laughing Lotus in San Francisco. All day long, I realized how wonderful it was that pretty much everything we were doing was because we both wanted to be doing it. Even with momentary challenges (parking in...
read moreFOCUS ON THE STICK
Posted by Upward Dog on Dec 15, 2011 in Belle's Daily Adventures | 0 comments
Here’s our latest video (just click on the link) that show what Belle teaches me about how being FOCUSED helps you stay present. CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO I think you’ll agree that Belle is a real Meditation...
read more