Chop-Chop!

Have you noticed that people are always rushing? This is really apparent driving on the freeways of Los Angeles. Even when it's bumper to bumper traffic, there's always someone constantly switching lanes trying to get ahead of everybody. Are we in such a hurry? Or are we just trying to catch up with time? I swear it seems as if time has accelerated ever since I turned thirty. I had heard people say that time just hurtles by after a certain age but I never believed them until it happened. I'm sure it's because of all the responsibilities you acquire as life progresses. Sometimes, there's not enough time to do everything, which is why some people say, "If only there were more time in the day." I certainly don't want more time, I'll just fill it up with things to do. I'd rather have less responsibilities which will automatically give me more time. But that's wishful thinking.

I don't know about your morning routine, but mine is very busy right before I go to work. Make the bed, put a load of laundry in the wash (it seems as if I do laundry everyday), put the dishes away, and get the dogs' food ready. And, because I'm such a clean freak, which I never realized I was until I had dogs, I would either sweep or vacuum the floors. In between all that, I try to eat my breakfast. Of course, I can never forget to play ball with Morpheus and Elektra in the mornings because Morpheus follows me around the house until I put on my tennis shoes and play outside. Ripley, who is above playing ball, usually sits in the sun and watches.

Naturally, I get stressed out in my attempt to get things done all at once. But I'm unaware of my stress until I get a glimpse of Morpheus walking behind me looking so distressed. He is the most sensitive dog out of the three I have. So, when I see the anxiety on his face, I know that he's picking up my stress, which immediately reminds me to take a deep breath and relax. I certainly don't want to worry Morpheus because it affects his digestive system. He starts to feel nauseous. In Chinese Medicine, this is what you would call Liver Overacting on the Stomach. This means that your frazzled energy or "qi", which is governed by the liver (not the organ itself), immediately attacks the stomach causing the nausea. It could cause other symptoms but for Morpheus it's nausea.

Just by the mere act of mindfully taking in oxygen into the body and releasing the carbon dioxide by blowing it out is so grounding. My mind thinks better when I'm in a state of serenity because it also puts things in perspective for me. With a clear frame of mind, I realize that the laundry, the bed, the dishes, etc. can all wait until I get home from work. They are not as important as my dogs. Making time for my dogs is a priority, which I admit I forget sometimes when I am caught up in my routine or work. My dogs shouldn't have to wait until there's enough time for them. It isn't fair. It is similar to a child waiting for two busy, hard working parents to make time for him in their schedule. Why have a dog or child if you don't spend time with him?

There have been a few dogs who have come to see me for treatments that I knew immediately were neglected judging from their appearance. They were either overweight or had muscle atrophy due to lack of exercise, and some were dirty and stinky. You could tell they slept outdoors and didn't get much care. Also, in their eyes, the sadness and lack of spirit were evident. The owners of these dogs were too busy to minister to their needs which infuriates me to hear and see. Again, why have a dog? Fortunately, not many of these owners bring their dogs to me.

It's so easy to forget your dog when you're focusing on what needs to get done at home or work. But dogs need your time and attention. They shouldn't end up being in the background of your life just because you are too busy. Isn't it bad enough that sometimes in our hurriedness, we end up rushing our dogs too? We rush them along to pee, poop, walk, or eat because we're either late for work, tired, cold, or whatever reason we may have, instead of giving them the time they need. Why create further tension for them when they already take in our stress when we are under it?

When it was raining regularly for awhile, and we had some serious down pour, I know I was scurrying my dogs along. "Come on guys! What's the deal? Start peeing or something!" is what I had heard myself saying. I'm not a saint. I know I have a tendency to rush my dogs occasionally. I'm sure my dogs tried their best to squeeze out whatever they could under that pressure, which makes me feel guilty when I think about it. So, I do try to be cognizant of my behavior.

Think how anxious and upset you would feel if there was someone knocking at the bathroom door telling you to hurry up and go. I know my husband wouldn't enjoy his comic books if I did that to him. Thank goodness we have our own bathrooms. The stress of knowing that someone was waiting for you to finish quickly would prevent you from having a satisfying bowel movement. And, even if you were just urinating, determining when to stop the flow of stream would be unpleasant and annoying especially if you've drank a few cups of coffee. Because sometimes you think you're done, and then there's more trickling out.

Have you noticed that dogs never rush? (Although there are some dogs who devour their food in seconds) They take their time sniffing and really identifying what they're smelling during their walks. They look around and become so aware of their surroundings that they seem to notice every squirrel or creature that passes in front of them. When I'm not power walking my dogs and I allow them to lollygag, I enjoy just watching them be so absorbed with everything around them. And, it makes me think that we as humans should learn to do that every once in awhile. We miss so many details when we don't slow down and pay attention to our surroundings.

There have been mornings when I'm at the park with my dogs and I force myself to really look at the trees around me instead of just looking straight ahead and mentally planning my day. It's surprising and exhilarating what you can discover when you give total attention to your environment. The nuance of colors, the way in which sunlight passes through the leaves, and the subtle exercise plants and trees get from the wind, are all something that go unnoticed if you're not looking. Just observing those things made me feel suddenly joyful. It's no wonder my dogs love going to the park. They probably experience what I felt briefly all the time, since they are more in tuned with nature. They know how to slow down and just be.

There are people who do take the time to slow down and decompress for the sake of their dog. I have a doggie patient name Buddy who sees me every week for acupuncture, and has a very devoted "dad" that takes great care of him. At the end of every treatment, I always hear the dad say, "Come on mister, chop-chop!" Every time I hear him say that I smile because of the irony of the situation. The dad doesn't really expect Buddy to hurry up. It's a way to motivate him to move all his legs. Buddy cannot move fast. He has had three strokes in his lifetime. Because his hind legs didn't completely recover from the last stroke (although he's making wonderful strides towards its), Buddy wears booties for them to help him walk as well as prevent his paws from scraping. He also wears a harness for the hind end so that his dad can assist him in walking. Clearly, Buddy requires tremendous time and attention for his care, which his dad gives lovingly and patiently. The commitment to ensure this dog's well-being really touches my heart.

I bring up the story of Buddy because his dad exemplifies an owner who truly makes his dog a priority. You should have seen the look he gave me when I had told him I had a seminar this whole weekend and wouldn't be working at the hospital. I knew he was thinking that Buddy wouldn't be getting his treatment because of my seminar. But, of course, he scheduled a treatment before the weekend came. Again, Buddy's needs were attended to no matter what. In fact, the dad has turned down work in the past just to spend more time with Buddy. Of course, when he does have to work, he makes sure that Buddy is completely taken care of, otherwise, Buddy's caretaker will feel his wrath! And, that's not pretty! It's hilarious to hear about it but not to receive it.

Love your dog. If you don't have one, adopt or save one. Then, give your dog the time and attention he needs and deserves. After all, it was your choice to have him. A dog isn't an inanimate object devoid of feelings to be dealt with later. He needs you now while he is still alive. Dogs are not with us for very long due to their short life span. So, take a deep breath, slow down and smell the roses with them.

Thank you for visiting my weekly blog. Any comments are welcomed.

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