The boomerangs.

Hello and thank you for having a look at another edition of our newsletter! Blue and I are going to dive right in…

Imagine.

It was a dream of mine to open my own orthodontic practice. I envisioned a boutique style practice where we would have a professional, caring, and kind culture. And, I wanted it to be fun!

It took some time to find the space, but I chose an old building that had been a flooring warehouse. A group of Eye Physicians had purchased the building and had their office space on one side, and I leased the remaining 3500 square feet. With the help of the architect and construction company, the empty box was transformed into a lovely practice space.

If you stood at the front desk in the lobby…you could see directly through to one of the walls in my personal office. And, on that wall hung a charming framed poster of John Lennon. The poster features John’s profile with the complete lyrics to Imagine.

To quote one section:

“You may say I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us

And the world will be as one”

— John Lennon

I chose that poster because the song speaks to love and peace and possibility. And, I have always fancied myself a dreamer.

When I left the practice, I had my original and very sun-faded poster reframed with a delightful retro style, green frame. It now hangs in our home. When I pass by it, I am reminded of love and peace and possibility. And, I’m reminded that I’m still a dreamer.

As Blue and I write our newsletters, we also desire to write for love and peace and possibility. We have a simple process…we reflect on moments and experiences throughout our days. And, when we feel we have written a story that speaks to the beautiful connection between dogs and mindfulness then we hit our publish button.

We will continue to be diligent about the care we put into our writing on Dogs & Mindfulness. And when we have missed our self-imposed deadline or mark, we will work to practice self compassion. So, moving forward…we hope you will enjoy our “mostly monthly” newsletters.

Captain’s Log, 060525: Bunny Palooza.

The bunnies have become more bold...I dare say they are even taunting us. They continue to invade the yard, and are now encroaching on the perimeter of the patio and the house. I have recently discovered evidence that they are lounging around our patio furniture…

I have made multiple contacts with the bunnies and have warmly welcomed them into our yard. I just simply asked that they keep our yard clean. To date, they have not honored my requests.

We have two large Evergreen trees at the corners of our backyard. Underneath those trees are large decorative rocks. On multiple occasions, the bunnies contemptuously perch on the rocks and we embark on a bold standoff. It reminds me of a scene in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith…

Obi-Wan Kenobi - “It's over Anakin, I have the high ground.”

Anakin Skywalker - “You underestimate my power!”

Obi-Wan Kenobi - “Don't try it.”

—Flash forward to a scene in Bunny Palooza…where the bunnies are proudly perching on the rocks exuding very clear, non-verbal communication…

Sir Cottontail - “It's over human, I have the high ground.”

Nikki - “Will you just please not make a mess in our yard?”

Sir Cottontail - “There are too many of us to be stopped.”

—Ah….Mother Nature is so beautiful. And, the bunny drama continues…

Blue Skywalker.

Blue loves blankets…he has since he was a puppy. He and I both use them for a multitude of purposes:

I use them for the following: couch blanket, bed blanket, snuggle blanket, napping blanket, and reading blanket. Blue asserts that ALL blankets are made for snuggles, play or zoomies…depending on his mood.

I always keep one blanket folded up on a couch in a side room. This is specifically Blue’s blanket. It usually has some current, seasonal theme…though we are currently out of season and are still attached to the Snoopy and Woodstock-Halloween themed blanket.

—The High Ground.

Blue and I aim to train daily. We work on learning new skills as well as repeating and polishing skills we have already learned. I get out the clicker and, most importantly to Blue…I get out the treats.

—We run through a set of drills that often include: “sit”, “down”, “stand”, “come”, “front”, “middle”, “side”, “wait”, “place”…the list goes on. And we mix in play as well. By the end of play the toys from his toy box are usually strewn throughout the house.

We have this large, round ottoman that sits in front of our couch. That ottoman has become the high ground in our train and play sessions. In fact, when we are getting ready to start...I’ll say “go find a place” and Blue will jump on top of that ottoman.

Inevitably, at some point during the train and play session I see Blue disappear into the side room…and I know what he is doing. He proudly comes running out with his blanket. He runs and jumps on the ottoman and conveys “I’ve got the high ground!”...and our freeform wrestling begins.

In addition to freeform wrestling…we consistently play three other games with the blanket:

1. Where’s Blue? I throw the blanket over him and he has to work his way out…and I say “Where’s my Blue? I lost my Blue! I don’t know where my Blue is!”

   —I usually take the opportunity to give him lots of snuggles and butt scratches while he is wrapped up in his blanket.

2. Tug of War. He loves this game…and he is strong!

3. Blanketboarding. This is a game we proudly invented. I put the blanket on the hard wood floor. He gets on the blanket and takes a ride. I pull my little monster all around the house…

   —Bonus…I get some strength training in!

I love these play sessions with Blue…these opportunities to be present in the moment. We have so much fun, and it never gets old.

Blue the boomerang.

Blue and I love to take walks. One of the skills we continue to work on is loose leash walking.

When we are inside our home or in our yard and I say “side”...Blue and I do a great job. His shoulder and my leg line up perfectly. He is paying attention to me…OK, and maybe his treats. Still, his eyes are on me and we are in step together.

—I mean..I feel like it is just a matter of time and some national dog organization is going to reach out and ask us to model what loose leash walking is supposed to look like!

But…when we step out on the sidewalk…there are SMELLS and SOUNDS and DISTRACTIONS everywhere! And those distractions run some pretty large interferences to our skillful loose leash walking.

—To be clear…I take full responsibility as the leader. Ultimately, I know that I don’t always communicate to Blue what I need. And, I’m not always consistent with my communication.

—And, as we’ve mentioned before, Blue’s auditory exclusion is a challenge we have to navigate as well.

—All that being said…Blue can be a little bit “strong-willed”. And if I’m being honest…sometimes he really just isn’t “in the mood” to listen to me.

Still, we continue to practice…

We’ve been working on two variations of loose leash walking. One is just the casual, “let’s go”…stay in my bubble and don’t pull on the leash.

The second one is the more formal “side”. I want him close to me, looking at me and walking in step with me.

This is what happens.

When we are out on walks I ask Blue to “side”. We succeed for about ½ of a step and then he bounces out ahead of me.

What has really been working.

I just stop walking, and I wait for him to come back to my side. I’m not saying anything…I’m just waiting.

—I’m actually thinking of bringing my nail file on future walks…because I think I could get ALL of my nails filed and shaped in the time I’m waiting for my lollygagger to come back to me.

And…it’s been working great! I just hang out…and at some point Blue realizes we aren’t moving anywhere. He steps back to me and we begin again.

—So our walks seem to be time-extended on most days…but that’s Ok with us!

I joke that Blue is my little boomerang.

—He starts by my side.

—He walks ahead.

—He comes back.

—And, we begin again…

My thoughts.

The other day we were walking and I was observing Blue, the boomerang. And, I had this visual realization that my mind is like a boomerang…

—There are so many thoughts in my head that swirl around.

—Sometimes they are just busy thoughts like “what is on my to do list?” or “what is for dinner?”…

—Sometimes they are joyful thoughts like hanging out with my guys, visits with friends and families or outdoor adventures…

—And sometimes they are thoughts that tell me stories, cause me worries and tell me untruths…

It’s so easy for my mind to get swept away and lost in the thoughts.

But then I remember that I am not my thoughts…

—And, I can come back to my breath.

—I can follow my inhales and exhales.

—Or I can have an awareness of the sounds around me.

And before long, the thoughts flood in…

—Again, I can recognize that they are just thoughts.

—I can have an awareness of them.

—I can come back to my breath.

—I can rest my hand on my heart or my belly.

The thoughts take me out of the present moment. And, I begin again…just like my Blue, the little boomerang…

Once again, Blue teaches me about mindfulness.

What we are loving this week.

—Our dear friend, Clint, had a birthday. We hope it was amazing! Clint has been a long time Star Wars fan…and we dedicate this issue to him.

—Still loving Ted Lasso. It has been running on a loop in our house.

—Blue has been LOVING outdoor adventures including swimming!!

We’ll close with a few more lyrics:

“Imagine all the people

Livin’ for today”

— John Lennon

We wish you all the best. And, until our paths cross again,

PS. For our next essay, Blue and I intend to write about some school happenings as well as some of his friends.