Today, we all seem to have such busy lives. We try to pack as much as we can into each workday. Days turn into weeks and later into months. Before we know it, we feel overtaxed and in need of a getaway. We escape from all that our lives represent, retreating to a little cabin in the mountains or a white sand beach on a remote island. Unfortunately, these relatively short vacations provide only temporary respite from the frenetic pace of our everyday routines. We return to our jobs to find a pile of work, and our stress levels begin to climb again. We work extremely hard to “get ahead,” so that one day we may have time to relax and enjoy life. (Now, that’s irony for you.)
Why is it that we can’t seem to take a break now and then to enjoy life’s simple pleasures? It’s because we don’t know, or won’t accept, the following truth: No matter how much time we have, we will fill it with supposedly urgent things we must do, mostly to the detriment of the little things that give us real peace and enjoyment. Want to know a simple piece of advice on how we can extract more joy and peace from life? Live like a dog.
- When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
- Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
- Take naps.
- Run, romp, and play daily.
- Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
- On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
- On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
- Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
- Be loyal.
- Never pretend to be something you’re not.
- When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
No matter how many titles you have at work, or how many zeroes there are at the end of your paycheck, you can harvest more happiness and peace from your life if you remember to:
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.