A Walk with Insight (and Buddy)

Tonight I took a walk. I was kind of lazy and didn’t really want to go and I realized that Buddy our beautiful big chocolate lab would be disappointed. He loves to run through the woods and really burn off his energy. He gets so excited when he hears the noise of my boots as I walk in my hiking boots. He realizes that I only wear my hiking boots when we’re going hiking. When we leave Buddy gallops up the trail then he runs back to me. Then he runs up the trail and so on for three or four times. I swear he has a full grin on his face. It makes me think that he is thanking me in advance for the walk he knows we are going to take. I have a couple of take away thoughts from my outings with Buddy. First, it makes me happy to make him happy. I heard on one of the morning talk shows that a survey showed that helping others makes us happy. I agree…even if Buddy isn’t a person. Second, I thought that Buddy could be considered my walking coach. He gets me to do things that I know I should do and yet don’t always want to do. He holds me accountable and I don’t want to let him down. Next, the happy exuberance that Buddy radiates (his action) causes a positive reaction in me and that positive reaction stays with me long after the walk. I can think of the memories and bring myself back to that positive energy days later. Finally, Buddy’s gratitude makes me want to take him for a walk again tomorrow. He shows genuine appreciation and his happy “Thank you” will be rewarded another day