Lessons Reggie Teaches Me By Suzi Elton At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Friends of mine live with a toy poodle named Reggie. Before you go into any assumptions that you know exactly what kind of animal Reggie is, realize that this does not in any way apply to Reggie. Reggie is a very tiny fur ball, whose fragile rib cage is clearly felt beneath his skin and fur. He has none of the yappy, annoying characteristics associated with most toy poodles. He is endlessly amusing--simply being Reggie. Reggie prances cutely always--no dog-style skulking here! Wherever Reggie goes, people love him, admire him and are attracted to him. His entire life is about play. Reggie is completely present, alert, centered and alive every waking moment. He doesn't sleep his life away like most dogs. He's alert, but not hyper.

Just watching Reggie, you can learn many lessons.

1.) Life is about being fully present to what is going on in every moment. Living worry free--not thinking of the future--is a joyous way to live. Watching Reggie live like that is an object lesson to all who know him.

2.) Being lovable automatically creates an unimaginably rich life. This dog can go anywhere and have instant friends and hear the ooohing and aaahing of admiring strangers. People who don't like dogs love this dog. If there were such a thing as dog paparazzi (would they be called yapperazzi?), Reggie would have them following him day and night.

3.) None of this attention seems to go to his head in any way. He hardly seems even to be aware of it, much less to be affected by it. If anything, there are times when the attention annoys him.

4.) In spite of being tiny, Reggie sees himself as a big dog. Reggie weighs about two pounds and he will go up to and ferociously bark in the face of dogs who tower over him and weigh in at 100-150 pounds. Reggie does not back down, and scares the big dogs away. He's a lesson in fearlessness.

5.) Though he is tiny, Reggie has presence. If he's around you know it. His perky stance and quiet assertion of his existence--simply "owning" his space--will attract your attention and bring a smile to your face.

6.) Reggie is unsurpassed in his ability to amuse himself and others. He has an appetite for play that seems without limit. What a great trait to imitate.

7.) Enthusiasm and curiosity--what would the world be like if we all lived as enthusiastically and with as much curiosity as Reggie? He is enthusiastic about everything--not in a yappy or excited or agitated way, but simply in a bright, alert and curious way. He doesn't make a lot of fuss about anything, but he clearly has a zest for life. It's as if he's saying, "While I'm here, I'm not missing anything!"

8.) Reggie has the most amazing assertiveness of any small creature I've ever seen. If he does not want to go somewhere, he will plant his feet and not budge, pulling back with the full force of his whole two pounds body weight. You cannot make him go forward without choking him on his leash. If you pick him up to go forward, he resists with all his ability. He knows what he wants and quietly and unswervingly asserts it.

9.) Reggie hates being confined. He's definitely a freedom loving animal. He doesn't like crates, pens, or carriers. He'd run in the wild if his human friends did not fear he'd be eaten by coyotes.

10. More than anything though, Reggie is "at home"--comfortable--in his own skin. This is probably Reggie's greatest lesson--the ability to feel at home anywhere. He believes that the world is his. He is in command of all he sees. We humans have to work so hard to develop this degree of mastery. For Reggie, it is effortless. What a beautiful example to follow. Just BEING is enough. Reggie's never read about "lilies of the field"--yet, he lives it.

If only we all could live as Reggie lives, fearless, enthusiastic, lovable, fun and assertive--truly enjoying all that life has to offer us. Being present in the moment and free of worry about the future, being loved wherever we are and wherever we go. Amusing others and being easily amused--Reggie's life is a fine example of how life is meant to be lived. Observing his ways calms me and teaches me--and always makes me laugh.

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