PUPPY!
Too often, our
business posts, articles, and white papers are too scientific … when all we
really need is a brain break. We need something to take your mind away from the
stress for a few moments. So give me 4 minutes of your day and you will
be refreshed and hopefully smiling…
Here
is the blah blah blah science: “When presented with new material,
standards, and complicated topics, we need to be focused and calm as we
approach our tasks, goals, objectives, etc. We can use these brain breaks and
focused-attention practices to positively impact our emotional states and
learning. The brain break refocuses our neural circuitry with either
stimulating or quieting practices that generate increased activity in the
prefrontal cortex, where problem-solving and emotional regulation occur.
A brain break is a short period of time when we change up the dull routine of
incoming information that arrives via predictable, tedious, well-worn roadways.
Our brains are wired for novelty. We know this because we pay attention to
every stimulus in our environment that feels threatening or out of the
ordinary. This has always been a wonderful advantage. In fact, our survival as
a species depended on this aspect of brain development.” (Edutopia).
What
… what? This is a brain break Dave? No, so let me give you a brain
break. It is called a puppy … my puppy. Cayman is her name and
truth be told she actually is my wife’s puppy.
We picked her up
this weekend. She brought immediate joy to our house on Christmas
Day. That was the day I surprised my wife and told her we were getting a
puppy. We had been researching for months to find the “right” breed for
us. It had been over a year since our last pup passed on (Bella) and we
were ready. The boys are out or off at college and empty nest life is
great, but we needed more. We need a new pup. We need a little
critter to take over our life - between the poop bags, dog hair all over your
clothes, chewed furniture and shoes, missing socks, scarfing food off the
counter, and planning your entire life around their bathroom habits.
Sounds like a great idea right?
Back to the
story. Christmas Day. My wife is opening gifts. The usual
laughter, pleasantries, thanks, and a few tears for those special gifts from
her boys. That said, the whole world changed when she saw the first
photo. I had wrapped up a picture of our puppy (newborn) that was maybe
at two weeks of age. I get a bit teary reliving the look on Nikki’s
face. Priceless as they say. I will NEVER forget that moment.
I could do no wrong for the next week (and believe me I can do wrong and get on
the negative point side with my wife pretty easily). In hindsight, I
should have used that period to buy some new Harley or Jeep parts during my
grace period. We NEEDED a dog. She needed a dog. I needed a
dog. We had three dogs over a 24 year period and life without a dog was
different.
From that day
forward, we have received endless texts and photos that elicit pure joy from my
wife. She even told me last week (and remember she has not gotten the pup
yet) that she “has never loved anything more than little Cayman”. I
reminded her that her HUSBAND was right there and she had three kids, etc.
etc. Did. Not. Matter. Some examples of this
love. She has purchased not one, or two, but THREE dog beds for Cayman
(why Cayman - my wife’s favorite vacation spot). Cayman needs a bed in
the living room, in her crate and by our bed. Of course? Also, a
variety of leashes, collars, outfits (yes, outfits) and a seat cover so she can
ride shotgun in the convertible next to my wife. Understand Cayman will
be a 120 lb doggie.
Cayman is a
Labrador/Mastiff mix. A specialty breed. We wanted an active, large
and lovable dog without a mean bone in her body. We found the right breed
and the right breeder. And since Christmas day this investment in
four-legged love is already paying off. Some of our family texts from my
wife: “That is his Aunt Cayman” (talking to my son about his own dog); “I am
leaving work now and in case you are interested the next time I go to work I
will be a dog Mom”; a picture of a Valentine’s Day heart that says,
‘Puppy Love’; a picture of Cayman’s face with a red heart drawn
around her nose with the text, “It’s not that I am completely in love with
Cayman or anything, but notice that little nose is a perfect heart shape”; “Her
little belly … and that face”; and so on. You get the idea. Just
plain love and happiness. Also, I must admit a bit jealous. And to
top it all off, she informed me that the night we pick her up she would be
sleeping with the pup (yes, not with me). I see where I stand in this
hierarchy of love.
Researchers found that the same hormone, oxytocin, spikes in both
human and canine brains when a dog is gazing at its owner. Oxytocin is
known to play a strong role in triggering feelings of unconditional love and
protection when parents and children look into each other’s eyes or
embrace. So the findings suggest that owners love their pets in the same
way as family members, and dogs return their devoted affection. Dr. Evan
MacLean, a senior research scientist at Duke University said that dogs had
learned to ‘hi-jack’ the bonding pathway between parents and their children:
“It’s really only in the last couple of thousand years that we have kept dogs
as pets, and dogs began to be able to relate to humans in meaningful social
ways. “They became attuned to our social cues in the way that young
children are. For example, when dogs are presented with an impossible task they
quickly turn to humans to see what to do, just like children do. Wolves don’t
do that.” With this innate level of affection that exists, it’s no wonder
that there are more pets than children in the US. And that margin is not a
small one. From my 68 second
Google search, pets seem to outnumber children 4 to 1.
Dog ownership is
one of the many greatest joys we can experience in life. Cayman is going to
bring so much joy to our already happy household. Personally, dogs are
the ultimate example of unconditional love and teach us more life lessons than
we realize. Our family has so many memories and funny stories from
Cinnamon, Duchess and Bella. We are looking forward to many more with
Cayman. These memories truly do outweigh the heavy heart that comes with
losing a pet. So here we are with dog number four. And guess
what (don’t tell my wife), but I am just as excited. She is a little
cutie and will steal our hearts. That is what pets do and our heart
ALWAYS has room for more love – as even the Grinch knows, “well, in
Whoville they say – that the Grinch's small heart grew
three sizes that day. And then – the true meaning of Christmas came through,
and the Grinch found the strength of ten Grinches, plus
two!”. Nikki’s heart grew three sizes that Christmas Day!
…and so did mine.
Dogs are lovable, happy, unconditional, and truly live up to being
a person’s best friend. Seriously, who else will greet you every day like they
had been waiting for you their whole life to see you (even if you just ran
out to the garage for a minute)?
Even with pets – Together. We. Win.
