Life Changes After Getting a Dog
Clark, my rescue dog from the East Bay SPCA in Oakland, changed my life in many positive ways. This note highlights some of these changes. As a small tribute, I made Clark the mascot of VisionPassage.
Transforming My Health
The last time I had an active lifestyle was in high school. Arrival of Clark took me back in time from the very first hour of adoption. Four wonderful things happened:
Practicing Deeper Thinking
Clark is a hyper-trained dog. On a nice summer day, he will sit on his bed by the front door and greet neighbors and dogs, but won't run outside. He can act on either verbal cues or a combination of facial expressions & hand signals.
As I trained Clark, my training also started. Two good habits formed during Clark's training process:
Building a Village
My social circle expanded through simple conversations during dog walks. In two years I knew more neighbors than those who have lived in the neighborhood for over twenty years. And good things happened due to building these genuine friendships:
Developing Higher Social Consciousness & Empathy
Most rescue dogs come from a troubled past. Clark was no different. But he turned out to be a role model for other dog parents. Similar untapped opportunity exists in sections of our society and environment. True empathy initiates meaningful actions that bring targeted results.
Valuing Loyalty
Dog's loyalty knows no bounds and they forgive with ease. Loyalty and camaraderie are strong elements of the Armed Forces culture. Loyalty fosters deep and enduring relationships that have lifelong benefits.
There is a growing trend towards more pet friendly policies around us. Workplaces and universities have realized the benefits of being pet friendly. Woof-woof to a dog friendly world!
Transforming My Health
The last time I had an active lifestyle was in high school. Arrival of Clark took me back in time from the very first hour of adoption. Four wonderful things happened:
- Losing 35 lbs. in 12 Months:
- Here's my note describing the weight loss. During this journey, Clark also accomplished some feats. He completed a half-marathon and learned how to walk over fences.
- Switching to Natural Movements:
- Jack Russell Terriers need high mental stimulation and physical exercise daily. Their environment is their gym. I adopted the same philosophy for my workouts. I switched to natural movements and figured out how to use my environment. Expect a series of notes around this thread.
- Embracing the Outdoor Life:
- Clark kept on shuttling between the backyard & home now and then. He would choose the absolute best spot based on temperature and sunlight. I've a dedicated room for a home office. To add variety to my work routine, I also started following the sunlight in the house. And an increase in challenging hikes, camping and urban walking.
- Adopting a Healthier Diet:
- My desire to feed healthy food to Clark led to researching dog longevity. This resulted in a complete diet change for Clark and my family. It was a step-wise process to ween off of unhealthy food. The focus shifted to buying individual ingredients and home-cooked meals including Clark's treats. I'll share my research and diet plan in a forthcoming note.
Practicing Deeper Thinking
Clark is a hyper-trained dog. On a nice summer day, he will sit on his bed by the front door and greet neighbors and dogs, but won't run outside. He can act on either verbal cues or a combination of facial expressions & hand signals.
As I trained Clark, my training also started. Two good habits formed during Clark's training process:
- Thinking with a calm mind in new situations.
- Understanding the other side's perspective.
Building a Village
My social circle expanded through simple conversations during dog walks. In two years I knew more neighbors than those who have lived in the neighborhood for over twenty years. And good things happened due to building these genuine friendships:
- Experience-based life inputs and wisdom from successful people.
- Watching each other's dog(s) during travel.
- Non-dog-parents extending help.
Developing Higher Social Consciousness & Empathy
Most rescue dogs come from a troubled past. Clark was no different. But he turned out to be a role model for other dog parents. Similar untapped opportunity exists in sections of our society and environment. True empathy initiates meaningful actions that bring targeted results.
Valuing Loyalty
Dog's loyalty knows no bounds and they forgive with ease. Loyalty and camaraderie are strong elements of the Armed Forces culture. Loyalty fosters deep and enduring relationships that have lifelong benefits.
There is a growing trend towards more pet friendly policies around us. Workplaces and universities have realized the benefits of being pet friendly. Woof-woof to a dog friendly world!
Let's Talk: If you have a true experience that resonates, please send me an email.
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