Our dogs can be our greatest teachers. Personal and professional lives are often crafted around service and making a positive impact on the lives of others. Many volunteer their time and efforts in service to others for the immense reward of knowing they made a difference. Some also see service as a means by which they are answering a higher calling and fulfilling a greater mission larger than any one person. Ask a member of our military or those of faith and they will tell you. At DCO Orthodontic Specialists, we continually ask the question- “How do we best serve our patients?” We always dig deep to look in unconventional places to find innovative and unconventional answers.
My wife Sarah and I are animal lovers and we have two rescue dogs named Genco and Riley who are at the beginning and end of their life journeys at ages 1 and 15, respectively. Dogs are extraordinary animals and their core ability to instinctively love and to feel is remarkable. One day, I was walking Genco and saw his tail beginning to wag and felt subtle tension on the leash as he gazed across the street. In the distance, he spotted a young child holding a balloon walking with her parents. He was so excited to cross the street to say hello, he sensed the child’s energy and curiosity that matched his own and was also excited to try to play with the balloon she was holding. This small moment gave way to the profound realization that there is a great deal that we can learn from our dogs about serving others. Below are three lessons that our four-legged little friends teach us on a daily basis.
The Beauty of Simplicity
William Martin’s poem entitled Make the Ordinary Come Alive illustrates the beauty in teaching children to unlock the magic that exists in ordinary life instead of encouraging them to search for that which is extraordinary. Here is an excerpt:
“Help them instead to find wonder
and the marvel of an ordinary life.
Show them the joy of tasting
tomatoes, apples and pears…”
A dog teaches us to appreciate the powerful joy that can be delivered by the mere sight of a person- whether that be a loved one or a new person to meet. They illustrate the beauty of nature, the wonderful smells of leaves on a crisp fall day, and the great fun that can be had by bounding through an open field. They show us the art of digging one’s nose into fresh snow and then sneezing and rolling around in it just before eating a few mouthfuls. For us humans, dogs show us the beauty that lies in the simple things we often take for granted. They make the ordinary truly come alive. If we can learn this lesson, we can serve others by showing them something incredible and powerful that lies within them that they may have previously assigned as simple or ordinary. By doing so, we may also turn simple aspects of our own nature into superpowers.
Unconditional Love
Unconditional is defined as that which is not limited by conditions; absolute. In a dog, we find the lesson of a truly unconditional bond. A dog sees you at your absolute best at all times and wastes no time in the contemplation of your flaws. You are a companion, a friend and somebody who is deeply missed the moment when you leave the room. If you have a bad day or are down on your luck, a dog will respond by making you instantaneously feel treasured and important. If we can demonstrate that we feel this way, we can provide an uplifting positive spark to others.
Energetic Greetings
The art of the greeting has been perfected by our four-legged friends. Although dogs lack the opposable thumb required for a firm handshake, they make up for this and more. Dogs miss you when you are gone and put that sentiment on full display when you return. Your value to a dog is expressed in the energy and enthusiasm that is shown when you enter the door after being away. We have all heard stories of dogs walking for miles to navigate back home to reunite with their owner. The same phenomenon exists when a dog explodes with excitement to meet a new friend. How we greet each other can set an uplifting tone for a positive relationship. A dog can teach us much about the value of enthusiastically greeting customers, friends, family and new acquaintances in a manner that truly brightens their day.
In Closing...
At DCO, we believe that gratitude is reciprocal and we tirelessly strive to make our patients feel valued. We seek to learn the lessons our dogs can teach us to continually improve in being supporters of our patients and their families. We hope to demonstrate to each of patients how much we value all the simple things that make them an extraordinary, unique individual to us. At the recommendation of an orthodontist colleague, I recently read a book entitled The Art of Racing in the Rain. It is story completely told from the perspective of the family dog Enzo and it seamlessly mixes observations ranging from the mundane to the deeply philosophical. One of Enzo’s most memorable observations in the book is:
“That which we manifest is before us.”
We cherish our dogs because they cherish us.
Have a wonderful day!
