In this week’s The Confident Marketer e-zine, I talk about pelicans and the four key business traits they taught me last week. (To get the e-zine, click on the subscribe link to the right). One of my dogs, Jake the Tough Boy, taught me how to yawn and loosen up my jaws – useful when I wake up with clenched teeth. Another of our dogs, Phoebe the Huntress, reminds me to lay on my back and stretch a few times a day. (Dogs, by the way, will lay on their back with paws in the air to give themselves an adjustment to their spine!)
Years ago, I peered into a microscope in a high school lab, and got a lesson in the value of persistence. As I stared at a hydra-headed little being, I obeyed the teacher’s instructions to cut off one of the heads. I quickly saw that the tiny creature immediately grew another head and went on its merry way. I remember watching how easily it just went off in another direction and did its thing. Totally adaptable, without complaint, it lived its little hydra life.
One of our very beloved dogs, P.V. Cousteau, taught my husband and I the value of indomitable spirit and the virtues of play. Cousteau, as you might guess, had a thing for water and another thing for balls. For seventeen and a half wonderful, happy years Cousteau found a way to put play into the most mundane of household tasks. The minute I pulled out our vacuum cleaner he ran for his ball, delightedly dropping it in front of the vacuum, knowing I would soon have to shove it out of my way. It was a great game to him. To Cousteau, folding laundry become a game of quickly dropping his ball in the middle of whatever I was folding, then waiting until I impatiently flicked the ball out of my way.
We limit ourselves when we think we can only learn from other humans. Animals get on with life, self-care, and their business without complaint and efficiently. Be curious and watch. You’re sure to learn something from an animal that serves the business of your life.
Whitney Ferre says
November 6, 2010 at 12:04 pmAnimals are pure love! We can all learn from that!
Sandy Rees says
November 6, 2010 at 12:53 amI LOVE my critters! They bring such joy to my life and they teach me the most amazing lessons.
Sandy
Gregg Pechmann says
November 1, 2010 at 7:31 pmWe just got a little yorkie and our girls love him so much….This little pooch has helped them with responsibility and caring…..yep, he’s part of the family for a long time!
Jeff Brunson says
November 1, 2010 at 6:53 pmUpon checking in to the Inn above the New River Valley in Virgina, I found myself not being very personal with the people while my wife handled all the affairs. Then came Jackson to greet me; a German wire-haired. That made all the difference. He lifted me right out of the funk after the drive to VA. What a good greeter he is.
Julie Hawkins says
November 1, 2010 at 3:25 pmSue, what a wonderful picture you paint with your stories and as an animal lover I enjoy hearing these stories sometimes more than the human ones. Our animals teach us so much and give us so much unconditional love. I have to admit, sometimes I enjoy them more than people. Smiles.
Kristina Shands says
November 1, 2010 at 12:38 pmI love this post. And I love beagles, so this is doubly good for me. I love the idea that life is simple, something gets in your way, like having your head cut off, you grow it right back and keep on going.
Linda Pucci says
November 1, 2010 at 7:29 amWe have so much we can learn from beings that approach life differently than we do! Watching my horses is a constant reminder to stay in the moment and be authentic in all my interactions. They spot it every time when I’m trying to fool myself. I have to mean what I say for them to take me seriously! My cats have taught me that relationships are about choice–because they choose who to be around and when. My dog teaches me daily about the joys of a good long walk–among so many other things.
Julie Roddy says
August 24, 2010 at 10:35 pmSue,
i just loved this piece you did on animals. I am a great animal lover, too!!! I have 3 little dogs named fritz, bruno and precious. 2 boys and a girl. They are such a joy to be with!! my beloved bootsie ( a lhasa apso) was playing with big dogs one day and we were throwing big sticks for the big dogs to run and fetch. The big dogs would go get the big stick and bootsie brought back a little stick in her mouth to show us she could play the game too. it was just sooo cute to see bootsie show us she could play fetch too on her terms. She was an amazing little dog!!! I learned so much from her!!
suepainter says
August 25, 2010 at 3:05 amThank you for your comment, Julie. It’s so cool what we can learn from our animals, if we just watch and listen.
Sue Painter