Feature
Lessons learnt from Elvis
Liggy Webb explains how dogs can actually teach us new tricks T Play every day
The happiest times that I now have are when I play with my dog, especially when we take long walks in the Cotswolds where we live. Dogs love to play, involving lots of movement, and this is a great reminder for us to play and move our bodies every day as well. Playing can open up your mind and spirit to all kinds of new ideas and it stimulates creativity. It provides us with a sense of freedom and helps us to unleash the shackles of inhibition. It is also a very welcome distraction from the intensity of modern living.
he wonderful thing about being alive in this world is that we never stop learning and growing. It certainly seems that life constantly provides us
with endless valuable lessons. When we adopt a growth mindset and look
around, every experience, indeed every person that we meet, will bring along a rich source of learning. Recently, however, I have learnt that it doesn’t just stop at people and, sometimes, some of the most valuable lessons we learn in life can come in the most unexpected guises. For as long as I can remember I have wanted a dog. There had always been a whole host of reasons throughout my childhood and adulthood as to why it wasn’t possible. Then, earlier this year, there came a point where it was just about feasible! So, fi lled with excitement and a naive lack of trepidation, along came Elvis, a cute-beyond-belief bundle of joy and naughtiness that would test the patience of a saint.
So while it would be fair to say there have been tears, as anyone who has survived the puppy blues will testify, the upside far outweighs the madness and mayhem, and the laughter and love have been a tonic. Here are four key lessons about personal wellbeing that I have learnt from Elvis…
Let go of resentment Holding resentment towards someone can be so debilitating. Human beings are probably the only species that bear grudges. Dogs don’t bear grudges and won’t be angry because you didn’t give them a treat after dinner or tell them off for pushing the boundaries. They just move on enthusiastically with open hearts and open minds.
Enjoy and embrace the journey When Elvis goes for a car ride, he sticks his head close to the window when it is open and enjoys feeling the wind against his fur. He doesn’t really mind where he is going because every new experience is the beginning of an exciting new adventure. While it’s great to set goals, sometimes we can become so wrapped up in achieving them and reaching our fi nal destination that we simply forget to enjoy the journey.
Live in the here and now While Elvis does remember things like where
his treats are kept and where he has buried his bones, he only really accesses that information when he needs it, which is in the moment. Whether he is eating breakfast, chasing a ball or working out ways to get hold of things he isn’t allowed without being told off, he lives for the here and now. Dogs, it would seem, accept that the past is gone and that you can’t do anything about it. The future is unknown and the only thing you can really enjoy is the present moment.
So, my advice in terms of promoting personal wellbeing is this: if you want to live a happier, healthier and more engaged life, hang out with a dog! If that’s not possible, think like one. n
Author
Liggy Webb Founding director of The Learning Architect
liggywebb.com
Learning Magazine | 21
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