I get up at 6:30 am every day, and there’s Remy, by my side. As he turns over for a belly rub, I spend the next 15 minutes thinking about what I am grateful for and saying prayers for the people in my life and the world.
Most days, we’re promptly out of bed by 7:00 am and to head out for our walk. On a recent morning, I overslept by 30 minutes. Remy didn’t pester me about it. He was letting me know it was ok to take more time for myself. This was one of many lessons Remy is teaching me during this time in our lives.
Here are a few more lessons I’ve learned from Remy:
It’s ok to permit flexible schedules. We live our lives so scheduled and so busy that we can miss the lessons, beautiful scenery, and conversation with friends and family. Everything will get done. It’s ok to live our lives less rigidly.
Dogs love to be outside, and so do we. Going to the park and letting Remy off-leash is a great way for him to socialize and for me to socialize from a distance. Whether you have a dog or not, take advantage of the beautiful green spaces available to you. As your dog is getting his/her exercise do a little something active just for the fresh air.
It does the soul good to learn something new. I love to cook and have needed to improvise my recipes with what I have in stock. Here I even have a new recipe for Remy’s favorite meal. I’ve included it at the end of the blog in case you want to give it a try as well.
Hold virtual playdates. They’re important. Remy loves virtual playdates with his doggie friends. I’m enjoying virtual happy hours, dinners, and work meetings. Everything is possible virtually, and it’s a great way to have some much-needed conversations. Seeing our furry friends and their parents has been a great joy. We all need companionship.
Pet bath time is bonding time. Because our groomers are temporarily unavailable, I’ve been giving him his baths. It’s messy, but it’s always fun. I give him a bone afterward and he looks forward to it. Bathing Remy is loving and brings us together.
Pets are great coworkers. Remy just loves to be together. Whenever I feel a bit anxious I just look at how tranquil he is and it is very calming.
The simplest things can be the most joyful. Remy has a beautiful basket full of toys. Yet, the only one that Remy loves is his Kong ball. He can play fetch with it for hours. I love taking him to the park and watching his joy as we play ball. Another observation: A friend of mine took Remy for a walk and came back with an 8-pack of paper towels. It was like a gift from Tiffany’s. This gesture was so simple and meant so much. It was a lesson of the true meaning of enjoying the simple things in our lives.
Remy has taught me a lot during this time. We have had to improvise and create new habits. It just goes to show, our dogs can teach us a lot when we are ready to learn.
Be happy and safe.
Melissa Jane and Remy
Remy’s Favorite Dinner:
Ingredients
- Beef or ground chicken or turkey (2 to 3 lbs.)
- Sweet potato not peeled and chopped in small pieces
- 1 bag of green beans cut in small pieces
- 1 cup of brown rice
- A sprinkle of dried rosemary
- 1 cup of no-salt chicken or vegetable broth
Directions
- Cut the beef in very small pieces. If using ground chicken/turkey use as is
- Sauté in a small amount of vegetable oil until browned
- Add the chicken or vegetable broth
- Add the chopped sweet potato (I cook in the microwave for 2 minutes to get a bit soft)
- Add chopped beans
- Cover and let simmer for 90ish minutes
- Add cooked brown rice
- Serve over kibble of choice. This recipe freezes very well.
