Lessons from my Little Red Dog
It’s taken some time but Murphy Roo has begun to lean on me. When we wake up in the morning, he will sometimes lay right next to me, his little body still warm and toasty from sleep. If I’m lucky, he’ll even lean back, head up, eyes looking into mine.
In those moments of bliss, I am the luckiest mom in the world.
Trust took time with this little boy. His ability to open his heart after a rough beginning in life is a lesson in reliance and love that inspires me in all rescue dogs.
Made famous and common by song lyrics, Ted talks, books, leaders and educators, the phrase ‘leaning in’ is used to encourage committed participation.
With Murphy Roo, I think of leaning in as a pause in time that allows me to soak in all the trust and love he has for me now. I imagine to him, his lean in means connecting and relishing the moment, something that dogs could teach a masterclass on. And maybe about getting a nice little belly rub in a warm toasty bed when he is still drowsy from sleep.
His little love lean inspires mindfulness and presence.
It’s a moment in time that can go unnoticed if I am already thinking of what’s to come that day. But with Murphy Roo’s little face resting close to mine, his little puppy breath tickling my ear, his body relaxed and leaning in with a deep, gentle, knowing trust, I have a perfect moment that I can draw upon forever. It’s worth every second of my attention.
