And trying to be completely involved with one task at a time also conserves energy and is more efficient in the long run. Is it possible to focus with laser intensity on just one goal or just one thought or just one task? Do we always have to give in to the pull of multitasking? Think about it. Multitasking means doing many things at the same time. Sometimes you have to do several things at once. It’s just the way it is. But too many times multitasking means doing many things at once and doing them badly because you simply cannot give your all to more than one important thing at a time. For a while there, multitasking was seen as a badge of honor, proof that you had what it takes to get along in our multi-technology world. But then it started to become apparent that multitasking wasn’t really the timesaver we thought it was. And usually the outcome was a lot less than we expected for our copious efforts.
If you are walking the dog, instead of thinking about what you have to do the rest of the day, or worse, constantly checking your phone, stay focused on the dog and how he is walking. What is he aware of? This is a smart idea anyway since you will be able to respond quickly if the dog reacts unexpectedly to something like a cat or rabbit suddenly darting near or across your path. Notice how he lifts his head to sniff the air. What is he smelling? What far-off or nearby presence is he detecting? This is the canine’s sense of the air, if you will. A dog’s sense of smell is about one thousand times more acute than is a human’s. And this is a conservative estimate by many accounts.
The dog’s nose is her most valuable sense. For the dog, the world is in her nose and the nose knows. Your dog’s sense of smell is her introduction to the world around her. Your dog uses her sense of smell to “see” her world. When humans use their sense of smell, we breathe in with the same nasal passage that we use to breathe out the air, so some of that smell dissipates when we exhale. But a dog has two distinct air channels, and a dog uses one just for smelling and the other just for breathing. This means that the dog can store the smell in her nose even while they continue to breathe.
Try to imagine what your dog is “seeing” with her nose. Are you missing something? Are you not fully aware of your surroundings but instead thinking about or looking for (on your phone again) the next pair of shoes you want? It is so easy for our minds to wander instead of focusing tightly on what we are doing. If you can, find a place to sit or otherwise be still with your dog and really look to see what she finds so interesting. Here is where your phone can help—take a picture of your dog as she is searching the smells with her nose. You probably have a lot of pictures of your dog in your phone but focus on your dog and also the direction of what your dog is seeing with her nose and her eyes. Then try to find for yourself what is holding her interest. If you brought your journal along, write down what you see and how it feels to be able to experience, as best you can as a human, what your dog is experiencing in that moment. Then write down how being more with your dog makes you feel. Hopefully, you will be more aware and more content. For the time being, at least.
And when life or work has stressed you out even more than usual, go for a walk, with your dog or a dog at a local shelter.
“Walking meditation is really to enjoy the walking —
walking not in order to arrive, just for walking, to be
in the present moment, and to enjoy each step.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh
Focusing on walking your rescue dog paves the way to the next steps, the Eightfold Path. For example, walking can be a form of meditation and so can walking your dog. Find a quiet path and as you are walking your canine companion, try to not think about anything else but your dog and how she is walking. Of course, you have to be aware peripherally of your surroundings for safety, but concentrate on feeling the rhythm of your steps and your dog’s stride. You both will fall into a rhythm and, barring an unexpected chipmunk, rabbit, or squirrel crossing your path, you both should be able to fall into sync. This is a way to empty your mind of anything that has nothing to do with walking your dog at this moment.
This is meditating on the move. Your mind is still while your body is moving. You and your dog are going places, getting fresh air and exercise, and at the same time, you are clearing distractions from your mind and focusing on not focusing.
Sharing some energy and time doing something that is different from your usual daily routine, such as being with your pet or with one that has no home, can revitalize you and shift your perspective. And, that, really is good.
From Zen and the Rescue Dog: Journeying with Your Dog on the Path to Enlightenment
© April 30, 2019 by KJ Fallon
With a Foreword by Pico Iyer
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Zen-and-the-Rescue-Dog/KJ-Fallon/9781642931105
Instagram: @kjfallonzenrescuedog
Twitter: @editorseditor
©2019 KJ Fallon for SeniorWomen.com
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