Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1152518
L et's get something straight. It is not you who is taking your dog for a walk. It's your pooch who is taking you. Consider the evi- dence. Who leads the way, you or your dog? Who has to pee and poop? Winifred takes me for a walk three times a day whether I have to poop or not. I rest my case. Once we humans accept that we are just along for the ride, accompanying our dog on their walks can open us to wonder- ous sensory adventure and even mindful/spiritual exploration. As Winifred and I shared in her book, "Life is Good. I'm a Dog… And You're Not! — Four-legged Lessons for a Day Well Lived," watching Winnie trot along before me, senses alive to all the sounds, sights and smells of the Earth, reminded me of the golfer, Walter Hagen. A contemporary of Bobby Jones back in the 1930s, Hagen enjoyed life to the fullest — famously showing up for an early tee time still in evening dress clothes from his all- night adventures. Hagen said, "You're only here for a short visit. Don't hurry, don't worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way." Dogs get that. They know they are only here for a short visit. They don't hurry. Don't worry. And want to smell EVERY- THING along the way! We should have it so good. And we can, if we are willing to alter our perceptions a bit. To begin, try looking at things from the other end of the leash. No, you don't have to get down on all fours. But gazing up from the ground does alter one's perception. Imagine your pooch's perspective looking up at you. What does your dog see? Their human companion, ears wired for sound, eyes focused on a small rectangular contraption, finger- tips furiously encrypting the secret to world peace—or sharing the new designer cocktail at one's favorite watering hole. We've all done it. You're out for a walk glued to your smartphone, oblivious to what is going on with your dog ahead of you, or drag- ging behind, or at your side waiting patiently for you to stop talking, texting and Twittering! To fully experience the joy of our dog taking us for a walk, we need to disconnect from our electronic connection to all the noise out there in the ether. PAY ATTENTION PEOPLE! Your pooch is trying to help you get some exercise, clear your mind and inhale the glories of nature, the sights and sounds of life in the slow lane. To that end, I follow Winifred's lead, whichever way she wants to go—no agenda for the walk other than eyes, ears, and nose alive in the moment. Winnie stops, looks up to the highest branches of a great Cypress tree. I look up. See noth- ing. But something has captured Winnie's rapt attention, nose twitching, ears erect. And then from a branch high above, a flash of grey! It's a bird. A plane… No, it's Super Squirrel! Winnie is beside herself. I find myself almost as excited. Winifred's uninhibited doggie joy in exploring the simplest things reminds me how many simple things I take for granted. Her interest in everything makes me smile. I know she's not thinking about tomorrow's business meeting, or dinner plans for Saturday night. And doesn't waste a woof litigating the past. She lives completely in the moment, the here and now. Another reason to follow her lead, take my foot off the gas, and give my head a rest. For someone whose mind is constantly examining, trying to make sense of life's little pot-holes, Winifred's insistence on dragging me along on her walks has proved great therapy. And that includes talking out the garbage between my ears. At the risk of alienating two-legged therapists, talking to your dog can be very therapeutic. And your four-legged friend never inter- rupts to say: "And how did that make you feel?" Your dog knows how you feel! They read it in your body language, your energy, your entire being. Now that I am happily along for her ride, my mind wanders peacefully. I breathe. Follow my nose. Better yet, follow Winifred's nose… to whatever wants to happen. A best-selling author in a previous life, Mark Oman is now co- author with Winifred of "Life is Good. I'm a Dog…And You're Not!" available at www.CarmelDogTales.com. Mark and Winnie live in Carmel with four-legged brother, Winston, and two-legged wife, Barbara. For more information, email mark@markoman.com. DOG TALES M A R K O M A N Winifred's uninhibited doggie joy in exploring the simplest things reminds me how many simple things I take for granted. Whose Walk is This Anyway? 56 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 1 9