The Golden (retriever) Rule...
... Smile Upon Others as You Would Like to be Smiled Upon
I’m not saying a smile can make everything better. But it works for this guy, and he’s still teaching me.
It’s pretty impressive when you think about it: a non-verbal, non-literate, no-opposable thumb, non-influencer, silly old dog is schooling me in better humaning.
Smile, and the world will smile back. Maybe not always, but mostly. At least if you’re a sweet old dog.
No one knows it better than this good boy:
Wherever we go, he smiles.
And whoever he smiles at smiles back. Well, almost everyone. But even if they don’t, he still gives them that goofy grin.
Nearly every time he gives someone that smile, they give him something in return. A smile, a compliment, an ear scratch, a belly rub. And if they don’t, he still wags that big ol’ happy tail.
Drive through window at the bank or the pharmacy? He knows: flash the smile. Receive the treat. Never fails.
And I’m confident that if we ever encounter a non-treat-giving kind of place, they’ll still get the smile.
He makes it look so easy.
He makes it look fun.
Last week we went to the Veterans Day parade in our little community. You’d have thought he was running for mayor, the way he was smiling, making friends with everyone.
He likes ALL the people. I mean, he really likes everyone.
He doesn’t care where they’re from or how they voted or if they recycle. They don’t have to like him back, or even be “dog people”.
He doesn’t see “issues”; he sees people. And he loves them. LOVES them.
I wonder: Can I do that too, just for one day? Smile at all the people? Even love them?
Oh, to be more like my dog.
I Love this and these words are so quotable "He doesn’t care where they’re from or how they voted or if they recycle. They don’t have to like him back, or even be “dog people”.
He doesn’t see “issues”; he sees people. And he loves them. LOVES them."
I love this! Thank you for the perspective. One day at a time 💙