Day 898

Mac and I made a trip to the Minneapolis VAMC today and met this big guy at the entrance! It was his first adventure as a Therapy Dog and he was pretty excited to share the love! He put us at ease right away!

What is it about dogs that adds peace to a room? Whether they are there when you enter, or arrive after you have already made your appearance, they seem to create an aura of tranquility wherever they are. Perhaps it is due to their panting, happy faces? Could it be the tactile, soft feel of their fur? Might those brown eyes calm nerves? All of these attributes help, but I believe it is deeper than that.

Dogs have a quality of peace and calm in most cases. They make you feel like you matter. When my own Goldens are doing their jobs, so many people seem to brighten up and connect. I have witnessed blood pressure drop on heart monitors when a patient stoked one of their big, brown heads. They have a gift.

There are people in this world who have that aura as well. For me, it has something to do with their eyes first… then their voice and the words they share. They walk into a room with a cloud of goodness surrounding them. When they actually connect with someone, that lucky person feels as though they are the most important person on earth. How do they do it?

Basically, love the one you’re with. That means to give your undivided attention to the person right in front of you. Like our dogs, that would include eye contact, total concentration on what is being shared and offering words to make the other person feel “seen” and “valued.”

If each of us could have just one of these interactions a day, that love could grow exponentially! Ask a dog! They know exactly how to do it!