As a dog, I live in the now. I don’t celebrate yesterdays and tomorrows, but my humans are excited about what you call the “New Year” and are busy making resolutions. I wish I could convince you to make a resolution to spend more time with me. I know you lead busy lives…have to work, have children to raise, meetings to attend, and too many things to do, so you really don’t have a lot of time to spend with me. It seems that you are usually rushing here and there, without pausing to enjoy the simple joys of everyday life. You look at me, but do you really see me? I am getting older….gray hairs are beginning to show, and my dark brown eyes are getting cloudy.

You have your job, your TV….I have only you. I know you care, even when you are too busy to notice me. I may not understand most of your words, but when I hear my name, I know you mean ME and that I matter to you. When you smile at me, I see love in your eyes. What do you see in mine? A companion who loves you as no other in the world…one who would forgive all trespasses of prior wrong doing for just a few moments of your time. I watch over you in the night and I comfort you when you feel bad. I would do anything for you. I wish you would slow down, to be with me. I’ve watched when you have been saddened by what you see on that screen where you spend so much time…news about a friend or a dog passing. Sometimes two-legs die young and so do four-legs…. and sometimes so suddenly that it brings tears to your eyes. Remember I don’t live in yesterdays or tomorrows….today is our day. I am aging, but do you even notice the grizzled muzzle and cataract clouded eyes, or the fact that I move slower and sleep more?

I may not be here tomorrow, and you will shed the water from your eyes, and you will be angry at yourself that you did not have “just one more day” with me, but we have today, so slow down, sit here next to me on the floor, and look deep into my eyes. Stroke my fur and let us look deep into one another’s eyes, and talk.

I may tell you something about the fun we’ve shared through the years….and the tough times too, or I may tell you how thankful I am that you decided to have me in your life. I won’t dwell on my inability to run as fast as I used to, or bound up the stairs in a flash. I am a dog, very different from you… but my heart is filled with love for you. I do not think of you as a dog on two feet…I know who you are, and I love you unconditionally. Now come and sit with me on the floor. Enter my world for just awhile, and let time slow down. Look deep into my eyes, and whisper in my ears. Speak with your heart, with your joy, understanding that the resolution that would mean the most to me is for you to realize that life is, oh, so very short, so we need to live and love in the NOW.

A new year, a fresh start, 12 new months of choices to make. Cheers to a new year and a chance to get it right. 2018 is the beginning of what each of us chooses it to be. Let’s choose to live and love in the NOW and throughout the year. HAPPY NEW YEAR!