Life is Useless?

Tim went back to bed after breakfast this morning with the Good Book. I went with him. I have been shaping Tim and Mandy to allow me on the bed to good result. I'm still not permitted there during the night but it's just a matter of time. Anyway, Tim isn't religious but he was in a bit of a mood so he read Ecclesiates out loud to me. It goes like this, "1:2 It is useless, useless said the Philosopher. Life is useless, all useless." I listened to a couple of pages of this misery when he got to, "3:19 A human being is not better of than an animal, because life has no meaning for either." At that I had to get up and walk out. I mean being on the bed is one thing but don't you humans try and draw us non-humans into your existential angst. I went out to the front verandah, lay in the sun and found that life has lots of meaning. I'm sure as soon Tim gets up and takes me out for a walk in the sun he will too see that life is abundant with meaning.

Life is great when there is meaning aplenty.

Don't Be Lazy!

September came and went. I did not post because I have been busy doing nothing. Have you noticed that a lot of humans are too lazy to do nothing? They rush here, they rush there. They get things done. They do one thing and go on to the next. They do not have the discipline, the inner fortitude or the motivation to do nothing. Nothing does not get done by itself you know. It takes focus and perseverence. Sure it takes a long time to get nothing done, but it is worth the effort. Anyone can jump up and do something. Doing anything is even easier. So spend the rest of today, and tomorrow, alright the whole week doing nothing. You can't leave it all up to others.

Life is great when at the end of the day you can look back and say, "I did nothing all by myself." 

Orangutan's best friend?

This is Suryia and Roscoe, who live at the Tigers' sanctuary in  Myrtle Beach, South Carolina .

I got this e-mail recently. I like it because we can see what good mates they are. Humans seem amazed by this sort of thing, as though only humans can have cross-species friendships. Of course, all species have good mates and they all have the capacity to have friends from other species. Make it a point to be open to friendships with those who are different from you, for example they might have a different religion or political views, or they might be a rhinoceros.

 

Life is great when you have an orangutan as a best friend...(I imagine).

It's carrotlicous!

I love fresh, crunchy carrots! Fresh, raw fruit and vegetables are great for humans and hounds alike. They taste delicious and make you feel fantastic. If you're feeling low or lethargic, get some fruit and veggies into you. You'll be feeling on top of the world in no time. I love apples! Tim and Mandy share their apples with me, biting off bits for me and giving me the core. When I'm out and about I sometimes find a partially eaten apple. I also love pears, avocadoes and bananas. 

Life is great with fresh, raw fruit and veggies.

What's Wrong with Schools

"When I was six years old we lived in an urban Californian neighborhood. It is unclear to me how I came to have ducks there, but have them I did. I remember being sent home on the first day of first grade because I had arrived accompanied by two ducks who would not leave my side."

Jeffrey Masson, The Pig Who Sang to the Moon

The Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, promised before the last election to provide a laptop for every school child in years 9 to 12. He has it all wrong. Kids have more than enough technology in their lives. What they don't have enough of is ducks! Imagine how their learning would be enhanced with the calming, grounding, joy-making influence of a duck by their side. Academic scores would surely sky-rocket, but more importantly these young people would go on to make the world a better place. I call on the Prime Minister of this country to really make a real difference to the lives of young Australians. Provide ducks to every school. 

I personally love ducks. When I see them, I race up to greet them like long lost friends. For some reason they fly off, but I'll persevere.

Life is great with ducks.

You Do Not Own Them

This a message to all you dogs out there. Your person or people might prepare your food, take you for walks, pick up your poo, wash you and do many other things for you, but you do not own them. They are not your slaves. They belong to you and you belong to them, but you do not own them and they do not own you. You can not own another sentient being. This is the message of, "The Pig who Sang to the Moon. The Emotional World of Farm Animals." It is by Jeffrey Masson. 

"Those who live with pigs often speak of them as we normally speak of dogs- intelligent, loyal and above all, affectionate." Page 42.

I have never met a pig but I would love to. I think they should make the dog park the dog and pig park. I think we could have a lot of fun. It also describes in the book how playful they are. 

Life is great when you are intelligent, loyal and above all, affectionate.

Completely Sane

"All sanity depends on this: that it should be a delight to feel heat strike the skin, a delight to stand upright, knowing the bones are moving easily under the flesh" 

Doris Lessing

Dogs know this. That is why dogs are so sane. If you don't believe me, go and study a dog. Watch him or her going about his or her business. You will see it and some of the sanity will rub off on you.

Life is great when your bones move easily under your flesh.