Our new dog Djilba is excited just to meet my gaze at the
start of a new day: expectant, hopeful, looking for the cue for when I'll rise
and walk towards the front door which sets him off completely in a frenzy of
excitement for his morning walk. Or when I arrive home of an evening, his
little tail wagging away and jumping with joy. True, I shouldn't seek to overstate
or indeed romanticise the motivation of the basics of a walk and food but away from
those moments of pure joy, Djilba exudes the affection of a grateful being and
seeks to do everything to please us. At other times he will join me on the
couch content to sidle up and be close. A short whistle will have him bounding
to come. Surely he doesn't always expect food for enough times a whistle just
seeks his presence – and I think that is enough for him. To be wanted, to be
close. He doesn't have a poker face – his body language does not betray what is
going on inside.
It is tempting to think that a rescue dog such as Djilba should
always be grateful for their new life. This assumes he can compare his difficult
past against his current life of inner-city luxury – 'he landed in doggie heaven'
as Anne says. But I really think he just lives in the moment.
Our previous dogs, Willow and Bubbles, suffered in their
last days but still managed to show affection and gratitude as they always did.
They know they were loved and cared for and they responded to this.
Who knows what dogs are really thinking but their outpourings
of gratitude are a daily reminder of what is to be present and grateful for the
simple things in life. They don't seem to be worried about tomorrow's prospects
for a walk or food, just todays. So in response on my active hope journey I
have sought to begin my day with a walk to be conscious of being grateful for
the moment, for the sunrise, for the beauty around me, for my health and for
the opportunities that may come my way in the day ahead. A good start at least.
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