Old Dogs & New Tricks
We have all heard the expression “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”, and I’d hope over the years we’ve also come to learn that the old saying simply isn’t true. The only thing that prevents us from learning “new tricks” as we age is our own stubbornness or resistance. Our brain is still willing and able to adapt to a new challenge - albeit it may take us a little longer than when we were younger. But today isn’t about teaching old dogs new tricks, it’s about learning new tricks from old dogs.
Though I don’t like to admit it, my dog Echo seems to be getting a bit old and it felt like it happened all of a sudden. One morning something happened and the first injury domino fell, setting others in motion and the vicious cycle of one issue and injury leading to another began. I seemed that one day she could hike to her little heart’s content and then the next she couldn’t.
We used to walk and hike in the woods a couple times a day often for an hour each time and then much longer adventures on days I was off. We covered a lot of ground together and put on too many miles to count. While I loved our time in the woods together, I often just thought of it as a form of physical exercise and if we weren’t moving at a good pace it was likely because I was distracted, using that time to quickly check in with patients or have phone meetings with other professionals as I walked. Much better than sitting at a desk, but also not as good as enjoying the time with my dog, my time in nature and being present in that moment. I’ve noticed regardless of where we are or what we are doing, rather than being engaged and present we are often quick to shift our attention to other things, other places, or other people. All one needs to do is sit in a coffee shop or restaurant for a few minutes and people watch. It seems us humans have a very difficult time staying in the moment, and not checking our phones or taking other calls.
It takes practice to allow yourself the time and space to stay present and I’ve found it’s a lesson I’m learning from my old dog. Rather than hiking to the tops of mountains or exploring the trails for hours, our walks have become more of a saunter around a pond or a slow stroll in the woods. We don’t cover much ground and it’s often more of a sniffing session than an exercise event. Admittedly, at times it can be painstakingly slow - especially compared to our old days. But I try to remind myself how much I will miss this slow stroll when we can’t walk together at all and how after she had a bad injury I said that I didn’t care how slow we went or how far we got, I just wanted to take her again. I recall I also promised myself that if we could get back to walking together that I would stay present and enjoy it and I wouldn’t get impatient or distracted. I’m certainly not perfect, sometimes I catch myself when I start getting frustrated or feel my mind wander, or my hand move towards my phone. I remind myself that though this isn’t perfect and isn’t necessarily how we used to do things, it’s still the highlight of her day and certainly can still be the highlight of mine.
So now, I try to always be thankful for our little strolls and I do my best to be in the present as much as she is. Of course I don’t read all the “pee-mail” left by other dogs on each plant, but I try to remember to feel the air, watch the birds, listen to the sounds of nature, and enjoy observing how much she enjoys being out. Fortunately, dogs are experts on living in the present, so I always have an example to watch on our strolls. She doesn’t compare this walk to the ones we used to do, but just enjoys what we can do now. To my knowledge she doesn’t think of what else we “should” be doing or what other tasks must be done that day. The old dogs have it figured out and us humans could benefit from mastering these tricks too. They aren’t necessarily new, but the art of doing them has been lost in our society now, so perhaps “re-new” is a better word for us as we learn to practice the art of staying present and engaged again.
It’s easier said than done. Sometimes no matter what we’re doing we feel the need to be doing or connecting somewhere else or with someone else. As humans, we generally crave connection, yet when the opportunity presents itself, we disengage quickly and either try to multi-task or move on. Many don’t think anything of answering a call or text while out with others. I’ve watched many a dog owner just throw a ball while talking or texting the whole time, the same could be said in many instances for parents with their kids, or hanging out with friends- we’re sort of there, but we’re also sort of not. Many wonder why they don’t feel grounded or stable in their lives. Perhaps it’s because we seem to always be sending our physical self one way and and our mental attention in a different direction? So do yourself a favour and start practising being present and attentive to whatever situation you are in now. You will get more out of each experience and it’s better to give your attention and focus to wherever you are now and to whomever you’ve got in front of you. Don’t wait until something happens and you end up regretting not being more engaged with those you love. When you’re out for a meal or a coffee or a stroll with your friends or loved ones then be there - not just physically. When you’re out in nature, be out in nature. And when you’re with your old dog, just be with your old dog. After all, what’s the point of having the highlights in your day if you aren’t “there” to enjoy them.