A lesson from Katmai (and Other Beloved Dogs)

We are proud dog-owners.

 Katmai (named after my very favorite National Park in Alaska) is a yellow lab, 7 years old, and full of "loyal lab traits".  He will do anything to chase a ball, hates being left at home, happily bikes with us, is best-behaved on the trail, loves the boys (usually) and has a tendency to drive me crazy with his neediness for the outdoors and activity with us.

I was thinking this weekend that we would all be a lot better off if we could follow a lead like Katmai's.  We would always feel like a long run, would just be happy with the simple things like playing and eating, and would know how to love with no limitations.

As humans, we have a innate tendency to be lazy to an extent (at least if we are well-formed by our American society.)  We will do anything we can to get what we want, and get it now (with the least amount of effort possible.)  And yet, we (meaning Americans, in the most general of terms) are suffering immensely from that instant-gratification motivation.


It ties in on many different levels with getting outdoors with our kids (much less ourselves!)  Usually, the benefits of an outdoor life with young children don't show themselves until much later down the road.  Traveling and adventuring with toddlers and infants is often just a big mess of trying to get everyone moving and hoping to stay motivated before a melt-down happens.  It certainly is much easier to stay at home, take naps in our their own beds, and not have to pack up that mound of gear one more time.

But, just like the anxiety that rises in him when Katmai is denied the opportunity for some heart-pumping, jolly fun, we set ourselves up for grumpy kids, poor napping, and rising stress in adults.  And, as Tanya stated in her guest post last week, it's best to start early and make outdoor life a habit now.

Short-backpacking trip with Katmai as a puppy

I will make the bold statement that time outdoors has no long-term negative side effects (go with me on this one...)  Instead, fresh air and movement (in whatever form we love most) lends itself to "tail-wagging", simple, gleeful breaths of fresh air and clearing of the mind.  Meals taste better, sleep comes easier (and harder) and relationships are strengthened by a reduction in stress.

Challenge yourself this week to live life like your dog (or Katmai if your dog has a little less to be desired in this department.)  Get excited for exercise, get excited for time outside and don't let yourself think of a million excuses not to (because we all know how easy that is to do!)