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.