The World according to Woody...

I love dogs.
In fact, I love all animals although I wouldn't necessarily cuddle all of them!

Woody is very special to me. He is a Golden Retriever who belongs to a dear friend of mine, and I take him walking. Winter, summer, autumn and spring, come rain, shine or even snow.

When he knows he is going for a walk, his excitement is palpable. He shivers and shakes in anticipation, and lately, he has started vocalising his excitement too.

I walk him off the leash in beautiful countryside, and the minute I open the car door, he leaps out; sniffing, marking territory, and bounding. Once we set off on the walk, he has loads to look out for, such as squirrels, birds, rabbits, and even deer. He has been known to chase a deer right across my path. Bless him, he never catches anything (thankfully), but it gets his blood up, his tongue lolling and his body alive with energy.

And then of course, with all that activity, he gets hot.

And what better way to cool off than to lie tummy down in mud!

The first time he did it, I could see it coming. He headed for a large muddy patch which was a mixture of mud and rain water, he lowered his head and then crouched in it. I bellowed, 'Noooooooo!' but I could have been mute for all the good it did. He just looked up at me with blissful eyes clearly enjoying the feel of the cool mud on his hot belly.

How much do we limit ourselves by holding back from doing something we might have enjoyed as a kid because it is now not appropriate as an adult? How often do we really just enjoy the moment - whether it is wind through one's hair or mud between one's toes?

Perhaps we rationalise too much ... instead of just living in the moment and for the moment. That was a Woody lesson for me.