It’s been a month since I had to say farewell (for now) to Zach, my 13-year-old Labrador Retriever. I won’t try to describe the sense of loss that I feel because, if you’ve ever loved an animal, you know.
But I do want to share a few lessons Zach taught me over the years that apply both to work and to life:
1. Be curious about everything.
You never know what hidden gem you might uncover. For Zach, it was often a perfect stick or a long, lost tennis ball or a surprise snowflake in the air.
2. Be open to new adventures.
They can lead you to places and people that make life so much better than you ever thought possible. Zach sought out these adventures every single day and made some wonderful friends along the way.
3. Take a "sniff" walk at least twice a day.
As Zach got older, our walks together became slower and slower. He stopped to smell anything and everything. Sometimes he’d stay focused on something so long that I thought we’d never be able to move from that spot.
But I grew to enjoy those strolls with him, learning to stop and fully appreciate starry skies, cool breezes, the sounds of crickets and frogs, the smell of freshly cut grass, and so many other gifts that are there for all of us if we just take time to notice.
4. Let those who matter to you know how you feel.
One of the things I miss most about Zach is how he’d greet me at the door when I’d come in — even if I’d just come back after the two minutes it took me to take the recycling out.
No matter how long I’d been away, he’d herald my arrival as if I’d been on a decades-long odyssey.
And those eyes of his. He always looked at me with such complete adoration — even though I didn’t deserve it.
Whether it’s someone at work who’s done a great job with something or a friend who’s always there for you or a family member that you love even though your political views are at opposite ends of the spectrum, let them know how you feel and how you appreciate their presence in your life.
5. Look at the current moment as the BEST moment.
Zach never lived in the past. Not the past year, the past month, the past day, the past second.
For him, it was always about the moment he was in. That was his best moment — because it was the moment he had. It wasn’t the one he had lost or the one that was to come.
This is a tough lesson for me. Some day, I hope I’ll be better at it. But I’ll never be as good as Zach.
6. Ask for what you want and what you need.
I never had to guess what Zach wanted or needed from me.
He always let me know.
When it was time to eat, he made it clear that it was TIME TO EAT.
When he wanted his neck or back rubbed, he scooted up right next to me, sat down and waited.
When he felt like he needed more attention from me, he’d come up and bump me on the hand or arm or leg or face with his cold, wet nose.
It can be tough to ask for what we need. But, if we don’t ask, we shouldn’t be surprised if we don’t get it.
While animals might be mindreaders, people aren’t. Zach knew that.
7. Play — a LOT.
The first thing Zach wanted to do every morning was chase tennis balls. I’d hit them with my tennis racket and he’d go after them like he’d been shot out of a cannon.
Even in his senior years, he behaved like a puppy when it came to playing with his beloved tennis balls. The unabashed joy he felt was evident — eyes wide, tongue out, mouth smiling, tail wagging.
And when he played, I played.
It was a necessary break in the day that I wouldn’t have otherwise taken.
It was a time when perspective was restored — because what’s more important than catching the tennis ball in mid-air? (Nothing, according to Zach.)
I need to keep a sense of play in my life. It’s just as important — if not more — than always staying in the work.
Animals of any and every kind can teach us so much. We just need to pay attention.
Even though he’s not physically here, Zach is still teaching me things. And I expect he’ll continue to do so. After all, he was (and is) a very good boy.
