Sidewalk Calling

A band of bushes
Playing in the breeze
Sidewalk calling
What a tease
Adventure lies ahead.

The musty aroma of dust
Dancing with the tracks
Of life that stumbled through it
But concrete masks its footprints
Telling few secrets.

A breeze
Pungent
Clear
Taking and giving
Then blowing away.

Pepper on a lead
Head high
Poised and panting
Electric energy
Pulsing through the leash.

As the little dog passes
The wonders of nature
To a master lost in thoughts
Awakened to a world
Alive and thriving.

Farewell to Sally

Farewell to Sally

She learned to trust us…
this little black shih tzu with a big heart.

We laughed at her antics;
no toy too big to tackle.

She played in the park
and led us on brisk walks.

She couldn’t hear or see well;
but she knew where she wanted to go.

She walked on sand, sniffed driftwood,
and let the surf tickle her toes.

Who would have abandoned this sweet little creature
who was bred as companion and friend?

Lavished with gentle TLC, Sally blessed our home for 3 weeks before her heart stopped during surgery to remove the wire from her jaw.

When given a gift of friendship young, old, weak or strong; cherish it, seek it, and find help to nurture it. Contact the SPCA for help with our animal friends.

A special thank you to the Yolo SPCA and its supporters for Sally’s rescue and medical care.

With Love and Happiness,

Nancy Miller
LifeWork Coach
“Supporting relationships that lift the spirit & sustain the earth”
www.centerforlifeworkdesign.org

Moby Agrees

Moby and I enjoyed your site very much. :-) Moby wholeheartedly agreed with Pepper's golden rules! lol

Take care. Diana

Coach Pepper

I could say that Pepper is a type of life coach teaching me life lessons from nature. I'll pass on what I learn from him about the nature of life while applying life lessons to the pursuit of work.

• Savor the moment.


• Allow time for healing.


• Appreciate the beauty around you.


• Value surprises more than expectations.


• Spend time with those you love and protect them from danger.

Ellie Loves Socks

Ellie likes socks and underwear. Specifically, dirty socks and underwear. They smell like us, and the sweatier and smellier the better. I think that’s gross. But, alas, Ellie is a dog, and for her there is no greater pleasure than stinky socks. She can eat the exact same food every day, bark at the same neighborhood dogs, and lie in the same places. One good sweaty pair of underwear makes it all worthwhile. We should all be so lucky. Jenn

Cheeto the Communicator

Cheeto is the color of cheetos snacks. Here are some reasons my cat, Cheeto, is a delight to me and improves my quality of life:

• I have to acknowledge and consider something/someone other than me, myself, and I.
• I am amused daily by this creature's antics, she is a riot.
• She loves to be wherever I am.
• She's very low maintenance.
• She never tries to out talk me .
• She says hello as soon as I come in the door.
• She agrees with everything I say.

Jan

Felix Meets Tigger

Pets make us happy and keep us company, but they also help us get exercise and stay healthy. We just got our puppy Felix last week, and we have had Tigger for a year now. Tigger always curls up with me and snuggles but Felix makes me go for walks and keeps me active. Either way I always know I'm loved and our whole family benefits from having both of them around. Samuel is learning to take care of others by looking after Tigger. They (all three kids) are learning to be loving and caring to their pets. Life is just more fun when you have a pet to love!

Janet Calderon

A good day

A good day for me is when my office is cool and all of my machines are working. I feel in control of my environment and ready to get to work. My mind starts rolling as if nothing can stop it. Then I see Pepper who is ready to go out for his morning walk.

A good day for Pepper is when we go to the park in the morning and run around and chase squirrels. There are no time lines, deadlines, or competition--well, maybe for the squirrels, but if that's the case they always win. On a fine day at the park with a cool breeze (no sprinklers) and lots of stuff to sniff, it's as if nothing else matters.

Pepper knows how to experience life to the fullest, make me laugh, and run and play.

Stress for Pepper is being left alone, someone walking up behind us unannounced, or someone petting him without asking. It's hard to resist just reaching out with a quick hand, but Pepper has had an unkind hand in the past. He needs to get to know people slowly. He appreciates good manners and slow movements. Pepper is very slowly learning to trust people. I've learned from Pepper to laugh, play, go outside when I don't want to, and live healthier. He's also introduced me to my neighbors. Someone asked me if I knew my neighbors, and I had to admit that I knew all of the ones with dogs. Life with Pepper is pretty simple. Accepting loves, not questioning why, and just savoring the day. Pepper helps me experience life to the fullest.

Pepper would like to hear from you. Let us know how your pet friends help you have a good day. Send your story to: success@lifeworkplan.com.

Pepper

Things I learned from my dog Pepper...

1. Simple rewards are the best.
2. Be thankful for cool sunny days...
3. And lots of water on hot days.
4. Nothing's better than a brisk walk, except..
5. Chasing squirrels for no reason.
6. Grass is better if it's not wet.
7. Cats usually run if you chase them, but not always.
8. It's more fun to take a nap after playing.
9. It's nice to ask before you touch.
10. Some people act nice, some don't.