I Get to Do This

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Welcome to Walking the Dog is Not Working Out. A collection of stories, insights and lessons learned while taking my dog on a daily adventure.

For those of us without the fenced in backyard, walking the dog is a daily, essential task that must be completed. When left undone, things get messy.

I used to think of walking the dog as something I HAD to do everyday. In fact I would get frustrated when he rang the bell letting me know that it was time to go. It interrupted my day, stopped me from being productive.

Everyday we see on facebook where some family has lost their beloved pup of 15 years. My dog will not be here forever. None of us will. Most of us are in a position to outlive our dogs, so at some point we will have that dreaded Marley and Me Movie moment (spoiler alert) where you have to say goodbye.

Today I look at walking the dog as something I GET to do. I cherish our time together and remind myself that there will be a day where I will beg for the chance to take him on one more walk.

What are the things in your life that you feel like you HAVE to do, every day, every week, every year? Should you start looking at them as things you GET to do?

Try replacing — “I have to work out today” — with “I am healthy enough that I get to workout and better myself today.”

or

“I have to make the car payment”. — with “I am financially able, and get to drive the car that I wanted (and keep it).”

Changing I HAVE TO to I GET TO might be all you need to make your day a little better and put things in perspective. Enjoy what you GET TO do today because there are others out there who would give anything to do that thing just one more time.

Please share this message with someone who needs to hear it today.