By LAURA LEONARD
Doctor of Chiropractic
Los Alamos
We recently lost our little dog Roxi to old age. In the past few days, I have been thinking about the innocence and joy that was the essence of her soul and felt compelled to write my weekly column as a tribute to her and all of the animals who live among us.
Roxi was pure happiness and she loved everything about life … especially food and attention. She embodied the ignorance is bliss vibe and didn’t have a care in the world about much of anything. In Buddhism, animals are considered sentient beings and we have a societal responsibility to care for them. The primary tenant of Buddhism is to cause no suffering to oneself or other sentient beings. Our pets have a much better grasp of this concept than we do. They live their lives with a capacity to forgive, love and to enjoy simple things as if they were new … food, scratches, walks.
My daughter and I volunteered in the foster program at Austin Pets Alive for several years. Every dog that came through our home, somehow found the exact family they were meant to be with. It’s as if they knew who their people were supposed to be. They soon forgot that they had been abandoned or mistreated and gave their new families the joy of unconditional love. Many of the cats I have lived with, showed up on my doorstep out of the blue.
We learn from watching our pets that we don’t have to personally suffer as much as we do. We should strive to channel their innocence and excitement for the simple pleasures of life. That tree we see every day in our yard is something spectacular to behold, is it not? Oh boy … more of the same dry kibble is as delectable as the best chef created meal we have ever had.
They greet us at the door each day with such exuberance as if they are being united with a long-lost friend. They take time to nap in the sun and thoroughly enjoy every opportunity to play with butterflies or a tennis ball. As the French say…La joie de vivre or the joy of living. Our pets embody a cheerful enjoyment of life and have so much to teach us about living a balanced, contented and peaceful life.
So … in memoriam of Roxi and all the animals we have loved, I raise a toast. May we vibe more like them and may we care for them and each other the way they do for us.
“I have lived with seven Zen masters…all of them cats” –Eckhart Tolle
“If you can sit quietly after difficult news; if in financial downturns you remain perfectly calm; if you see your neighbors travel to fantastic places without jealousy; if you can happily eat whatever is put on your plate; if you can always find contentment where you are: You are probably a dog.” –Jack Kornfield
“A cat purring on your lap is more healing than any drug in the world, as the vibrations you are receiving are of pure love and contentment.” –St. Francis of Assisi
“Animals can inspire us to be less busy, more present, less worried, more joyful, and more passionate about life.” –Kristen Moeller
About Dr. Leonard:
Dr. Laura Leonard has a BSc in Neuroscience and is a Doctor of Chiropractic. She has been in practice for 20 years and has joined Dr. Lenz and Dr. Savoia at the Los Alamos Chiropractic Center. Her practice focuses on posture and performance, using a combination of soft tissue release, adjustments and exercise recommendations. She also coaches patients on nutrition, self-care and body awareness so they can manage themselves in between visits. Los Alamos Chiropractic Center is in the Mary Deal Building on Trinity Drive.