LIFE'S BETTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Friday, February 25, 2011

Fridays are Golden

Life often seems so complicated, doesn't it?  We have so much to do with so many things to worry about.  We try to do it all, giving it everything we've got.

This past month has been different at our house, especially for the dogs.  Used to a constant routine, they had to adapt to some changes.  Why is the injured player using those two aluminum poles when he walks?  When is he going to come downstairs to the den and play with us?  He doesn't even sit on the floor.  The girls have accepted the changes and remain loyal caregivers.

In the evenings they are exhausted.  After dinner they play together and I toss tennis balls to them until they decide they are just too tired to go on.  Then they plop in their beds.

Here they are in their beds.  I have no idea how they know which bed belongs to which dog, but more often than not each is in her own bed.  (My husband says that's why he had their names put on them.)  At any rate, in most instances Lucy tends to take a bit more than her share.



Please don't ask me to get up, Mom!



Maybe if I don't even look at her she won't ask me to get up.

Unlike humans, dogs know when they should work and when they should play.  We should take a lesson from them.

When I was working, the most dreaded days of my year came with the annual "Strategic Planning" sessions when all the senior management team went away and spent two days listening to an over-paid motivational planner.  Oh, and don't forget the participation in those horrid "ice-breakers."  You all pretend to enjoy the sessions and leave the two-day off-site planning pretending to be refreshed and renewed.

While I truly detested these sessions, I almost always came away with at least one thing that was helpful to me.  One such gem was a story about two men in a contest for chopping wood.

Each man was alloted the same stacked quantity of logs.  They both started out with great enthusiasm.  Man #1 continued to work at a frenzied pace.  Man #2 worked hard as well, but periodically he walked away and sat on a stump for a while.  Man #1 was delighted to see the other man taking so many breaks.  He did not stop at all, but kept plugging away.  Imagine his surprise when he saw Man #2 chopping his last log and winning the contest.  Exhausted, he walked over to the man and asked, "How in the world did you beat me?  I saw you stopping to rest several times while I kept on chopping."  The winner replied, "While I was resting I was sharpening my axe."

Learn a lesson here.  This weekend, while you scurry about, remember that you need to occasionally stop to sharpen your axe."

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND EVERYONE!!!

19 comments:

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

Wow, what an excellent story ... one worth remembering - and applying to my life!

Elora said...

Glad to hear that things are progressing well! What great companions! Good lessons to learn!

Elora

Barb said...

Hi Carolyn, Nice to see you back. I liked the story you shared, and I'll remember it! I think I may send it to my sons... You and the Family have a great weekend!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Sounds like hubby is getting better and better. Pretty soon--he'll be out there running around and playing with the dogs!!!!!

Love your last story... Yes, we do need to stop and sharpen our axe....

Have a great weekend.
Hugs,
Betsy

Karin said...

It's a good thing to keep one's ax sharp! Love that story and also hate going away for strategy meetings - that cost the company a bundle of money yet seem to achieve no change for the better! Oh well! Glad that your injured athlete is improving in health. Love your dogs!!

Cicero Sings said...

Love the wood chopping story. How true.

Glad the injured player is coming along nicely. Sometimes we get a forced rest!

Vicki Lane said...

What a great story! And oh how true!

troutbirder said...

Ah! That's my problem... a dull axe

carolina nana said...

Great story and a valuable lesson we need to remember.
have a blessed weekend

abb said...

Lovely. Story and doggies.

Jayne said...

A great story for sure. Glad the girls are adjusting to the changes in routine and that the injured player continues to heal well. Hugs to you this beautiful weekend.

Cheryl said...

Nice to be back with the golden girls. I wish Nella knew when she was tired, her energy levels seem endless at times.
Lucy and Ellie's beds look so comfortable....they are very lucky dogs.

Love the story....it made me smile.
I will remember this one!

Hope things continue to progress well and that your life can get back to some degree of normality.

Busy Bee Suz said...

That is a great lesson.
I hope the recovery passes well...Dogs are kind of like children; resilient. They adapt to change pretty good, given they don't have a choice.
enjoy your weekend!!!

George said...

I love your story of the men chopping wood. It contains a neat lesson.
I'm glad the girls have adjusted well to the changes in household routine. I hope the injured player continues to improve.

The Bug said...

If sharpening my ax happens when I'm resting then I have the sharpest ax in town :) I could stand to USE the ax a bit more on the weekends. Heh.

The girls, as usual, are gorgeous.

Lola said...

Great story about the wood chopping & a sharp ax. It is nice that the girls have adjusted.
So glad the injured player is doing so good. Not long till he can play ball with the girls.

kks said...

love the story....
hugs to the hounds...
xoxo

How Sam Sees It said...

Good story! I will have to remember that. We hope your husband continues to mend!

Sam

Ruth said...

A great lesson in that parable! Best wishes for a full recovery to you patient.