For those of you who don’t already know, I have a five-year-old wire hair fox terrier named Tejas (which in Sanskrit means the twinkle in your eye). She is one of the best parts of every day of my life. And I have learned so much from her over the years. Here are some of my insights…
Love Unconditionally
No matter what, Tejas is always happy to see me. She forgives so easily and prioritizes sharing her love. She never holds a grudge. She somehow knows when I’m having a rough day and makes sure that she gives me extra attention and support so I know that I have someone on my side. She is consistent and persistent in her love and knowing that is such a gift in my life.
Fearlessness & Strength
Tejas has a bold, fearless attitude towards life. She is always up for an adventure and strides forward into the unknown with a sense of ease and confidence. It’s as if she knows that she’s up for whatever challenge is ahead before she has any inkling of what that might be. She also has an inherent confidence in herself and her abilities that leave little doubt that she will emerge on top. She is always unapologetically 100% herself. She truly believes she is awesome and that she’s got everything well in hand. She knows these things without question and her posture and movements convey these beliefs from the inside out.
Play
For Tejas, play is one of the most essential parts of life. And she’s always trying to get other people involved. She’s a constant reminder that I’m taking life too seriously and that more play makes everyone happier and more fulfilled. It is so important to be able to enjoy and appreciate the sweeter things in life. And those things don’t have to be occasional, they can be part of your routine every single day.
Rest
When life gets full, it’s hard to remember to rest fully and for long enough. Tejas doesn’t have a problem with this. She sleeps away most of the day. She loves to curl up in the sun and bask in the warmth and ease. She never appears exhausted or anxious or frazzled because she gets enough rest that these adjectives just aren’t in her vocabulary (you know what I mean).
Alone Time is Good
Tejas is a very independent soul. She loves it when I’m home, but she wants her own space. She does seek out attention from time to time, especially when she wants to play, but she is also content to spend time on her own. Being in the proximity of good company is enough for her. She doesn’t force connection, she lets it come to her.
Important Things in Life
She knows what the important things in life are. She doesn’t get caught up in the rat race of trying to “make it.” Her priorities never change. She is clear on what she wants to get out of life and makes those things her focus every day and every moment of every day. And I think that most of us would agree with her thoughts on what is important: great food, spending time with loved ones, play, and rest. Now I need to learn to prioritize these things for myself as much as she does.
Ignore Social Norms, Be Yourself
It’s so easy to get caught up in the mill of social expectations and norms. Not when you’re Tejas. Fortunately, she’s blissfully unaware of how to and not to behave, other than the training she’s been through (which hasn’t been super extensive). I was thinking about this the other day when we went on a hike as the snow was melting and she walked right through the middle of all the puddles on the trail. She does things her way because that’s the way she wants to do them.
