As we walk down the street, she bounds into the air, biting at the leash. With joy in her face she pulls and skips. She flips in the air, much to the amusement of passersby.

“You are not in the present moment! [1]”, I think to myself. You are missing the enveloping smell of the Angel Trumpets to our left; The smile of the child’s face to our right. But then I realize that to Addi, in that moment, I am the present. I’ve spent the day at the office, as she’s spent the day on the couch, my bed, or whichever comfortable spot she deems appropriate in my tiny studio apartment.

She becomes the present moment for me. I no longer am distracted by what would normally grab my attention. I love her wholly and this moment is a precious one. I remember now words given to me that remind us that focusing our energy towards the present allows us to fully embrace all that we care about; my dog included. And me to her.

[1] “You shouldn’t chase after the past or place expectations on the future. What is past is left behind. The future is as yet unreached. Whatever quality is present you clearly see right there, right there.” —Buddha