I'm not sure I have a point today. I think I'm just complaining. Usually, I only tell my dogs, and on many days, there is a lot to tell them. They listen so sweetly, and are always supportive. They make a positive attitude not just possible, but a way of life. Too many of the people I encounter each day challenge my attitudinal way of life. Maybe that's my point: Dogs make interacting with people possible.
I find that people really like to complain, compare and compete. Less than I used to, but far too frequently, I hear from someone some variation of, "You're so lucky, you don't __________." The _____ can be "have kids," or "have a boss," or "have to worry about anyone but yourself." I no longer respond to these statements. Anyone who says them isn't looking to learn anything. He or she feels I am, and my life is, already figured out. In my head, I'm saying, "Whatever," and on my face, I hope "Whatever" isn't obvious, but, whatever.
I can't say it has always been thoroughly thought out, but I lead a fairly heavily cultivated life. I consciously give up some things in order to have others, and I recognize that I have a lot of choice. Some days, I really want to make another choice, and that's when I talk to my dogs about it. Instead of focusing on what I haven't brought them, my dogs adore me as I come. Instead of thinking that I work for them, my dogs appreciate everything I give them, and are happy to simply be in my presence. Instead of demanding and draining my limited resources of energy and time, my dogs rejuvenate.
I'm so tired after a day with people, attending to their demands and needs. To so many people, what you give is never enough. After a day like that, I don't want to talk to anyone or even see another person. After a day with dogs, my dogs especially, of course, I just want to do it all over again.
Much of my work is as a massage therapist. I have my own location, and I travel to people's homes as well. A few days per week, I work with dogs in various capacities for part of the day. Here is a typical day involving mostly people:
6am - The alarm sounds. I wake to Depeche Mode singing "Goodnight Lovers."
Luna stretches out of her Barkalounger and says, "Let's go."
Atticus' tail wags, and his eyes say, "Hi, Lady. I slept on your legs all night so we could be close."
Foster looks at me saying, "Already?"
6:30-7:45am - I walk with my dogs and we have breakfast.
7:45am - I am ready for my 8am client.
8:15am - Client arrives, late, jokes about receiving a discount unless I want to work until 10:15am giving him his full 2 hours. I tell him I was ready to work at 8am. He gets it.
As nearly every client seems to need, this client wants to feel special and hear that his muscles are the most overworked I work with, blah blah blah. Already, I'm over it.
I compliment him for his activity level, and am thankful he's face down and unable to see my eyeroll.
10:10am - Client jokes again about a 15 minute discount. I say, "Have you ever asked your barber or waitress or doctor for a discount because YOU were late?"
10:11am - I race to put Atticus' seatbelt harness on and get him into the car.
10:15am - Drive to dog walking client's home.
10:30-11:15am - Atticus and I walk with a puppy. Dreamy, except for the call from the day's 5-6:30pm client who says she has to cancel because she forgot she has to bake for the neighborhood cookie exchange. I've never come up with a system to charge people for canceling with such little notice.
11:15-11:30am - Drive to another dog walking client's home.
11:30am-12/12:15pm - Atticus and I walk with 2 small breed dogs. Wonderful, but I'm distracted as I make calls to my cancellation list - people who want to be called whenever I have a cancellation. I call two people and leave messages.
~12:15pm - Atticus and I walk with one of the sweetest Golden Retrievers ever. Always fun with him, but I'm distracted by the phone calls. Cancellation Call List Client #2 calls back faster than CCLC #1 and says yes and that she is so happy.
12:30pm - CCLC #2 calls back, asks if I can come 1/2 hour earlier. I say I can't. She says ok.
12:45pm - CCLC #2 calls again, says she can't make the appointment and "Sorry."
1pm - CCLC #1 returns call, asks if the time is still available, I say yes and she says "Yay!"
1:15pm - Atticus and I head for home.
1:30pm - I arrive home, take Luna and Foster Dog out for jaunts around the yard.
1:50-2pm - I grab something to eat, and put my massage supplies in the car. I packed much of them up last night. I always have my travel table in the car, but I also bring a bin with an egg crate mattress pad, an electric heated mattress pad, lotions, tshirt material sheets, and a blanket.
I also set up the dogs' dinners, put them in the fridge, and leave a note for J hoping he has time to feed them.
2-2:20pm - Drive to client's home. Encourage myself to breathe and appreciate having work. It's going to be a long night, but it doesn't have to feel that way.
2:20-2:30pm - Set up.
2:30-4pm - Client has 3 dogs. They all hang out with us, napping and making me happy. Sometimes, they need to go out, so I let them out and let them back in, all while providing a healing massage.
4-4:15pm - Pack up, hug everyone goodbye.
4:15-4:45pm - Drive to CCLC #1's house. I listen to a book on CD. I drink some Diet Mountain Dew. I miss my dogs.
4:45-5pm - Set up, heated mattress pad still slightly warm from last client so it won't take long to heat up.
5-6:30pm - Client starts out very complimentary, appreciating my call and effort to make time for her. Then she brings the love down saying the heated mattress pad isn't warm enough and I've teased her into thinking she was going to be lulled into relaxation…blah blah blah.
I feel like saying, "If you know another massage therapist who will come to your house, or another who will come with cushioned and heated mattress pads, you should call her or him right now," but I don't. I ask, "Would you like another blanket?"
7pm - Drive to 7:30-9pm client's home after CCLC #1 takes forever to get off the table to allow me to pack up.
7:30pm - Arrive. Client says, "I was worried you forgot." I say, "Have I ever?"
7:32-7:45pm - Set up. Client's toddler wants to help. Client leaves Toddler with me. I'm good with it. Toddler is adorable. Client's cat pees on my sheets. Client doesn't apologize and acts inconvenienced by needing to provide replacement sheets. I think how tired I'll be when I arrive home and have laundry to do immediately.
7:45-9:15pm - I hear Toddler throughout massage saying he wants to be with me, and I hear Toddler's caregiver tell him I don't want him in the room. I feel angry to be used to hurt and control Toddler, and I hope he knows the truth, that I would rather hang with him than anyone else in the house.
9:15-9:35pm - Pack up with Toddler's help. Client says her back still hurts. Nice. I feel like saying, "You have a toddler. That's not going to change in 90 minutes," but I don't. I say, "With water and rest, you may feel differently in the morning."
9:45pm - Finally on the way home.
10:25pm - Home with My Pack. I take everyone out for a walk, start laundry, tell J I miss him, set up breakfasts, set out clothes for tomorrow, shower, cuddle up with the puppies all over. Set Depeche Mode to sing to me at 4:30am. Feel thankful that tomorrow is a more dog heavy day.
Typical day that is more dog heavy:
4:30am - Depeche Mode wakes me, and My Pack. We walk and have breakfast together.
5:40am - Leave for the dog kennel.
6am-12pm - Dogs, dogs, dogs, dogs. Meet dogs' needs of outside time, food, clean and comfortable play and sleeping spaces, snuggles, limits, fun, selfie picture taking, more snuggles, repeat.
12:10pm - Pee for the first time since 5:40am. Can barely believe I make it since the tie on my pants became knotted.
12:15pm - Leave the kennel after saying my goodbyes to the 50-100 dogs with whom I spent the morning. Would bring home a couple if necessary.
12:25-12:45pm - Walk with 2 small breed dogs.
1:10pm - Arrive home. Take each of my puppies out for a jaunt. They learn all about my day by sniffing my clothes up, down and all around.
2:15-8:30pm - People massage times…
8:30-10pm - Walk with my puppies, prepare breakfasts and set out clothes for tomorrow, shower, cuddle up with My Pack. Feel thankful for a dog heavy day.
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