A New Year's Resolution For the Dogs

Ahh, the new year. Everybody is busy coming up with how they will better themselves. I'm going to eat better! No more junk food for me! I'm going to exercise every day! I'm going to meditate so that I can be more at peace with myself! I'm going to spend more time with the kids doing fun things! I'm going to be more efficient at work! I'm going to have a cleaner house!

Okay, so every single one of those statements has gone through my mind. And, yes, it would be great if I could do all those things. Heck, it'd be great if I could do ONE of those things! But I have made a decision. I'm going to make ONE resolution, and hopefully all else will fall into place.

My New Year's Resolution? Be Astro. In all things, ask myself, what would Astro do?

Don't worry, my dear readers, I have not joined some crazy cult or begun to worship a Cosmic God I found on the internet. No. Astro is my friend's dog. However, he's not just any dog. Astro is a therapy dog who works with victims of sexual molestation and assault. Pretty impressive, right? And, he is often featured on my friend's FB page, so--though he lives many states away--I feel as though I know him well. I definitely feel like I get his life philosophies. And that's what I'm after. So, what does Astro think?

If yoga's not your thing, don't do it.

Find an exercise you love, and do it well.
(For Astro, this happens to be digging a hole
on the beach, just because.)

Nature is always good for you.

When a nap calls, answer it affirmatively.

Sometimes you have to look goofy for the kids. It's worth it.

Spread the joy!

Haters gonna hate. Who cares?

When at work, give it your all.

When work is done, PLAY!

Surround yourself with good friends.

Astro's philosophy: live life to its fullest in any moment, and don't let stuff get you down. I've been down a lot in 2016. Who hasn't (well, besides Astro)? Reviewing all these photos of Astro makes me feel like, honestly, I just take myself waaaaaay too seriously. Not when I'm dancing on tables or making a "Phillip Johnny Bob the Elephant" voice when I read, but pretty much the rest of the time. I know I'm making a difference with kids at work, I know I'm raising my kids right, I know I'm married to the greatest man in the world, I know I'm pretty much eating okay. I just need to accept that I'm doing those things as well as I can, and run down the figurative beach of life. My friend hasn't posted ANY pictures of Astro regretting that he didn't comfort someone the right way, or put his toys aways properly, or tone his glutes. He's just always... being Astro.

And so, my kids are calling me. They're watching Elf for the 7,000th time, and I have to join them. The Astrofication process has begun.