7,350 miles, 55,125 Pee Stops, and a Few Life Lessons from My Dog Otis

The sun is rising. Otis and I are out for our morning walk. He’s 11 years old, and for 10½ years, we’ve walked two miles a day at least 350 days a year.

Do the math. That is at least 7,350 miles together. Not bad for a little 10-pound dog!

Of course, we haven’t covered those miles in a straight line. Our route meanders back and forth along sidewalks and trails. And about 15 times per walk, Otis finds a shrub that requires his immediate attention. That’s roughly 55,000 stops over the years. And after each one, he scratches the grass as if he’s completing some important landscaping project.

Watching Otis, I’ve realized there are some pretty good life lessons in our walks.

1. Consistency matters more than intensity. We didn’t set out to walk 7,350 miles. We just went for a walk today, then again tomorrow. Small, repeated actions add up to something remarkable. Relationships, friendships, and community are built the same way.

2. Don’t be so focused on the destination that you miss the journey. I may have a two-mile walk in mind, but Otis has other priorities. He reminds me that life isn’t just about getting somewhere. It’s about experiencing where you are.

3. Take time to stop and smell the roses. Or the shrubs. We’re in such a hurry to get things done that we sometimes miss the ordinary moments right in front of us. The sunrise. The fresh air. A familiar trail. The simple pleasure of being together.

4. A little meandering isn’t necessarily wasted time. Our route is rarely a straight line. Maybe that’s not such a bad way to live. Some of our best experiences happen when we wander, explore, and allow ourselves to be interrupted.

5. Show up for the people (and dogs) who count on you. For 10.5 years, Otis has been my walking companion. Our daily routine has become a commitment, and that commitment has become one of life’s great pleasures. Being dependable is one of the simplest ways to show love.

6. Celebrate the small things. Otis doesn’t need a special occasion, a big event, or a destination worth photographing. A walk, a shrub, and a patch of grass seem to make his day. Maybe we could all use a little more of that attitude.

7. The best things in life are often shared. Those 7,350 miles aren’t really about exercise or distance. They’re about time together. And time is one of the most valuable things we can give another living creature.

As I watch the sun rise and Otis stop yet again to investigate a shrub, I’m reminded that a good life doesn’t have to be complicated.

Keep showing up. Make time for the people you love. Don’t be afraid to wander. Stop occasionally. Enjoy the ordinary. And remember that the journey is better when you have good company.

Now, if I could just convince Otis that we don’t need to stop at every single shrub, we’d really be getting somewhere!

But then again, maybe he is the one who understands what this walk is really about.

What life lessons have you learned from a pet?

WRITTEN BY

David L. Burton

For more information, visit the Engaged Neighbor website. Take our pledge and become part of a movement! Or subscribe to our newsletter. Access some of the research documents written by David Burton, the author of this blog. Or better yet, purchase one of his books off Amazon. Contact David L. Burton via email at dburton541@yahoo.