Today, while walking into work through the employee entrance, I saw one of our doctors walking in with her service dog. I’ll call him Clyde for anonymity. Clyde accompanies her every Tuesday to clinic and is often seen walking through the halls, giving people a chance to destress. Clyde was very excited to jump out of the car and race to the door, waiting for his owner to catch up.  I jokingly said to the doc “Oh, how great it would be if everyone was as excited as Clyde to go to work.” She agreed and we laughed at the long weekend and how it seemed to confuse Clyde a little since it must have felt like a Monday to him, and he doesn’t go to work until Tuesday.

As I walked up the steps to my office, it made me ponder how true my statement was. There has been much written about the life lessons we could learn from dogs.  A dog’s carefree nature and loyalty is just one of those lessons. Another would be the desire to work and the thankfulness in doing so. I won’t anthropomorphize a dog’s thoughts when we put them to work, but it does seem they do it with joy and gratitude. Have you ever seen a police canine or a herding dog in action? They are intense and ready to get to work, almost begging to get into action with tail wagging, eyes locked intent on their owner, sometimes a little whine or yip sneaks out with an occasional circle of their body in delight. 

Wouldn’t it be great if people were that enthusiastic about work?  I know there are a few who delight in going to work; those who live out their passion and can’t wait to get busy.  There are, however, those who approach the workday begrudgingly, walking into work as if the weight of the world were on their shoulders.  I’m sure you’ve seen them, maybe even work with someone that seems to resent the fact that they must work, rather than be thankful that they are employed. I would be fibbing if I said I never got caught in the trap of wishing I could stay home and do fun things or much-needed house projects. I have learned over the years that gratitude is the antidote to this type of stinkin-thinkin. Rather than think “I wish I didn’t have to work today”, turn it into “I am so grateful I have a job that allows me to pay my bills, put food on the table, and pay for my car.”

I have practiced this line of thinking so many times over the years, that I truly am thankful to be employed. Even when I retire, I think I will continue to find places to volunteer. I am of the attitude that I can’t imagine not having something to do where I can give back some of the blessings I have received.  My goal is to approach retirement with an attitude of desiring to accomplish something every day, even if it is emptying the dishwasher before going for a walk. I started journaling years ago while doing bible studies. I don’t do it every day and I don’t journal long entries, but I do jot down things I am thankful for and verses that relate to whatever I am going through at the time. I start every day with a cup of coffee and my bible app; it reminds me to be thankful, gets me centered, and equips me with the right frame of mind.  I might not wag, and yip, and turn circles in anticipation of going to work, but it’s a process.