It’s Tiki here, again, and I’m excited for a new week and all the fun stuff it holds. I’m also excited because I realized this week how great it makes me feel to just love and give and be my bubbly little Tiki-self, without expecting anything in return.

I guess I hadn’t really thought about it before, but that amazing, unconditional love thing is something that we doggies tend to be good at. It comes very naturally to us to snuggle up with our mommies to cheer them up, even when they’re not acting very snuggle-able. We innately know that when we show love and affection, the act of giving itself makes us feel great, and usually it cheers up the grumpy party, as well. I can tell when my mommy is having a rough day, and it makes me feel really good to make her smile by running my crazy happy laps around the house, or by jumping up on her lap to curl up quietly. I’m not doing it in order to get a treat or to get some extra belly scratches; I’m just doing it because making someone else feel better makes me feel better.

This is the beauty of unconditional love – when you just give, without expecting a certain result, the act of giving and loving alone makes you feel great because you’re connecting with your higher self and your true nature, be it canine or human. Whether or not the other person reciprocates doesn’t affect your happiness. And the amazing thing is that this giving doesn’t have to be a huge gesture – a smile or a hug can do a lot to change a person’s day. And that gesture reinforces your own happiness and sense of well-being at the same time.

So this week, take a lesson from me and from your own doggies, too, because we have this one down pat. Even if you run across someone who is acting grumpy, don’t let that cause you to be grumpy towards them – instead, use a little of that unconditional, Tiki-type love. Chances are that it will brighten their day, and you know that it will make you feel great!

Namaste,
Tiki