Less is more. I believe this is true. It’s one of my Rules. Our daughter’s dog, Pia, knows it too.
When Pia hears, “Do you want to go on the duck walk?”, the answer is yes! This seven-pound Morkie herds her humans with the skill and enthusiasm that would put a sheep dog to shame. The ducks live in Little Sugar Creek and the greenway that skirts it is where Pia loves to walk. She can walk for miles if conditions are favorable. Rain and heat are her least favorite things. She knows her mind and although I’m only her occasional keeper, I’ve learned it too.
There is a juncture where the walk can go long or where we can head back to the barn. I let her decide. Today was a less is more day. Despite the early hour, it was already getting hot. She knew that extra two miles was not what she wanted. Less was better. I knew that too. I’d be carrying her for much of the longer route and neither of us likes that.
We had a great walk. Neither of us felt deprived. She got to tell the ducks who was boss. She trotted with elan. She was glad to have gone and glad to be home. Less was more. Less was enough. Less was perfect.
Sometimes a not too big life can be just right. It lets us be, rather than always be doing. Just ask Pia.
PS Don’t call PETA. The picture was taken when it it was sweater weather. Today, she was topless, showing off her summer "do’.