This week I was talking with one of our major supporters about funding opportunities. It was a short conversation and we were speaking about different organizations in the community. It was a nice conversation, but it ended a little curiously. He said to me, "My dog keeps my organized."

Upon reflection, and being married to what some locals call, "the crazy dog lady," I understood completely. Having that companion brings a sense of order---time for a walk (x3), time for dinner, etc. Especially after have been seperated for such a long period of time, a furry friend is priceless (only those who have a dog really understand).

Both of our Children's Department leaders, Jackie Laban and DJ Horton adopted furry friends during the Pandemic. I think they'd both say that they get more from them than they give.

Dogs don't worry about bills, insurance, car maintenance, they just sit next to you waiting for a pat or a rub;

Dogs always greet you at the door like you have been gone for a lifetime; they don't complain about their tough day at work or exhaustion, they just kiss and love you;

Dogs don't worry about what others think about them, they don't gossip, they don't drink too much at a neighbor's party, they just look up at you with adoring eyes waiting for a good word;

Dogs never complain about their food, wonder what to make for dinner, or where to make reservations, they just sit/stand by your side, waiting appreciatively for you to fill their bowl;

Dogs rarely look in the mirror complaining about wrinkles on their face, the tightness of their pants, or their bad hair day; they just look damn cute, all the time;

Dogs don't care where you are going, what you are doing, how you are going to get there, how humid it is, are there bugs or how tired they are; they just want to be included in whatever you are doing;

Dogs don't have a political affiliation, don't judge you by your point of view, or make posts on Facebook, they just bark their approval of whatever you say;

Dogs aren't slaves to their jobs, worry about their boss, or choose work over family, they just do doggy things like snuggle, sniff, and watch;

You see, dogs are rather simple, they savor every moment you are around whether it be (endlessly) fetching a ball, sniffing around another dog, or looking out the front window. Unlike humans, they don't get stuck on the minutiae, they don't obsess about things they can't change, they accept life as it comes.

Yes, it's a dog's life.

Maybe we can all learn from our dogs.

Chag Pesach Sameach and an early Shabbat Shalom