Most of you know I’m an animal lover. We have one cat, Emily
Dickinson, an old dog, Jake, and a new puppy, Cosmo, that belongs to our
youngest son. I don’t know what I’d do without my four-legged friends cheering
me on as I work every day.
But they’re more than just great companions, they’ve got a
lot to teach me. I’ve shared lessons from Emily before in a devotion on Being Still. So today I’d like to pass along some of the wisdom I’ve gleaned from my
dogs.
9 Things I Learned
About Blogging From My Dogs
1. Go all in.
When you play, play. When you work, work. And when you rest, rest. My dogs are
one hundred percent involved in whatever they’re doing. Beyond that, I’ve
discovered that there’s no such thing as a multi-tasking dog. The same should
be true for bloggers. Focus on the task at hand by setting aside time to blog.
Don’t think of it as work you do in the spaces.
2. Chasing squirrels
never ends well. It may be fun, but it rarely bring value to what you’re
doing. When our boys were young (and so was Jake) they had the great idea of
tying his leash to the handlebars of a scooter so he could pull them down the
street. It went well until a squirrel darted in front of Jake. He took of one
direction, the son on the scooter went another way. There was definitely
collateral damage although none of it permanent. The same thing can with
blogging. Leave the squirrel chasing for play time and stay focused on where
you’re going in your post and avoid the collateral damage.
3. Loyalty is
everything. My dogs are friendly with almost everyone, but their loyalty is
to me. As bloggers, we have to have that same kind of loyalty toward our
readers.
4. 50 New smells a day.
For a dog, going outside is more than exercise, it’s the ability to gather
information about the world around them. As bloggers, we can’t become so
immersed in our own corner of the world and especially only our point of view.
5. Keep digging until
you have what you need. Both our dogs have favorite toys. But our puppy’s
favorite pastime would appear to be getting his stuck under things. He’s
learning though, to not just rely on us to get what he needs. He’s learning how
to work and dig until he gets them back. As bloggers we can’t just rely on the
information others provide. We have to be willing to learn, grow, and dig out
what we need to be the best we can be.
6. Wag more, bark
less. When my dog comes up to me, he’s grinning and his tail is wagging. He
doesn’t approach me barking and growling. We need to make sure we interact with
people online by wagging, not barking. Think before you post and keep it
positive, you’ll never regret being nice.
7. Puppy treats make
the worst job easier. Both our dogs love treats, but training our puppy is
giving us a new appreciation about how valuable they are. Treats are also a
good way to get me to finish a job I’m dreading.
8. Be ready for an
adventure and travel light. My dogs are always ready to go for an
adventure. Don’t be too tied to home base. As bloggers (and writers) we can
pick up and go at the drop of a hat.
9. Always on guard.
My dogs are always aware of what’s going on around them. They may appear to be
sleeping soundly or playing hard, but if someone comes to the door, they are
the first to alert. Because blogging is an online activity, we also need to
always be alert. We shouldn’t be fearful, but we do need to be smart and stay
aware.
 |
| My Dog Jake |
These are some of the lessons I’ve learned, what has your
pet taught you about blogging, writing or even life? Be sure to share your
thoughts in the comments section below.
TWEETABLES
Blogging Tips From My Dog by Edie Melson (Click to Tweet)
9 things I learned about blogging from dogs~ Edie Melson (Click to Tweet)
What Has your pet taught you?~ Edie Melson (Click to Tweet)
TWEETABLES
Blogging Tips From My Dog by Edie Melson (Click to Tweet)
9 things I learned about blogging from dogs~ Edie Melson (Click to Tweet)
What Has your pet taught you?~ Edie Melson (Click to Tweet)
