Today was officially a triple S:
Super
Soul
Sunday
Okay, so, I am admittedly hooked.
And, today just added to my addiction.
I was intrigued by Oprah’s interview with Daniel Pink and two questions from his new book, DRIVE.
The first question is based on Claire Boothe Luce’s advice to President Kennedy that “every great man is a sentence” (she was concerned Kennedy was trying to do too much and risking his legacy by turning into a paragraph).
Here’s an example of a sentence:
Abraham Lincoln preserved the union and freed the slaves.
Pink inspires all of us — not just the White House set — to ask ourselves:
1) What is my sentence?
And….
2) Was I better today than yesterday?
It’s his secret formula for living on purpose and staying motivated.
And, I LOVEMORE it.
But, even more so, today, I was pleasantly surprised by what followed the Pink interview. Soul Pancake’s ode to pets. Not just because I am gaga for puppies, but because…
Today is PUP AIKEN’s 10th birthday.
I think every dog has a purpose and a story too.
Pup’s story began when he was stuffed in a box and dumped on the side of the road as a puppy — left for dead.
He was starved, underweight, malnourished and freezing when they found him and his sisters.
Justin heard about the pups and went to go look at them, where he found only one boy, crouched in the corner and crowded out from all food, love and attention by the girl puppies.
Justin spotted something in Pup that nobody else saw.
A small white patch on his chest shaped like an arrow pointing up. From that day forward, he became Pup Aiken (and shot an arrow right though Justin’s heart!).
As Pup grew up that white patch morphed from an arrow to something that resembled a #1.
Pup came into my life when he was 7 years old— after I had been pining for a dog for a decade (unfortunately, I was in a relationship with someone who didn’t want one, so I didn’t get one).
I reconnected with Justin who came — not only with a big heart, fun personality, and the elite status of my high school boyfriend — but also, to my delight, with a dog!
And, now Pup is our Numer One Pup.
And, I can’t imagine life without him.
Pup has gone from a tattered box on the side of the road, to living in a little coastal town in Oregon, to spending his summers on Martha’s Vineyard and winters in Naples, Florida. (Not too shabby by doggy standards.)
So, what would Pup’s sentence be?
I think it would go like this:
Pup Aiken was a rescue dog who rescued everyone around him by wagging his tail with passion, living with exuberance and always giving more LOVE than he received (and a few high-fives too!).
This photo was taken on his 8th birthday.
This photo is one of my favorite moments with Pup, showing his compassion and patience as the cat crawled up on his back while he was sleeping. The cat in this photo died a few days later of old age — it was as if Pup knew he needed comfort.
And, this photo was taken last night, right before bed.
Pup not only got a big treat for his birthday today, but, a few weeks ago he received a (surprise!) little puppy brother named Brady. Pup continues to show us compassion and patience as Brady jumps all around him and uses his neck as a chew toy and his back as a lounger.
His patience is admirable and amazing.
And, just proves that while he wears a Number One on his chest, Pup really is a Perfect Ten.
Happy tenth birthday dear Pup!
We love you more than chocolate, ice cream and dog treats.
High Five, indeed.
xo~Jamie (and all the other people you have wagged your tail at who love you right back)
P.S. Want to find YOUR sentence? You can watch the DRIVE video.
