Joy Unleashed: Life Lessons from the Dog Park
When we first brought Mulder home—a wiggly, wide-eyed corgi puppy—he was bursting with energy and completely uninterested in walking on a leash. My husband and I discovered that the only surefire way to keep our tiny tornado from wreaking havoc inside the house was to give him plenty of playtime with other dogs. That’s how Bushrod Dog Park became part of our daily routine—initially out of necessity rather than choice. For the first few weeks, I stood on the field feeling awkward. I wished we could walk Mulder through the neighborhood to at least grab some steps for ourselves. But as the days turned into weeks, I noticed this “chore” was quickly becoming my favorite part of the day. The first thing that drew me in was how present dogs are in every moment. Watching dozens of them romp and tumble—simply elated by grass, fresh air, and other wagging tails—served as a constant reminder that life’s small joys often hide in plain sight. Dogs don't care about looming deadlines, po...
