Bai
ley, the Golden Retriever, ran through the park with his tongue lolling out of his mouth. His owner, a young woman with a bright smile, laughed as she tossed a tennis ball for him to fetch. Bailey was in doggy heaven, and his wagging tail showed it. Next to them, a small Chihuahua named Bella strutted past, her nose in the air. She was always trying to prove that she was the boss of the park, even though she was the tiniest dog there. But everyone knew that really, the park was ruled by Max, the massive Saint Bernard who lumbered around like a furry mountain. Despite his size, Max was a gentle giant. He loved nothing more than rolling around in the grass and having his belly rubbed by the children who came to play with him. And when Daisy, the Beagle, would start barking at every squirrel that crossed her path, Max would simply lay his head down and give her a patient look, as if to say, "Relax, little one." Finally, there was Lady, the elegant Greyhound. With her sleek coat and graceful movements, she was the envy of every other dog in the park. Lady had a regal air about her, as if she knew she was something special. And she was; in fact, she had won several races in her younger days before retiring to a life of leisure. As the sun began to set, the dogs and their owners started to make their way back home. Bailey bounced toward his owner, his tail still wagging happily. Bella scampered along beside her owner, still trying to look tough. Max lumbered behind, always content to take his time. And Lady swept away with her owner, looking as graceful as ever. Each dog was unique, with its own personality and quirks. But they all had one thing in common: the pure joy they found in simply being dogs, running and playing and living in the moment. And really, isn't that something we could all learn from?