Lessons My Dog in a Wheelchair Taught Me

By Barbara Techel

Lesson one:

Patience has not always been my virtue. I now have a paralyzed dog who can not pee or poop on her own. Either I have to learn patience or I will soon be in a straight jacket. There are worse things in life than being peed or pooped on, right? Yes, there really is so stop shaking your head no. Patience became a lesson I was willing to learn to help me roll through my days helping my dog Frankie, go to the bathroom. Choosing patience keeps me calmer and happier. There are days I have to remind myself that patience feels better than freaking out, and I am getting better with practice.

Lesson two:

Unconditional love is not easy for humans, because we tend to think our opinion is the only right way to think. Will we ever be perfect in unconditional love? Well, that may only happen if we become a dog, which is highly unlikely. But we certainly can strive to love mankind and our fellow critters without judgment. It is a matter of catching our minds in mid thought when we are about to form a belief about another. Who says our opinion is correct? My dog never judges. She loves anyone she comes in contact with and is grateful for every pat on the head she receives.

Lesson three:

Confidence eluded me for years. It was not until I found my passion in sharing Frankie's inspirational story that I finally felt more assured. It may seem odd that a dog could teach a human confidence, but they can help you to feel more secure when they are by your side. If you have a fear of going for a walk by yourself, having a dog at your side may make you feel more self-assured. Dogs have a way of bringing calmness to any situation. Maybe you have a fear of driving somewhere on your own, afraid you may get lost. Just stroking the fur of your dog will settle your nerves down, helping you to think, and keep your wits about you.

Lesson four:

Being grateful has become a key part of my life. I learned this after all my dachshund had been through; surgery, 8-weeks of strict cage rest and then months of recovery. I was grateful she was still alive and still with me. Being grateful for every little step she took toward improvement helped me to see the blessings in all the simple things in my life.

Lesson five:

Happiness is one of the most important things I have learned from my dogs. Have you ever noticed how dogs just live in the moment? By doing this you can avoid worrying about the future or living in the past. That in turn is likely to bring you more happiness in the present moment. If you feel yourself getting stressed out by your thoughts, stop and take a moment to watch your dog. If you are open to what you are seeing, you will feel yourself begin to relax, which will automatically make you happier.

Barbara Techel is the author of "Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Dog," a 2008 National Best Book awarded by USA Book News. A true, inspirational story about her dachshund that started out walking in life until a spinal injury leaves her paralyzed. Frankie is custom fit for a wheelchair and learns to keep on rolling. Visit Barbara at http://www.joyfulpaws.com