The Prosperity Teachings of a Golden Retriever



Posted: Thursday, November 01, 2007

by
Cary Bayer Communications

LIFE 101

Dogs have much to teach us about friendship, love and loyalty. Recently, one taught me about prosperity, as well.

I was in a Tibetan yert, celebrating the 40th birthday of my friend and former assistant Sharon. At the party, I also met Karma. Karma, of course, is a law of the universe; it’s also a dog. A golden retriever, to be specific.

In between dances, I’d go outside to cool off in the mountain breezes of magical Woodstock. That’s when I’d throw a tennis ball, and Karma, every inch a retriever, would return it. (Karma….what a name for one who keeps returning things to her sender.) And I’d throw it again, this time even further, and Karma would dutifully retrieve. And on and on, for about ten minutes—when I, not Karma, lost interest.

That’s when her wisdom dawned in my consciousness: each time she retrieved the ball, it was as if for the first time. Her canine mind wouldn’t entertain the thought that she’d been there, done that. This expression, which insidiously crept into our language in recent years, has contributed to the jaded feeling that destroys the spirit of so many people I meet. For Karma, there’s no such thing as same old, same old.

As for prosperity, there’s plenty of additional gold I know I could be earning by learning from this golden retriever. She shows me that each time I do what I do for my daily bread-- whether it’s leading a workshop on prosperity, the inner journey, or enriching relationships, or coaching people in person or by phone--I can perform it as if for the first time. The Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, was right when he said that we never step into the same river twice: From having taught classes on personal growth for the past 17 years, I’ve learned that I can’t step into the same class twice. In each one, the people are different, the night is different and I’m different. Being freshly in the presence of each moment makes each moment special, and each class special, too.

When my wife was 11 years old, she studied drama and dance in New York City from a husband and wife vaudevillian team. Kasha Lowe taught her young charges something my wife has never forgotten after all these years and sometimes reminds herself and me about when insidious boredom tries to rear its ugly head: “There’s no such thing as a situation that’s boring -- only people are boring." Kasha then, and Karma now, enjoyed the same wavelength.

To serve my clients and students as authentically as I can, I choose to perform these services as if I am doing them for the very first time. When I can relax my mind that deeply, I have a greater chance of standing apart from others who teach and coach. I’ve noticed that this has the effect of making me unique, which in turn has the effect of attracting more students and clients, and keeping the ones I have for a longer time. It seems to me that when I am as present as Karma, many more people want to work with me. I suppose that, in this world of mindless multi-tasking, people want a coach who stays focused in the Now, and is as fresh a breeze as the nighttime air in which I played fetch with Karma who taught me her many lessons.

This in-the-moment freshness of spirit, I’ve seen, also works wonders for long-term relationships like marriages. It brings originality to dinners that my wife and I enjoy together, as well as mundane errands we run out of necessity, and, of course, in making love together.

Karma that night, like her namesake, keeps on teaching me.

Cary Bayer is a Life Coach who conducts a national private practice from his two offices: in the mountains of New York State (845-679-5526) and by the ocean in south Florida (954-788-3380). He is the author of two dozen publications, and leads workshops on various topics of personal growth throughout the country. You can visit him on the web at www.carybayer.com or email him at successaerobics@aol.com

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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)
» left by Camille Strate
 4 years 87 days ago.
61 fans. Follow Camille Strate on twitter!
What a marvelous article, Sir! Well done! Your message is as beautiful as your delivery. You are a great inspiration, both to this writer (as a writer) and to this woman as a human being who practices being the best she can be. Blessings to you and yours!
» left by 4 years 82 days ago.
Dear Camille, Thank you for your kind words, I am honored you have joined my fan club! Cary Bayer
» left by Ben Jones
 4 years 82 days ago.
71 fans.
Camille, a touching story and I agree, what a wonderful name for a dog that brings things back, thanks for sharing it with us! :)
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