Doesn’t it seem like everyone everywhere is rushing you to get through life???

Let me explain.

As a little dog with three paws in the grave, I don’t like being rushed anywhere. For any reason. I might miss something. So, yeah, I might be a little behind on my blog posts, but I’ve got a whole world of other things competing for my attention.

Sometimes you’ve got to just stop and smell the flowers. Or fence posts.

But nowadays it seems like we’re surrounded by people and groups and businesses that want us to move faster, age quicker, and ignore all the life that’s right in front of our little noses.

Here’s an example.

Last weekend I went with my mom and Aunt Maria to a cute little store that sells soaps, lotions, and other things full of artificial fragrance. (Yes, I was hiding in her giant L.L. Bean bag again.) The place smelled like they were desperately trying to camouflage twenty years’ worth of Little Dog carpet accidents.

But that wasn’t the worst part.

My mom stopped right in the middle of the store, looked up at the ceiling, and shouted out, to no one in particular, “Are you kidding me? Michael Buble?”

My Aunt Maria looked at her. “I thought you liked Michael Buble.”

“He’s singing ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town!’”

“You don’t like his Christmas album?”

“Not on October 26^th I don’t!!!” my mom shrieked.

The next thing we knew we were escorted out of the shop, sans our basket full of smelly little soaps, and the manager hissed, “You’re ruining our vibe,” as she slammed the door behind us.

Stores rushing the holidays is nothing new and I bet you’ve experienced it yourself. (Getting kicked out of places isn’t new for us either.)

See that photo at the top of the screen? It’s from a few years back when we were at our local CVS. We went out for a ride, then my mom stopped there to pick up something. I forget what. Lipstick. Wrapping paper. Metamucil. I really can’t remember.

And why should I? It’s not like she got me a box of biscuits. Or a little can of Vienna sausages.

What I do remember is that it was December 19^th.

I also remember her complaining that these guys had Valentine’s chocolate out when it wasn’t even Christmas yet! Unbelievable!

I needed proof, so I made her go back in and take that picture for me.

She wasn’t exaggerating. It was true.

They were trying to tempt us with chocolates when no one’s even eaten their Christmas cookies or New Year’s Cabbage yet.

So what does this mean for you?

Rushing through life ahead of schedule is no fun. Especially when you’re running out of paws.

There’s a natural timing to the universe that just shouldn’t be messed with. After all, no one goes bathing suit shopping the first week of January, while they’re still wearing all their eggnog and Christmas cookie fat. That’s a recipe for depression. And fitting room riots.

Well, I don’t have much more to say on this topic. Other than I’m going to keep taking my time with things. Especially blog posts.

Oh, and for the record, my mom likes fresh chocolate for Valentine’s day. Not that stale stuff that’s been on the shelf since December 19th.