June 2007
Vol. 1, Issue 2
Published Monthly
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In This Issue

A Note from James
Favorite Letter of the Month: Dog Rescues Micki
Dogspirational Quote from Harry S. Truman
Pet Food Recall Webinar
Cutest Video of the Month: Baby Laughs at Swimming Hot Dog Dog
Unleash Your Inner Puppy This Summer
Screensaver Finally Finished! and Free for a Short Time (click here)

A Note from James

Aloha, Dog Lovers,

I love June. I feel almost legally obligated to play during this month. Even in Hawaii, where we have summer weather all year long, there’s still something special about this month. I have an urge to put on my sneakers and take a hike, or my flippers and take a snorkel.

Maui thinks I should have June all year round. Her playful approach to life (even at her advanced age, and with creeping cataracts) is a permanent attitude, and I would do well to model her … even if it’s September. Or January. Or March.

Anyway, it’s June now, and I’m at Book Expo America in New York City (far from snorkeling heaven). I’m here just to play … no work to speak of except to meet with friends and connect with other authors and publishers. I miss my doggie playmate, but I’m glad to see that even in our biggest cities we still have lots of opportunities to get out and enjoy the sunshine (ever walked through Central Park on a sunny day? It’s more crowded with sun worshippers than the beaches of Maui).

This month’s letter is short so that I won’t keep you at your computer for one minute longer than necessary. Get out and play!

As always, please email your feedback to james@doyourememberlove.com.

Aloha,

James Jacobson
Creator, “Do You Remember Love?”
Author, “How to Meditate with Your Dog”
Maui, Hawaii

Favorite Letter of the Month: Dog Rescues Owner

I received a lovely letter from a lovely woman this month. Micki writes eloquently about how her dog rescued her after tragedy struck.

“My husband died suddenly in August of 2001. I was
devastated. Tragedy struck again 6 months later,
when my faithful Labrador Skimmer had to be put down.
I sank into a deep depression under the two great losses.
I even started questioning the mercy of God.

Months went by and coming home from work to
a empty house just reminded me daily how much I
missed both. The following summer my sister’s neighbor
bought two puppies for his children and one week later
his wife left him. He works 12 hour days so my sister
volunteered to let the puppies out and exercise them
while he was at work. I would occasionally go to help
her before going to work myself. The day finally came
when her neighbor started looking to find new homes
for the puppies.

My sister asked if I would take one and immediately I
said “No” because I worked 3-11:30 daily at my nursing
job. I was afraid to commit because the loss of a dog
hurt so much.

Thanks to my sister’s persuasion, I finally gave in
and took a lab collie mix and started the training process.

I can’t tell you how grateful I am that I did.
Buddy gave me something to live for and it’s such a joy
coming home to someone who loves me as much as I love
him. I know it sounds crazy but I think I could have died
during those tragic and lonely days of such deep grief.

We are totally bonded now and I love this dog sooo much.
Yes, I do believe that this dog gave me the strength to
go on with life and I am so grateful.”

~Micki K.

Micki, thank you for writing and sharing your story. I don’t think you sound crazy at all. I’ve often wondered what magic dogs carry that makes it possible for them to ease our grief.

Is it their steadfast loyalty? That we can count on them to love us no matter what is happening in our lives, how bad we feel, or how bad we mess up?

Maui has eased my broken heart on several occasions. Everyday losses and big life-changing losses just seem easier to handle when I scoop up her little white body and let her lick my cheek.

Something about her just helps. I can keep my heart open and draw strength from her ability to love me no matter what is happening. Maybe that’s her magic.

Dogs keep loving, no matter what.

I hope my pitiful human self can get as good at loving as Maui is. Sounds like you’re well on your way to being as good at loving as Buddy is, Micki, and I salute both of you.

Dogspirational Quote

“Children and dogs are as necessary to the welfare of the country as Wall Street and the Railroads.”

~ Harry S. Truman

Pet Food Recall Webinar

A few weeks ago I grilled Dr. Andrew Jones on the Pet Food Recall. He recorded the whole thing, and it’s available now.

We covered everything from why over 4,000 pets have died to how to feed your pet at home - and what the best commercial pet foods are.

To learn more, go here:

http://doyourememberlove.com/PetFoodRecall/

Cutest Video: Baby Laughs at Swimming Hot Dog Dog

Want to see what real joy is? Watch this video of an infant cracking up over the antics of her little dachshund Max.

Perfect to get you oriented toward PLAY! To laugh out loud, click play:

Unleashing Your Laughing Inner Puppy This Summer

My friend’s dachshund taught her a lesson about play and joy, too. They were on their dog beach in Santa Barbara, CA, and Indie started zooming around with a huge smile on his face tail wagging high, ears flapping with each stride.

She called me to tell me about it, saying over and over, “Jim it was so much fun. I haven’t laughed so hard in years, I know Indie was reminding me to play more often.”

Play is essential to our health, vitality, self confidence, sense of freedom … and it just plain feels so darn good to move our bodies for fun.

When I get too busy working, Maui often scolds me by bringing over her frisbee or tennis ball.

Sometimes I resist because I think what I am doing is terribly important, (like I’m finding the cure for cancer or something). I say “Not now.” Or I give her a treat from the stash in my desk, thinking that will hold her off.

But she still insists, barking little barks to remind me of how vital play is to helping us humans stay balanced and healthy. Play is NOT just for dogs!

I smile and pat her on her head for being a good guru.

My advice is to let your inner puppy come out and play at least once in awhile. Put on your sneakers and go outside to sniff the fresh breeze. Then do the first thing that comes to mind. Skip around, or ride a bike. Bounce a ball a little. Take a swim … or just float and stare at the clouds.

Your dog will be so proud.

What are you waiting for?

Do it now! Go out and play!!

Screensaver Finally Finished and Free for a Short Time!

The designers have been really burning the midnight oil making the screensaver version of DoYouRememberLove.com. I think it looks great!

After a lot of thinking, we’ve decided that the screensaver should be free to anyone who wants it (despite what our accountant thinks).

The amount of email we get from dog lovers telling us that they want the movie on their home computer is just too overwhelming. So we’re just going to give it away, at least for now.

I hope you pick up a copy, it’s really easy to download and install (just two clicks, really).

You can pick up your free copy (while it’s available) here:

http://doyourememberlove.com/screensaver.html

Pass It On

If you want to share this newsletter with your friends, feel free to pass this on.

Thank you for sharing.

http://www.doyourememberlove.com/

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