In my elementary school, Valentine’s Day was a big deal. Every kid brought a card in for every other kid in their homeroom - even if you didn’t like each other.

I remember picking out my valentines at the drug store - usually a big box of themed cards, like Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

I liked writing everyone’s name and bringing in my stack. I liked dumping them all in the Valentine’s Day Mail Box at the front of the classroom, and hearing everyone’s name read as the teacher handed them out.

I definitely liked watching the pile grow on my desk!

I don’t know that many adults who mail valentines to everyone they care about.

But shouldn’t we?

Valentine’s Day is the day Maui came into my life, so it’s special to me. I want to celebrate it with everyone I love!

But I can’t help but think about the environmental costs of mailing valentines.

(I’m a little concerned about global warming, aren’t you?)

Think about it. There’s the trees for the cards themselves.

Then there’s the gas used to deliver the valentines. And if you live somewhere far away (like Maui) it’s not trucks delivering your valentines … it’s planes!

The $.41 stamps don’t begin to cover the true costs of sending valentines.

How can I send valentines without feeling guilty?

That’s why I decided to make some valentine ecards for us dog lovers.

They won’t cost you a penny, and they won’t use any paper or gas. Just electrons to send them on their way.

I’ve hired a designer and programmers, and they should be ready any day now.

So start thinking of who you want to express love to this Valentine’s Day.

It will cost nothing for you, and will be eeeeaaaaasy on the environment, too.

Warm Aloha,

James

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It’s times like this when I’m really grateful to live on Maui.

You know what I’m talking about - the snow and extreme weather that’s happening all over. I’ve heard about LA highways turned into snowy parking lots, deer herds starving because the snow and ice is too thick for them to find food, and severe weather all over the mainland.

My friend Liane is having a hard time this winter with SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. She lives in DC, and is really feeling the blues from lack of sunlight. I think I used to get SAD, too, when I lived in DC. The dark and cold can really get you down. Even my buddy and pet vet extraordinaire, Dr. Andrew Jones, is having trouble with the winter gloomies. This morning he shared his litany of woes, and noted that pets deal with winter in a totally different way than we do:

I am constantly amazed how Dogs and Cats always are SOO POSITIVE. Lewis could care less if it is dismal and raining, minus 20 and cloudy or a Sunny Summer day. He is LIVING in the moment and appreciating all that life gives him.

I gotta learn how to live more like my dog.

P.S. If any of you have any words of wisdom, I would LOVE to hear them.

I don’t know how wise I am, but I know Maui is VERY wise and she has one piece of advice for Dr. Andrew Jones and everyone else who is SAD this winter:

Become a Snuggle Puppy. Snuggle Puppies don’t get SAD!

Maui insists on our meditation sessions on even the brightest of Hawaiian days, but when we lived in the dark and dreary DC, she was doubly insistent. As Dr. Jones points out, our pets live in the moment, and that can make all the difference. So if you are one of the many suffering from Deep Freeze Depression, snuggle up to your pup and have a nice little meditation. Ten minutes can make all the difference - and five is better than none at all. Make this a priority this winter. You’ll really see a difference. (And your dog will love you for it!)

Warmer Aloha than Usual,

James Jacobson

Creator, Do You Remember Love?

Author, How to Meditate with Your Dog

PS: You can get Dr. Andrew Jones’ excellent free book, Healing Your Pets at Home, at his website:

www.vet-secrets-revealed.com

Download it now and snuggle up to learn how to slash your vet bills by doing some simple, at-home treatments. I love this book.

Maui Media, LLC

MauiMedia.com

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I’m writing this from my hotel room in Los Angeles, so I apologize for being late in the week.

(I’m in LA on business.)

I’ve been here since Wednesday (when I usually email you) and it’s been two nights away from Maui.

Maui the dog, and also Maui the island.

It’s hard for me to sleep without them!

But Molly has figured out how to soothe Maui to sleep even when I’m not there, and I thought I’d tell you about it.

The first night I was gone, Maui cried on the edge of the bed for about ten minutes before Molly could get her to lay down.

She lay down, but she kept up little cries. It about broke Molly’s heart.

(I’m glad I didn’t know about it at the time - I was having trouble getting to sleep, too, and it would have made it even harder to know that Maui was having a hard time.)

Finally Molly took out a little vial of lavender oil and put a drop on her hand.

Lavender has a very soothing scent, and Molly sometimes uses it before bed to help her fall asleep.

Apparently, it works for Maui, too.

Molly rubbed her hands together and Maui immediately put her head down on her paws, but she kept up a little whining.

So Molly took her hand and held it about 3 inches from Maui’s nose, letting her sniff the lavender. She didn’t put her hand on Maui, just let the air fill up with the scent.

Maui started snoring in about two minutes.

Molly said it was bittersweet to see my little doggie so sad and missing me so much, but she had a hard time keeping from giggling when Maui dropped off to a deep sleep from the middle of a whine.

It’s amazing what scent can do for us - think about how the smell of a pumpkin pie or a pine tree can bring you back to wintry days at Grandma’s - but imagine if you had a dog’s sniffer what it would be like!

Maui is obviously “led by her nose.”

I know Molly uses a really high quality essential oil, but I can’t remember the name of it right now. If you want to find out more about it, just drop an email and maybe she can tell you more about it.

PS: I’m working on a couple of fun things to celebrate Valentine’s Day, our one year anniversary at “Do You Remember Love.”

I can’t wait to share! Details to come!

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I have a favor to ask you, but that’s for later. First I want to tell you about a sweet experience I had this week.

I had someone come over to give me a Reiki treatment on Sunday evening.

In case you don’t know what Reiki is, it’s a very gentle (but powerful) form of energy healing. You lay down (leave all of your clothes on) and the practitioner lays their hands on you to heal you.

I had just met this person, and I didn’t know her that well. When I lay down on her massage table in my meditation room, Maui came into the room and started barking.

It was weird, because she wouldn’t stop.

Finally, the practitioner took her hands off of my head and said “I think your dog is not sure about this!”

I sat up and said “I think you’re right.”

Maui just stood there and barked once more.

The practitioner said “I don’t think she trusts me. Maybe because I’m a new person.”

“Perhaps she would feel more comfortable if she were on the table with you, kind of protecting you!”

I smiled. Maui was absolutely right. So was the healer. I was a little uncomfortable! (Just because I didn’t know her that well.)

So I picked up Maui and lay back down and put her on my chest, where she likes to snuggle.

She immediately lay down and put her head under my chin.

When the practitioner lay her hands back on my head, Maui and I BOTH started snoring.

It ended up being a really nice session, and I’ll get another one from this lady.

She liked it, too. She had never seen an animal so protective, and she loved watching Maui soak up the healing.

Maui and I both felt excellent after the healing - Maui climbed the steps much faster than usual.

It was so sweet to have her snuggle on my heart while we received this delicious energy.

At one point it felt like we were the same being.

My understanding is that “loving energy” is available to all of us, all the time.

If you want to try an experiment, meditate on the energy flow between you and your dog the next time you sit down. I think you’ll see that, like the breath, it can “match” and create a feeling of oneness.

Now, about that favor. Will you help brainstorm with me? I need your advice.

Valentine’s Day is coming up soon, and that is a special day for us. Valentine’s Day 2007 was the day I put “Do You Remember Love” on the internet, and this will be the one year anniversary.

So many people have asked me for more “things” to help us all “remember love” like the movie reminds us.

Since there are a million possibilities, I thought I would ask you, first.

What is the perfect item (physical or online) that you would like to share with your loved ones this Valentine’s Day, and what is the price point (how much would you be willing to pay)?

To tell me, please email me at james@doyourememberlove.com.

Think as big or as small as you like!

Thank you in advance for your help.

Warm Aloha,

James

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Many blessings to you and all of your loved ones. May the coming year bring you Joy, Peace, Comfort, and Love.

I love these two pictures! Our friend Angelina took them on the beach near our house. Merry Christmas!

Warm Aloha,

James

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Maui is used to being the biggest personality - and the smallest “person” - in the room, but last week she got a run for her money. Let me tell you the story.

Molly’s brother Paul and his wife Jess visited us for eight days. We had a beautiful time, and it was fun to get to know each other (they live in Boston, so visits are rare).

Jackson, their baby, is only 14 months old - and Maui didn’t quite know what to make of him.

Here’s a picture of Paul and baby Jackson:

The first night they were here we had dinner and hung out chatting for a while. Molly, of course, was playing with her nephew all night, reconnecting and giggling. He’s very affectionate and sweet. I could see right away that Jackson is a gentle soul and a loving boy.

Maui didn’t quite agree. She barked a LOT that night … I think because she was jealous of her Mom’s time being taken away. Molly picked her up a lot to hug her and reassure her, but Maui was NOT happy.

Jackson, of course, had the exact opposite reaction to Maui. He loved her at first sight. He pointed and said “OOOOOOOO!” (What baby wouldn’t be interested in a white fluffy soft little doggy?)

Well, Molly knows a little about communicating without words to creatures who don’t speak English (like Maui ;-). So she whispered in Jackson’s ear and sent him mental pictures to tell him how he should handle Maui.

She “told” Jackson that Maui is old, a little cranky, and used to getting things her own way. She is very sweet and gentle, and wouldn’t hurt him, ever, but she also would not like to be manhandled or taken by surprise. Since she’s also completely blind, she can’t see him and might get scared if he came up to her suddenly.

Molly “asked” Jackson to go slow with Maui and take her cues about whether to go close or not.

The whole time Molly “talked” to Jackson, he looked from her to Maui with his big brown eyes, which just got rounder and wider as Molly continued.

And he left her alone! After getting to know him, I’m not surprised, though. This kid is S-M-A-R-T.

For the next two days Jackson watched Maui from across the room. He never went near her. When she wasn’t near her food, bed, or toys he would explore them and see what they were all about, and several times he buried his nose in her little bed and “sniffed” … but he left her completely to herself.

Meanwhile, Maui stopped barking and started checking out Jackson. Molly “told” Maui that he was very little and might not be able to be as gentle as she would like, but to bear with him because he was still a puppy.

So they just watched each other.

On the third night, Jackson made contact and won Maui’s heart. Here’s what happened.

Maui was in the kitchen. Jackson was in the living room. He watched her, and then took two “crawls” toward her. Then he sat back on his bottom and just watched her again.

She turned her head toward him.

He took two more “crawls” and then sat again, looking to see what she would do. This time she turned her head away from him. He stayed where he was and waited.

A minute later she turned her head towards him again, and he took a few more crawls, then sat back to watch. She kept her head turned toward him.

They continued to do this - him advancing if she looked at him and staying still if she looked away - until he was sitting right next to her.

Maui stood with her head turned toward him.

He reached out his chubby little hand and put his palm on her back, just resting it gently on her white fluffy fur.

Maui stayed very still.

Then he patted her very softly, running his little hand all the way down to her tail, then putting it gently at the top of her shoulders and running it down to her tail again.

She stayed still and kept her head to him.

After a few pets she waited until his hand came up to her shoulder, then gently turned and licked his fingers. He giggled quietly, and she licked again.

He giggled a little louder, and she licked some more.

Then he broke out in that insane baby giggle, full-throated and deliriously happy … and she licked his fingers and walked away.

He stayed there laughing.

Molly and I had tears in our eyes as we watched.

The gentleness of that interaction - the trust, the love, the curiosity, the respect … was inspiring.

After that Maui and Jackson had an easy relationship. She no longer stayed away. But he stayed extremely kind, gentle, and respectful.

This time of year is when we celebrate innocence and joy - and this was the best example I’d seen in a long time.

May your heart be as curious, open, trusting, respectful, and loving as Jackson’s was.

And may you always have someone to lick your fingers in return.

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I just had a wonderful visit from my brother-in-law and I want to tell you a story about how his 14-month-old son Jackson won Maui’s heart …

… but that has to wait for tomorrow, because today we have some last-minute Christmas business:

I am really looking forward to meditating live on the phone and internet with Maui and all of you who took advantage of the $5 Holiday Special this Sunday, Christmas Eve Eve.

The energy of a bunch of us dog lovers meditating together and setting our intentions for the holiday will be a truly magical experience.

If you have already ordered your $5 books, you will receive a separate email about how to get to the live webcast (it’s free–and you can listen online, or you can dial in and participate via phone).

If you have not yet ordered your books, the sale is still on. You won’t get your books in time for Christmas Day, but you WILL get invited to Sunday’s live group dog meditation.

Maui wants to meet your dog!

If you order now, you will get your books before the New Year when many people make or renew a commitment to calm down, take better care of themselves and center with a regular meditation practice. (It’s never too late to give that gift.)

Get your copies here:

How to Meditate with Your Dog: An Introduction to Meditation for Dog Lovers

Tomorrow I’ll post a message about Jackson and Maui and their sweet little interaction.

(It was hard for Maui to have another little person around at first, but Jackson is a true Dog Whisperer … just like his Aunt Molly

Until then get your copies here:

How to Meditate with Your Dog: An Introduction to Meditation for Dog Lovers

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I love Thanksgiving.

Any holiday that is only about the food is OK by me (I think Maui agrees with me).

As I have been making my “Gravy List” this month, (a list of all the things I am grateful for) I was surprised to find myself writing down

“I am grateful that I didn’t get Maui when I was a little boy.”

Let me explain.

I started asked my parents for a white doggy when I was four, but they never allowed me to have one.

No matter how often I asked, they put it off until “next year.”

They never understood how badly I wanted that little dog. I never did get her. On my tenth birthday - when I was absolutely sure they would give me a dog - they gave me a guinea pig instead.

I’m sorry, but a guinea pig is not a dog.

I was a good kid and I didn’t complain, so I don’t think they ever knew how much that hurt my feelings.

I was so heartbroken every birthday and holiday when I didn’t get a dog. Remembering it makes me a little lonely for that poor kid.

As I got older, I didn’t expect them to get me a dog, and stopped asking. But I never stopped wanting a little, white, bouncy dog to curl up on my lap.

Then, fifteen years ago, I DID get her!

I gave Maui to myself on Valentine’s Day 1993, and I am so grateful that I did.

As an adult, I understand that my parents weren’t being mean - they just didn’t get how important this was.

And if they had given me my dog then … well maybe I would never have found Maui on my own.

And if I didn’t want her so badly for so long, maybe I wouldn’t appreciate her as much as I do now.

Who knows how things would have been different?

As the holiday season progresses, I hope that you get your fondest heart’s desire.

After all, the child in us deserves to get everything he or she wants.

It may not be possible to get what you want, but that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve it.

For a lot of us, the love we share with our dogs (and cats!) is the purest love we’ve ever felt.

I’m grateful for that love every day, but especially on Thanksgiving.

It touches my heart to know you are all out there, watching Maui’s little movie and hugging your own dogs (and cats) like I hug mine.

Wow…I can almost feel all of you spilling over with love for your dogs.

Can you feel that, too?

Take a minute to “tune in” to all the dog lovers reading this.

Isn’t it amazing?

Thank you for that, too.

Happy Thanksgiving.

And if you haven’t watched the movie “Do You Remember Love?” in a while, go see it now. My mother-in-law says it is the perfect way to start the holiday season and remind ourselves of the true meaning of this time of year.

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As I’ve been making my list of everything I am grateful for - what Molly calls a “Gravy List” - I’ve been feeling great.

When I focus on what I’m thankful for, life looks pretty awesome.

This morning I thought “What about Maui?”

I hate to leave her out.

So I taped this video version of what I imagine she is grateful for.

Please post a comment and let me know if you are making your own gravy list this month. And if not, why not?

Aloha to you.

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My favorite little doggie really tested my patience yesterday.

Tuesday, November 6, was Maui’s birthday. Molly and I told her the night before that she could have “anything she wanted” on her birthday. She took us seriously.

Here’s what happened.

Maui woke up at 5am with a full bladder and woke me to go out. After her business we crawled back into bed and I fell back asleep almost immediately. But Molly’s peaceful slumber was disturbed.

Maui licked her face until Molly woke up, then whined. Molly thought “She wants breakfast.”

And since it was her birthday, Molly got up early to feed my little doggie.

She mixed her supplements, chicken, rice, veggies, a little cottage cheese, and a nice little gravy together in a bowl. She replaced her stale water with fresh cold water. She watched as Maui feasted.

Wide awake now, Molly decided to meditate. Maui declined to join her, as she was busy sniffing around for the last bits of her breakfast.

When she emerged from the silence, Molly came out to the kitchen to join me in making our breakfast. We puttered around, but Maui kept distracting us with her rather manic scratching at her “nest” of pillows on the floor in the corner.

Molly went over and cuddled her, giving her a little massage to calm her down. Maui did. She rolled over onto her back for a belly rub.

Then she sprawled on her side and sighed deeply before dropping into a doze. Molly said

“She feels great after that breakfast … she just needed to work off some excess energy.”

I said “She didn’t love her breakfast, because there wasn’t any chicken!”

(A meal without chicken is not a full meal, according to my dog.)

Molly looked at me and said “Did you feed her breakfast?”

I said yes, I had. Molly said “So did I.”

I told Molly that Maui had come into the bedroom and barked at me until I woke up, with a bark that definitely means “I’m hungry! Feed me!”

When I got out of bed, I saw that Molly was meditating, and assumed that she had not fed the dog yet.

So I made her a scrambled egg, rice, and veggies. I gave her supplements and mixed everything with a nice little gravy.

And Maui ate every single mouthful. Every mouthful of her second breakfast.

Molly shook her head and murmured “Audacious behavior.” We both turned to look at our very full, very content dog.

We told her she could have anything she wanted on her birthday. Apparently she wanted two breakfasts.

Now is there any doubt in your mind that Maui can “communicate” with us?

To celebrate my smart, if slightly sneaky, dog, I’m dedicating tomorrow’s free call with Alecia Evans to honor Maui’s birthday.

I think I know what Maui would say to that:

“Very nice gesture, dad. Now can I have some more chicken?”

Ha!!

I love my dog.

Can’t wait to “hear” you tomorrow, Thursday, at 6pm Pacific for my conversation with Alecia. I know we have a lot to learn from our animals, and Alecia’s skill at accessing their “minds” is mind-blowing.

Hope you get your equivalent of two breakfasts today!

Love,
James

PS: go to petconversation.com to submit your question and get call-in details on tomorrow’s call. And if you miss it, no sweat, I’ll send out an email with the replay page so you can “attend” at a later time.

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