More Loving Kindness

Since I blogged yesterday about loving kindness, I decided to practice what I preach.

I have a little black Pomeranian dog, Moki. (Her name is a play on words for Mocha in case you were wondering.) She has this habit of following me wherever I go and nipping at my heels. She must have been a sheep-herding dog in one of her past lives.

Wherever I go, there she is, biting my ankles. I realize that in the great scheme of things, this is a small stress. But it really hurts when she bites me and since she has really sharp teeth, she's drawn blood from time to time.

I decided to practice loving kindness toward her. The next time she nipped at me, I stopped walking and stooped down to pet her, telling her that I loved her and that biting my heels was not an okay thing to do. It worked the very first time and she hasn't nipped my ankles since. She still follows me wherever I go, but now she walks beside me and licks my ankles.

The beautiful thing about a loving kindness meditation is that you can do it anywhere, anytime, in any situation you're in. You don't need to find a quiet place, close your eyes, and mindfully breathe. Simply think the words loving kindness. The words will instill a feeling of peace, calm, and love within you. Let loving kindness be your mantra that resonates within and through you, expanding into the world around you.