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Tom Morris

Great Ideas. With Power. And Fun.
About Tom
Books
Novels
Retreats
Blog
Talks
Client Testimonials
Contact
ScrapBook
The 7 Cs of Success
The Four Foundations
Plato's Lemonade Stand
New Book on Steve Jobs

Goodbye to a Great Old Dog

On Sunday, in Wilmington, NC, it was a gloriously beautiful sunny day, and our hearts were breaking, tears flowing down all the human faces in the house.

Our old dog had experienced a very difficult month of rapidly deteriorating health, and the past week had been the worst - with at least a couple of serious diseases in advanced stages, plus a bad form of cancer, she was barking pitifully on and off throughout the night, just feet from our bed. The medications that were supposed to help her no longer could. Our other two dogs, much younger, stayed busy trying to comfort her and lick her wounds. The cat was just perplexed, but hovered and stayed close, as if wanting to help.

As the new dawn had come, the old girl refused her favorite food, as she had, for the first time ever,  just the day before. And then, when she somehow made it out the door and into the backyard, barely able to walk on swollen and weakened legs, she did something very unusual for her. She snuck off alone to a part of the property that's more heavily wooded and lay down near the perimeter fence, looking out. This extremely social animal wanted solitude. This house dog wanted to hide in nature. She yearned for something beyond the confines of what she had.

I first saw her there from a distance, lying down, and looking through the fence. The broad yard and large fenced in area that had so long protected her and given her a place to frolic and play were now not where she wanted to be. She looked out through the fence as if she wanted to go beyond it, far outside it, and she seemed, at the same time, to be in a similar way looking beyond her failing physical body, wanting and needing to get outside it, as well. The physique that had made her tough and agile and great fun was now her great impediment. And she knew it. She needed release. So she lay there and looked through the fence as if, somewhere out there, somewhere beyond all that she had known, and had physically been, was the freedom from pain and growing restriction that she needed in order to continue to be herself.

The previous day, my wife and I had been at a graveside service for an elderly aunt who had lived a long and vibrant life before she began to suffer severe dementia, a fate that took her away in bits and pieces for ten years before her heart gave up. Her death freed her from a prison that had seemed to obliterate the person she was. The old animal at our house seemed to be aching for a similar liberation of the soul.

The dogs in our family somehow tend to end up with multiple names. This one, a female rescued eleven and a half years ago, at the age of one, was at New Hanover County Animal Control, on the day she was originally scheduled to leave this world, when our daughter woke up and had the urge to go there, and adopted her, hours from what would have been her leave taking from this life. Her name was Lexie, and that's what we called her, when we weren't calling her Boo, or DevilDog, or Debolt, or Dibs - all names that arose under certain appropriate circumstances. She was an entertainer. She was a bull of a dog. If you ever told her "No" in a serious voice, she would bark wildly and back away from you as if her life were on the line, no matter how gentle your correction might had been. And in the midst of the Mad Dog routine, all you had to do was say "Good dog" in an overly friendly voice, and she would instantly change back, wagging her tail and approaching for a hug.

And then the day clearly arrived. We cried all day, on and off. But we also talked of her being with her old sisters that she had grown up beside, other mixed breed rescue dogs that had been ours and had gone on years ago, far too young. We hoped they would soon greet her and introduce her to the other Morris dogs that they had known, and they, also, in turn. We have quite a pack awaiting our own arrival on the next shore.

And so, we worked to convince ourselves, what seems so sad could actually be gloriously good for the old girl and her former companions. May it be true. For them, and for all of us, their grieving owners, and great, forever friends.

The old girl at the vet, finally at rest, one minute after her spirit's departure, and a minute before I kissed her head one last time.

The old girl at the vet, finally at rest, one minute after her spirit's departure, and a minute before I kissed her head one last time.

Newer:Peaks, Valleys, and WonderOlder:An Opportunistic Cat
PostedOctober 27, 2014
AuthorTom Morris
CategoriesAdvice, Life, nature, Wisdom
Tagsdog, cat, pet death, death, old age, reunion, afterlife, Lexie, Tom Morris, TomVMorris

Some things that may be of interest. Click the images below for access, or for more! Tom

The New Book, Fall 2018!

The New Book, Fall 2018!

On stage in front of a room full of leaders and high achievers from across the globe.

On stage in front of a room full of leaders and high achievers from across the globe.

Maybe, my favorite book of all time. Published in 1905, it's a charming and compelling tale about the power of the imagination and simple kindness in dealing with great difficulties. You'll love it. Click the cover to find it on Amazon!

Maybe, my favorite book of all time. Published in 1905, it's a charming and compelling tale about the power of the imagination and simple kindness in dealing with great difficulties. You'll love it. Click the cover to find it on Amazon!

My favorite photo and quote from the first week of my new blog:

My barn having burned down, I can now see the moon. -  Mizuta Masahide

My barn having burned down, I can now see the moon. - Mizuta Masahide

I'll Rise Up and Fly.

When I was young I thought I could fly. If I ran just right I'd rise into the sky and go over the yard and the house and the trees until, floating a bit, I'd catch a good breeze and neighbors would see and squint into the sun and say "Come here and look at what this kid has done!" I'd continue to rise, and with such a big smile, my grin could be viewed at least for a mile. And, even today I think, if I try, the time may yet come when I'll rise up and fly. (TM)

When I was young
I thought I could fly.
If I ran just right
I'd rise into the sky
and go over the yard and the house and the trees
until, floating a bit,
I'd catch a good breeze
and neighbors would see
and squint into the sun
and say "Come here and look
at what this kid has done!"
I'd continue to rise,
and with such a big smile,
my grin could be viewed
at least for a mile.
And, even today
I think, if I try,
the time may yet come
when I'll rise up and fly. (TM)

My Favorite Recent Photo: A young lady named Jubilee gets off to a head start in life by diving into some philosophy!

My Favorite Recent Photo: A young lady named Jubilee gets off to a head start in life by diving into some philosophy!

Great new Elizabeth Gilbert book on creative living and the creative experience.

Great new Elizabeth Gilbert book on creative living and the creative experience.

The back flap author photo on the new book  The Oasis Within .

The back flap author photo on the new book The Oasis Within.

A great little adventure novel about risk and loss and love and friendship. And books! And food! And France, from Paris to Provence!  Click here!

A great little adventure novel about risk and loss and love and friendship. And books! And food! And France, from Paris to Provence! Click here!

My favorite book in years. You'll be surprised at how much philosophy you get from this page-turner of a story.  Click it!

My favorite book in years. You'll be surprised at how much philosophy you get from this page-turner of a story. Click it!

Something different. Paola Requena. Classical guitar. Sonata HerĂ³ica.

Two minutes on a perspective that can change a business or a life.

On the beach where we do retreats, February 16, 2018, 77 degrees. Philosophy in shorts and a T shirt done right.

On the beach where we do retreats, February 16, 2018, 77 degrees. Philosophy in shorts and a T shirt done right.

So many people have asked to see one of my old Winnie the Pooh TV commercials and I just found one! Here it is:

Long ago and far away, on a Hollywood sound stage, I appeared in two network ads for the wise Pooh, to promote his adventures on Disney Home Videos. For two years, I was The National Spokesman for that most philosophical bear. This is one of the ads. I had a bad case of the flu but I hope you can't tell. A-Choo!

Now, for something truly unexpected:

Five Years ago, a friend surprised me by creating an online shop of stuff based on my Twitter Feed. I had forgotten all about it, but stumbled across it today. I should get this shirt for when I'm an old man, and have my home address printed on the back, along with, "Return if Found." Click to see the other stuff! I do love the dog sweaters.

Five Years ago, a friend surprised me by creating an online shop of stuff based on my Twitter Feed. I had forgotten all about it, but stumbled across it today. I should get this shirt for when I'm an old man, and have my home address printed on the back, along with, "Return if Found." Click to see the other stuff! I do love the dog sweaters.

Cat videos go philosophical. The now famous Henri Le Chat Noir, existential hero. Click image for the first video I saw and loved.

Cat videos go philosophical. The now famous Henri Le Chat Noir, existential hero. Click image for the first video I saw and loved.

The next business book I'm buying. It's about how ideals power business growth. For a great short video, click  here . For the book,  here .

The next business book I'm buying. It's about how ideals power business growth. For a great short video, click here. For the book, here.

Another Musical Interlude. Two guys with guitars, one an unusual classical seven string, one a bass, but playing chords.

After hearing my talk "True Success," people often ask me how I discovered what I call "The 7 Cs of Success." This new ebook, exclusively available on zolabooks.com, is the answer. In it, I carry on a dialogue with a sample of great thinkers who've understood the keys to life and business success. I go to  The Tao Te Ching, The Analects of Confucius , the letters of Cicero, and through the centuries. Click the cover to go see this book! And thanks for coming to visit!

After hearing my talk "True Success," people often ask me how I discovered what I call "The 7 Cs of Success." This new ebook, exclusively available on zolabooks.com, is the answer. In it, I carry on a dialogue with a sample of great thinkers who've understood the keys to life and business success. I go to The Tao Te Ching, The Analects of Confucius, the letters of Cicero, and through the centuries. Click the cover to go see this book! And thanks for coming to visit!

I memorized the "To be or not to be" soliloquy from Hamlet months ago, and recite it nearly daily. It's longer than you think, and is a powerful meditation on life and motivation, fear, and the unknown. To find some good 3 minute videos of actors performing these lines, click  here . Watch Branaugh and Gibson for very different takes.

I memorized the "To be or not to be" soliloquy from Hamlet months ago, and recite it nearly daily. It's longer than you think, and is a powerful meditation on life and motivation, fear, and the unknown. To find some good 3 minute videos of actors performing these lines, click here. Watch Branaugh and Gibson for very different takes.

This is a book I read recently, and it's one of the best I've read in years on happiness and success. Shawn helped teach the famous Harvard course on happiness, and brings the best of that research and more into this great book. Click on it. I think you'll like it!

This is a book I read recently, and it's one of the best I've read in years on happiness and success. Shawn helped teach the famous Harvard course on happiness, and brings the best of that research and more into this great book. Click on it. I think you'll like it!

A favorite performance of the great Brazilian bossa nova song Wave, by Tom Jobim. Notice Marjorie Estiano's fun, the older guitarist's passion, the flutist's zen. Marjorie's little laugh at the end says it all. That should be how we all feel about our work. Gladness. Joy.

I happened across this great book on death and life after death. Because of some uncanny experiences surrounding the death of her father and sister, this journalist began to research issues involving death. Her conclusions are careful and well documented. If you're interested in this topic, you'll find this book clear, fascinating, and helpful. A Must Read! For my recent conversation with the author on HuffPo, click  here .

I happened across this great book on death and life after death. Because of some uncanny experiences surrounding the death of her father and sister, this journalist began to research issues involving death. Her conclusions are careful and well documented. If you're interested in this topic, you'll find this book clear, fascinating, and helpful. A Must Read! For my recent conversation with the author on HuffPo, click here.

Henri discovers the first book about his unique philosophical ponderings. Click image for the short video.

Henri discovers the first book about his unique philosophical ponderings. Click image for the short video.

Just read this book, which was recommended by a friend. It's a great step by step account of how to build a public and social media platform for any service or product you have.

Just read this book, which was recommended by a friend. It's a great step by step account of how to build a public and social media platform for any service or product you have.

This is the only ebook version of my first presentation of the 7 Cs of Success, and is another ZolaBooks exclusive. It's now available in ebook form for the first time since its initial publication in 1994. See how all my practical philosophy got started! I still consult this book!

This is the only ebook version of my first presentation of the 7 Cs of Success, and is another ZolaBooks exclusive. It's now available in ebook form for the first time since its initial publication in 1994. See how all my practical philosophy got started! I still consult this book!

My favorite website to visit nearly every day. Maria Popova may read more and write more than any other human being on earth, and her reports are always amazingly interesting. This is really brain candy, but with serious nutritional benefits as well. Visit her often!

My favorite website to visit nearly every day. Maria Popova may read more and write more than any other human being on earth, and her reports are always amazingly interesting. This is really brain candy, but with serious nutritional benefits as well. Visit her often!

One of my newest talk topics is "Plato's Lemonade Stand: Stirring Change into Something Great." Based on the old adage, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade," this talk is about how to do exactly that. Inquire for my availability through the contact page above! Let's stir something up!

One of my newest talk topics is "Plato's Lemonade Stand: Stirring Change into Something Great." Based on the old adage, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade," this talk is about how to do exactly that. Inquire for my availability through the contact page above! Let's stir something up!

A frequent inspiration. Monday, 30, April 2012. Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli perform "Time to Say Goodbye." Notice how they indwell the lyrics, and still manage to relate to each other so demonstratively.

My friend Bill Powers writes on how to handle the technology in your life and stay sane. A beautiful meditation on how we've always struggled with the new new thing, and sometimes win. Recommended!

My friend Bill Powers writes on how to handle the technology in your life and stay sane. A beautiful meditation on how we've always struggled with the new new thing, and sometimes win. Recommended!

Above is a short video on finding fulfillment in anything you do, that was taped a few years ago. I hope you enjoy it!

This is a beautiful and difficult book on the odd relationship between repeated failure and eventual success. It's full of great stories and moments of meditation. You will find yourself teasing out the insights, but they're powerful and worth the work.

This is a beautiful and difficult book on the odd relationship between repeated failure and eventual success. It's full of great stories and moments of meditation. You will find yourself teasing out the insights, but they're powerful and worth the work.

One of the best books in the past year or more, G&T is a wonderful look at how givers can rise high. Grant is the youngest tenured professor at Wharton and its most popular teacher. Here, he shows why! A really good book.

One of the best books in the past year or more, G&T is a wonderful look at how givers can rise high. Grant is the youngest tenured professor at Wharton and its most popular teacher. Here, he shows why! A really good book.

The Core of Wisdom. Always. Seek This.