Because a leaf moved.
Some days, walking your dog might feel like a chore. Something to get over with. But then you notice that he is having a completely different experience.
"Wait. This leaf. This exact leaf. Something incredible has happened here."
And I'm like, it's a leaf.
But to him, that little leaf is a story. Who walked by? Another dog or a squirrel? How long ago? Did they pee? How is their health? Is this my lucky day? He is gathering intel about the neighborhood.
Breaking news in the bush
Every few feet, it's the same thing with Simba. "Why are you so invested in that bush?" I want to say. But for Simba, it's breaking news in the bush.
It starts with the smells but doesn't just end there. It's everything. The way the wind shifts. A faint sound in the distance. The crackle of gravel under his paws.
All of that stuff I filter out instantly. I think it's "not important." But he hasn't made that decision. I've categorized things. This is worth my attention. That's not. But to him, it could go either way. And somehow that turns his random sidewalk into an adventure.
My perfect mindfulness instructor
I'm not saying we must all start sniffing trees. That would escalate quickly. But it does make me wonder what I've trained myself to ignore. And instead, spend too much time with a wandering mind.
"While I'm getting my 5000 steps, beside me is my dog, my perfect mindfulness instructor, having his best day ever — because a leaf moved."
Amiot CE, Quervel-Chaumette M, Gagné C, Bastian B. An experimental study focusing on mindfulness to capture how our contacts with dogs can promote human well-being. Sci Rep. 2025;15(1):23202.
Sia is a high school student who started PAW Perspective because she believes mental health conversations don't have to be clinical or boring.
