Every morning, when Maria and I go out together to do the morning chores, our dogs – Red, Fate, and Bud – gather at the door. They have been outside for awhile, have eaten, and are eager to start their day.

For each of the dogs, work means something different. Bud rushes to inspect every stone or wall or hole where he has spotted a mouse or chipmunk, he makes a wide run around the pasture.

Fate is eager to do her beautiful outruns around and around the sheep while steering clear of them and making sure she hasn’t annoyed any of them, or forced them to do anything they don’t want to do. In return, the sheep ignore her, as long as she doesn’t get too close..

Red has a different idea about the role of the sheep dog, he takes his position as Chief Dog, staring at the sheep, daring them to defy them, even as he struggles with his health.

The dogs are trained to “wait.” I don’t believe in having “push” dogs, dogs that rush ahead of us. They are trained to wait until Maria and I are out of the door or turn and release them with the command, “let’s go to work,” or “okay, dogs, go.”

Their eagerness and enthusiasm are inspiring to me, and they infuse me with a strong desire to get to work and begin the work week or the work day.

I try to start my day like my dogs, and it works for me, it focuses me, engages me, inspires me to accomplishing something meaningful, every day of my life.