My first thought when I wake up in the morning is usually:
“Ugh. I need to get up. Don’t open your eyes. Don’t open your eyes.”
Because if I open even one eye, they’ll know. And they do.
Buster immediately starts crawling toward me until his face is about an inch from mine, just to make absolutely sure I’m awake.
Milo’s butt starts wiggling, shaking the whole bed. Teddy stretches and does his old-man morning cough. Mikey walks the plank from my feet to my face. And JoJo? Tigger mode engaged. She’s bouncing up and down on all fours next to the bed.
“YAY! SHE WOKE UP!”
Everybody is VERY excited. Meanwhile, my brain has already started making a list. What do I need to do today?
I need to get the dogs outside, change into my daily uniform, make my awake tea, and somehow maneuver Mikey into the front room without letting him figure out what I’m doing.
Because Mikey loves going for a walk. Mikey does not love wearing a harness. And if he sees me get the harness, he’ll disappear behind the couch, adding a small hostage negotiation to a morning that already has a deadline.
Then I need to get everybody harnessed and out for their walk, get back home, feed the dogs, feed myself, unload the dishwasher, sort through the pile of mail, do some writing, and pick up the dumbbells that are staring at me because I still need to use them if I want to be able to open jars when I get old…all before I sit down and log in for work.
The dogs, meanwhile, wake up with a completely different agenda.
WOOHOO! EVERYBODY’S HERE! LET’S PARTY!
Within minutes, the Lollipop Guild is in full chaos mode, wrestling, chasing each other through the house, stealing toys, jumping on furniture, and celebrating the fact that everyone survived the night and we have all been blessed with another day.
Meanwhile, I’m standing there with my iced tea, trying to get some brain cells to spark, wondering how they have this much energy before sunrise.
But watching them, I have to say, I’m a little inspired.
Their joy is contagious. They don’t wake up thinking about everything they have to accomplish that day. They wake up excited about everything they already have.
Another day to play.
Another meal to eat.
Another walk.
Another ride in the truck.
All their favorite toys.
Another day with their favorite people.
Maybe that’s what they’re so excited about every morning. They aren’t thinking about what’s missing or what needs to get done. They’re just really happy to be here.
And when I look at my own morning that way, I have a pretty good list too.
I woke up to another day. I’m in a home with everything I need. There’s food in the fridge, people I love, and five furry faces that light up just because they see me.
Maybe I could take a page from their playbook. I don’t see myself doing zoomies around the living room at 5 a.m. But I could work on the enthusiasm.
Every morning doesn’t have to begin with everything I need to get done. Maybe it can begin with a little gratitude, with a sprinkle of enthusiasm and fun for the day ahead.
WOOHOO! EVERYBODY’S HERE! LET’S PARTY!
Anyway—Off We Go. 
