Nelson, my guru

Nelson is my special story.

A special soul that came into my life and turned it upside down.

Before his arrival, I thought I had my life somewhat figured out and that I knew myself pretty well. But looking back now, I realize that important lessons arrived wrapped up with my furry companion.

When you think: “Everything is calm and in order now”, a new challenge and a new step on your growth journey are already on their way.

Through the decisions we make, whether consciously or unconsciously, we choose the path of our growth. I wanted a chocolate Labrador, and that’s how Nelson walked into our lives.

Nelson is a playful soul who reacts to everything with immense excitement. His happiness and energy have literally thrown me to the ground. When 37 kilos pull with full force and you end up flying through the air before hitting the ground, that’s the kind of scene you usually see in movies. You don’t want it to become part of your everyday life. But, as with everything in life, there is always another side of the story, and that’s what I want to share with you.

In the title, I wrote that Nelson is my guru. The word guru in Sanskrit is made of two syllables: GU (darkness, ignorance) and RU (light). A guru is a teacher who disperses darkness and illuminates the path.

For me, Nelson’s arrival was like welcoming a first child—an entirely new life dynamic. A shift in priorities, constant adaptation, a test of patience and resilience, and a huge dose of love. I don’t claim that a pet is the same as a child, but there are similarities, because pets are our furry family members.

When I watched Nelson jumping around, excited beyond belief, I often asked myself:

• What am I meant to learn from this situation?

• Why did I get exactly this kind of dog?

• What is his mission in my life?

Almost five years later, I know the answers. Nelson came to teach me:

1. To let go of control and accept

   I never know how he’ll react when we go outside. Will he pull, jump, or meet a dog that excites him? Instead of fear and control, I’ve been learning to surrender and trust that we’ll handle whatever comes our way. And still, I don’t leave everything to trust alone, we train regularly with lots of treats, and I’m happy to notice the progress.

2. Unconditional love

   Even when I was angry, sad, or frustrated, he would always be there, wagging his tail with joy.

3. Patience

   Whenever I was in a rush, that’s when he would slow down. Dogs feel our energy and emotions, and he taught me to slow down too, reminding me that nothing will slip away and not everything has to happen immediately.

4. The impermanence of life.

Dogs live shorter than we do, and precisely because of that, they teach us to cherish every moment and enjoy it fully.

Did you know that pets choose their owners just as children choose their parents? We may think we choose them, but on the soul level it isn’t quite so. Everything has a purpose and a reason. Relationships between parents and children are often charged with emotion for that same reason because lessons and growth need to flow in both directions.

Today I know that Nelson’s nature wasn’t the only challenge, it was also my lack of knowledge and experience on how to handle a dog with such a strong temperament. I later learned that chocolate Labradors can be more challenging for their owners compared to yellow or black ones. And it’s important to know, if you’re considering a Labrador, that not all of them are like the ones you see in commercials or guiding blind people. For service dogs, trainers specifically select calmer Labradors which then have countless hours of consistent training with professionals.

Because of his lively, playful spirit, I’ve been thinking lately about changing Nelson’s name. Admiral Nelson doesn’t quite suit him. He’s more of a Pablo, free, playful, and always ready for a new adventure. What do you think, Nelson or a Pablo?

Pets are our teachers, our friends, and our mirrors. If we open our hearts, they gift us unconditional love and wisdom.

Thank you, my furry guru ❤️

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