5 Ways To Be A Friend – via Bogey!

Two years ago, despite my stance, we bought a dog.  We didn’t just buy a “dog” we bought a Coton.  You can look it up if you want.

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/cotondetulear.htm

I knew I was in trouble when I had to go to the AIRPORT to pick him up!  This should have been my first clue that something was out of the ordinary.  What happened to the local pet store?

In the last two years I have learned a lot from Bogey.  The main thing is something that we can all take with us into our FRIENDSHIPS.  Bogey is a lot of things – but one thing he is for sure is a good friend.

Here are my 5 Bogey Take-a-ways that we can all steal and be better friends because of them:

• Walks.  Have you ever asked a friend to meet you for a walk?  I know, we meet people for coffee and lunch all the time.  How about a walk?  There is something about a walk that is renewing, refreshing, and exhilarating.  Try it.  I have met people many times for a walk, and it seems to make for even better conversation.  Thanks to my friend Bogey – I have taken a lot more walks than I did before.

• Huge Greetings. We can be gone for 15 minutes or 15 days and Bogey will give the greatest GREETING!  He jumps, sniffs, licks, and hugs.  It makes you feel super special that he missed you that much.  I mean, I just went to the store . . . Think about when you see your friends, or talk to them on the phone.  Give them a GREETING.  I just received a letter from our friend Father Rock. His greeting in the letter alone was so thoughtful.

• Is a “Come With” guy.  It doesn’t matter what we are doing — weeding, dishes, selling lemonade, vacuuming, talking on the phone – Bogey wants to just be around and be WITH you in that moment.  It is incredibly encouraging how he is just always THERE.  One of my old bosses would come to town and say, “I just want to be with you.”  He would help me drive kids to school, sit with Marni and I and have coffee, and honestly just want to be IN our lives.  Obviously, he was not just a boss, but a great friend.  See what your friends are doing, and go do it with them!

• Listens.  Bogey never interrupts.  Bogey never has a story “topper.”  Bogey never says, “Well, when I was a kid.”  Bogey just listens with his big black eyes.  He will hear me say what I think about things, he will sit next to me, he will look at ME when I am talking and he never checks his cell phone.  There is a lot to be said for this listening thing.  Bogey has it down solid!  How about you?  I know I can use more Bogey lessons.

• Believes good about all people.  Bogey wants to meet every person we seem to encounter.  He seems to believe good in everyone.  He has yet to be jaded by life.  I love this.  The other thing I have learned from Bogey is that he is a “connector.”  It is because of Bogey that I have met a large number of people and those people’s friends.  I think as friends we need to remember to connect our friends with each other, and speak well and believe well of others.  It’s just another Bogey lesson.

Take it from me . . . I need to continue to learn how to be a good friend.  Here is one for the road.  I told someone a few months ago two things:  Where I like to have my solitude time, and one prayer request.  This friend is amazing — he has checked in on THOSE TWO THINGS every week for 6 weeks.  It means he is praying for them, he remembers them, and he LISTENED to me.  I think I might change his name — maybe start calling my friend Brent, Bogey.  What do you think?

Have a great day!  Go be a Bogey!

Eric