“`html

Dr. Greg DeLoach of Mercer University shares a personal anecdote about learning the practice of gratitude from Annie, a rescue dog he met as a puppy at a farmers market. Coverage from Bethebossdogtraining has highlighted this story.

The reflection matters because it reframes gratitude as a habit observed in everyday encounters: DeLoach describes Annie as engaging the world with curiosity and joy, turning ordinary sights and smells into occasions for wonder. That lesson, he writes, has shaped how he thinks about being present and appreciative.

DeLoach introduces Annie as a rescue: part boxer, part pit bull, picked up from a shelter by a rescue organization along with her sisters. Note that details about Annie’s breed and rescue are based solely on DeLoach’s account, not corroborated by independent sources. The broader scene in his piece centers on seven animals related to that rescue, with Annie becoming the one dog who accompanied him long term and taught the practical observations he shares. Reporting by Olk9Md offers additional detail on this case.

He first met Annie at a farmers market when she was a couple of months old, and he says she approached each moment with full attention. This is a personal narrative, as there is no external confirmation of the event. DeLoach notes how she reacted to small things—scented paths, passing insects, visiting squirrels—as if each encounter were newly given, a pattern he reads as a form of gratitude embodied in routine behavior.

That approach echoes ideas from contemplative traditions. Benedictine monk David Steindl-Rast is quoted in the piece saying, “the one thing that unites all persons everywhere is that we all want to be happy.” He adds a connected observation, “it is not that gratitude comes from happiness, but that when we are grateful, we are happy.” DeLoach uses those lines to link a theological frame to the simple, observable habits of his dog.

The account is grounded in small scenes rather than formal argument: DeLoach describes Annie thoroughly smelling anything new or different, taking pleasure in butterflies and even showing amazement at bumblebees. Those moments are presented as practices anyone can notice and, if attended to, adopt—lessons offered without prescriptive commands but with clear examples drawn from daily life with a pet. As covered by Psychologytoday, readers can explore more context around the event.

Writers and commentators have explored similar territory. Psychology Today has discussed how dogs model mindfulness and an attitude of gratitude, and outlets such as iHeartDogs list practical examples of how canine behavior can prompt appreciation in people. DeLoach’s piece joins that conversation from his perspective as an author and academic, using personal anecdote to make the case that attentive, grateful living is learnable.

The rescue organization that brought Annie and her sisters from the shelter is a key actor in the origin story; without that intervention, DeLoach writes, those small, transformative moments would not have occurred. He frames the relationship with Annie as reciprocal: the dog engaged the world openly, and that openness taught him how to notice and receive ordinary gifts.

DeLoach’s reflection is presented as a personal essay rather than a policy argument. He uses Annie’s behavior to illustrate a wider point about human flourishing—how small shifts in attention can alter mood and outlook—and he credits the rescued dog for prompting those shifts in his own life.

Where the piece stands now is as a first-person reflection published through Mercer University by Dr. Greg DeLoach, linking the everyday presence of a pet to broader conversations about gratitude and happiness. The essay recommends no formal program; it simply invites readers to pay closer attention, following the example of a dog who treated each encounter as a gift.

Source

Original reporting: view the original article.

“`