iDog by Erika D.

Some things are valued more or less for certain people. Some may value absolutely nothing, and have everything, while some can have nothing and value everything. “Priceless” may have a different definition to each person, and all that matters is what value means to you. We all are different individuals, and I am one person who values the things that life gives you.

***

The music pounds through my ears in time with my footsteps. One lap to go, and the third song ends. A faster song, and my pace quickens. Good, I can end hard. As I finish, I pull my headphones off, breathing heavy with the effort of running. Still in my hand, the music plays to the air itself, allowing only parts of the song to be caught.

My iPod is something that I use every day, and I would not survive without it. Music helps me to focus when I am running, doing homework, or reading. I can use it to block out the world around me, and to only hear the music, helping my concentration. When I’m running, I like to use my iPod because it gives me a focus point other than my heavy breathing. When doing homework, studying, or reading, I use my iPod to block out the distracting sounds of my family around me. This way, I do not focus on the conversations they are having, and can easily complete the work that I need to.

Music is also something that I use to relax. When I’m in my room, I can’t stand the room to be so quiet. I automatically go over to my radio and turn on my iPod so the music fills the room.

When I’m in a bad mood, I go to my room and blast the music, and it usually helps to calm me down. By focusing on the music instead of what it is that’s bothering me, I can easily forget why I was so upset, and relax. Or just being able to shut myself off from the world by turning it up so loud that I can’t hear much of anything else always helps with a bit. This gives me time on my own so that my mood will not worsen.

My iPod is of such value that I would not willingly give it up. It is a fairly pricey item, and it was an expensive gift for me to receive. The usage it gets has worn it down, but in a better way. It is different nearly every week, with new songs being added, different songs getting overplayed, and still others that are forgotten. I enjoy listening to my music, and I find it soothing and relaxing.

***

I walk in the door and my dog immediately runs to me. I bend down and she jumps up and begins to lick my face. I laugh and push her down. Her tail wagging, she runs a circle around me and jumps back into my lap. Still going crazy, she does not sit still, and she speeds off in another direction as I try to pet her. Grabbing her toy and standing up catches her attention, and she races back to me, silently begging for me to throw the toy and begin a game. I toss it down the hall and watch her nearly trip over herself in the attempt to get to it.

My dog’s name is Sophie, and we just got her in August. She loves us, and we love her. Spending time with her is priceless to me. I love to see her perky little ears go up at the sight of me, and her excitement when I play with her.

She has a lot of energy for such a small creature, and she loves it when I take the time to play, and help her release some of that energy. Finally she has learned that playing fetch involves bringing back the ball, and that is her favorite game. I love it when she thinks she is so tough and decides to growl or bark at her toys. These times I can do nothing but laugh, and to continue with her silly ideas of games.

Her little tail never stops, nor does her curiosity. Getting into trouble is a favorite pastime of hers. I’m usually the one who has to get her out of that trouble, but I never have the heart to yell at her. She’s just too cut to yell at, and just by preoccupying her, she usually forgets about whatever it was that was getting her into trouble. She can always make me smile, and the times I spend with her are priceless.

***

My iPod and my dog. Two very different things, which normally I would never classify together. Besides the fact that my dog enjoys chewing my headphones, they interact in no way. And yet, I know that I think of them both as items of importance in my life.

Value has many different meanings, but it is all about what value means to you. To me, value is what you enjoy, and what you feel that you could not live without. I could never live without my dog, and I would be devastated if I ever lost my iPod. Together, they are only a fraction of what I value in life, but that is enough for me.