Since a list is usually the best way to get organized, that’s how we started.
I scribbled out a dozen or more bullet points – by hand in an actual notepad because I’m old fashioned that way – and then I read each one through.
These were all the important reasons we started RUFFLY and things I care a lot about, but none was the thing that really matters. So, I tossed the pen down and called for Whimsy who perked and tilted her head the way shepherds do.
We went outside and walked into the field behind the house. I hurled her Mother Hucker deep into the bush and she bolted off to chase it down.
The breeze rose, the leaves rustled, and I noticed something else.
My mind emptied of worries and, for just those few moments there together, things slowed down.
It’s that same feeling I get picking vegetables from the garden and collecting eggs from the coop. It’s like enjoying a quiet drink on the porch and piling sticks to light a fire.
That’s when I realized the real reason we started making craftsman dog gear, the thing I didn’t have words for before.
RUFFLY slows things down.
Expert craftsmanship is what makes something everyday tough and dependable. These timeless values become more valuable the faster the world turns.
It’s a world that spins at electron speeds, spurred faster by algorithms and AI that dish up personalized ads so we buy more things we don’t need to be happy.
This isn’t a rejection of the modern world because we need these things to keep the lights on and clean water flowing from the tap. It’s how we build bridges and cure diseases.
But just for a moment – and for something as everyday important as my dog’s leash and collar and fetch toy – things move at a human pace.
RUFFLY slows things down so we can enjoy the special moments in this one extraordinary life together.
