Move Past the Past: Mental Health Lessons from Doug the “Depressed” Dog and Euphoria of Today
- Bruce Schutter
- Mar 21
- 6 min read
Early that morning, I heard the slow, defeated paw steps dragging across my porch. I opened the door, and there he was — Doug the “Depressed” Dog.
Doug is Marvin the “Mental Health Warrior” Cat’s friend. But where Marvin is all sarcastic tail flicks and emotional kettlebell curls, Doug is… well, more like an emotionally exhausted throw blanket.
Soulful eyes. A permanent allergy to enthusiasm. Think Eeyore with fur and droopy ears — but with a surprising gift for deep insight that sneaks up on you like a quiet thunderstorm.
“I heard you wrote a book,” Doug said, settling onto the welcome mat like it was his emotional support mattress.
“I’ve written a few,” I said. “Which one?”
“The one about… living in today?” he said. “Marvin told me it might help me stop chasing ghosts and living in the past in my head.”
Ah yes — Euphoria of Today.
The book about breaking free from the past… and finding power in the present.
The Warrior Path Forward
Doug’s no stranger to my story. He knows I spent 20 years battling Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD. He knows there was a time when my past felt like an anchor tied to my chest — every step forward dragged down by mistakes, trauma and regret.
And he knows those battles left me feeling so powerless that I tried to end my life. But in that darkness, I discovered something life-changing: Mental health is the key to overcoming any challenge.
With that truth, I created the Mental Health Warrior Program — a bold SELF-HELP approach that puts YOU in charge, so you can take control of your emotions, triumph over challenges and build the life you really want.
One of the most powerful tools in that program is what I call the Practice of Mindfulness of Today — and it became the foundation of my book Euphoria of Today.
Doug looked at me with eyes that said, I’m listening… but I can’t promise enthusiasm.
The Warrior Practice: Mindfulness of Today
I poured us both herbal tea. Doug added a splash of peanut butter — don’t ask.
“Doug, the past is a tricky beast,” I began. “You can’t change it, but it sure tries to control you. What I’ve learned is this: the only place you can actually live, act and change anything is today.”
Doug blinked slowly, his voice heavy. “So… I should just ignore the past?”
“Not ignore it,” I said. “Accept it. Learn from it. Then shift your focus and energy to today.”
Doug looked down into his mug like it might contain ancient emotional wisdom.
So I shared three real-life ways I use this practice to move past the past — and into the power of today.
Example 1: Forgive Yourself and Move Forward
“I used to obsess over what I did wrong in the past — the relapses, the relationships I damaged, the missed opportunities. I replayed them like a broken record I couldn’t shut off. I beat myself up so badly I could barely function.
But then I realized something simple and life-changing: regret doesn’t fix the past — it only poisons the present. If I put that same energy into what I could do today, I could actually move forward.
So instead of drowning in regret, I started choosing small, helpful actions. I reached out to someone I hurt just to check in. I showed up consistently where I used to disappear. I kept promises I once broke. Those actions didn’t erase the past — but they helped me build a future I could be proud of.
That’s how forgiveness works: it’s not pretending mistakes didn’t happen. It’s refusing to let them chain you down forever.”
Doug's Takeaway:
Doug scratched his ear thoughtfully, staring at the porch rail like it held the answers.
“I once barked so aggressively at the mailman that he switched routes. Whole neighborhood had to get used to a new guy because of me.”
He sighed, his droopy ears practically brushing the ground.
“I’ve felt awful about it ever since. Every time I hear the sound of mailboxes clanking shut, it’s like a little stab in my chest. Maybe instead of lying inside all day staring at the door, I could sit outside and wag my tail — show him I’m not that dog anymore.
One wag today won’t undo the bark from yesterday, but it starts something better.”
I nodded. “Exactly, Doug. That’s the Warrior way. Forgiveness isn’t a free pass — it’s a choice to stop living in yesterday so you can actually live today.”
Example 2: Let Go of What You Can’t Control
“There were so many things I tried to fix that were beyond my power. I stayed up at night replaying arguments I couldn’t change, rewriting conversations in my head and fantasizing about perfect outcomes that never happened. I thought if I obsessed enough, maybe I could bend reality to my will.
But all it did was exhaust me. I was carrying burdens that were never mine to carry.
Now, when I feel myself spiraling into that trap, I stop and ask: What can I actually do today? I can go for a walk. I can write something that might help someone else. I can take care of my body so it has the strength to keep going.
Those small, real actions may not change the whole world — but they change my world today. And that’s where victory starts.”
Doug's Takeaway:
Doug let out a long sigh that sounded suspiciously like a groan. “I’ve been chewing the same emotional bone for six years,” he said. “Carry it everywhere. Gnaw it at night. Growl if anyone tries to take it. It’s exhausting.”
He rested his head on his paws. “Maybe it’s time to bury it already. Not because it fixes the past — it doesn’t. But burying it means I get to nap in the sun instead of dragging it around all day. And honestly? That feels like something I can actually control.”
I smiled. “Exactly, Doug. Sometimes the strongest Warrior move is knowing when to drop the bone and focus on what you can do today.”
Example 3: Choose Joy on Purpose
“Joy doesn’t just show up — especially when you’re used to chaos. For years, I waited for happiness to magically appear, like it was a reward I hadn’t earned yet. But joy isn’t something you wait for. It’s something you choose on purpose.
Through practicing Mindfulness of Today, I started finding joy in the simple things right in front of me — how my diet soda tastes on a hot afternoon, how good it feels to cross something off my list and how much I actually enjoy the stillness of quiet mornings.
And the more I chose those moments of joy, the less space there was for the past to rent in my head. Joy didn’t erase the pain, but it reminded me that life is bigger than the struggle.”
Doug's Takeaway:
Doug stretched, his ears flopping lazily. “I enjoy rolling in fresh grass,” he said. “Haven’t done it in years. Maybe it’s time to ruin someone’s lawn and reclaim some joy.”
I laughed. “That’s the spirit, Doug. Sometimes choosing joy really is that simple.”
Wrap Up
By the time we finished our tea, Doug looked a little lighter. His ears perked up. He even offered a half-tail wag — which, in Doug language, is basically a full-on dance party.
“I think your book Euphoria of Today will really help me move past the past!”
I nodded and handed him my copy. “It saved my life. And it gave me something I hadn’t felt in a long time: hope.”
Doug stared at the cover for a long moment. “Guess it’s time I learned how to be happy where my paws are… in today.”
So if you’ve been struggling under the weight of your past, start here:
Forgive one mistake.
Let go of one thing you can’t control.
Choose one small joy today.
Because the way out of yesterday… is to live in TODAY.
Bruce Schutter ⚔️
Every day is a chance to choose strength — because YOU'RE IN CHARGE!
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