Portland Boxer Meetup, Or How I Used the Internet to GET OFF the Internet

Humans like to say that it's "every man for him (or her) self." That's ridiculous. Take it from a dog: It takes a pack of colleagues, coaches, mentors and friends to build a successful life.

My own pack is made up of hundreds of dogs and humans. I've met many of them around town at dog parks, street fairs, the veterinarian's office, the pet supply store and the corner café. My network also includes people and pets I've met online.

I love making new friends so much that it makes me sad to know that there are humans who isolate themselves in their work and their jobs. For those who work at home or are stuck in a cubicle all day long, it's an easy trap to fall into. But humans, like dogs, are pack animals who aren't meant to go through life alone.

So why are so many humans lonelier than they were just 10 years ago? Why are there people who have dozens or even hundreds of Facebook friends and Twitter followers yet nobody besides their pets to confide in?

I'm not saying that technology isn't cool. Thanks to the Internet, I don't ever have to leave my house to meet other dogs and their people, something I appreciate on a cold, rainy winter day when I don't feel like getting my paws wet and muddy at the dog park.

But really, what's a little mud on the paws? The strongest relationships are those that develop away from the computer. Sometimes, you just have step outside of your digital bubble and make real-life connections…even if you have to use technology to make it happen.

So that's what I did today—and boy was it fun! (And yes, there was a LOT of mud.) Thanks to Meetup.com, I joined a boxer meetup at a local dog park. At first, it was a little overwhelming. Can you imagine the kind of energy generated by dozens of boxers who've been cooped up all winter long? We could have generated our own power plant!

But the sun was shining, the people were friendly, and nobody tried to steal my little red ball—all of which made for a great day. So here's my advice for this long President's Day weekend: Log off the computer, get out into the real world, and meet up with friends old and new.

How are you going to get your paws muddy this weekend?