Mr. Cooper the Pug
Chief Peace & Belonging Officer Emeritusā¢
One way to keep the Spirit of Cooperā¢ alive is through a gentle blessing card inspired by his presence ā a pocket reminder of peace, belonging, and unconditional regard. A portion of proceeds supports pug and animal rescue organizations.
A Legacy of Presence
Cooper lived a life defined by simple truths ā the ones our busy,
overworked systems so often forget:
Presence is more powerful than performance.
Rest is a form of leadership.
Belonging begins with being seen just as you are.
Love doesnāt need language; it needs attention.
He reminded me ā gently and daily ā
that belonging is not an outcome metric.
True belonging is a felt sense.
It emerges when someone chooses to stay close,
even (and especially) when life is heavy, quiet, or uncertain.
Darkness or light.
Ride or die.
One āgā in pug. Two in belonging.
Coop with two oās ā a finite loop, infinite belonging.
That was his language. Pug truths lived and loved.
His āJob Description,ā
Now in Legacy Status
Holding space beside, under, and behind my desk chair ā and his favorite directly on my lap ā reminding me to breathe while I typed.
Offering unconditional companionship through every season of transition.
Snoring just loudly enough to signal that rest is sacred ā not a luxury, but a necessity.
Teaching (and without ever trying to) that leadership is a relationship, not a rƩsumƩ.
Modeling a peaceful, grounded presence that shapes HeartWiredā¢ principles and programs.
Why He Lives On in This Work
So much of the HeartWiredā¢ ecosystem carries traces of what Cooper modeled:
Gentleness
Patience
Warmth
Non-judgment
Unconditional regard
Deep loyalty
A refusal to rush the soul
He was the quiet proof that leadership does not have to be loud to be life-changing.
His passing marked the end of one chapter ā but not the end of his influence.
His legacy ā belonging as presence, peace, and companionship ā is etched into so many parts of me and the work you see and learn from here. Framework. Rituals. Offerings. Every breath I ask leaders to take before they pour themselves into others.
This is my small way of honoring a small but mighty giant ā in my world and in my life.
Past, present, and future.
āFeet down, paws up, souls meet, root deep.ā
Rest in Peace and Belonging ā Mr. Cooper Looper the Pug
April 4, 2012 ā November 17, 2025
Every movement has an origin story.
Mine begins with a 20-pound give-or-take soul companion fawn fur.
Mr. Cooper ā lovingly known as the Peace Pug for Belonging ā served as my lifelong co-pilot, resident therapist, and the quiet heartbeat behind the start of The Leadership Alchemistā¢ and HeartWiredā¢.
Though he has since given his final breath of peace, his presence and peace-centered spirit remain stitched into the tapestry of this work.
Cooper wasnāt just beside me.
He was with me ā in the deepest, soul-level way that only animals who love us into wholeness know how to do.