05/29/2026
Life lessons taught by a dog.
Greet everyone like you’re happy to see them. Even if you saw them 10 minutes ago. Especially if you saw them 10 minutes ago. Nobody has ever been mad about being greeted with too much enthusiasm.
Eat when you’re hungry. Stop when you’re done. Don’t think about it 4 hours later. Don’t feel guilty about it. Don’t write it down. Just eat and move on like a normal creature.
Go outside every day. Not because someone told you to. Because the door opened and outside was there and that was enough of a reason.
Nap without apology. In the middle of the day. On the floor. On the couch. Wherever you drop. No alarm. No guilt. No justification. Just rest because your body said so.
Shake it off. Literally. Something bothered you. You shook your whole body. It’s over. You moved on. You didn’t replay it at midnight. You didn’t text anyone about it. You shook and it was done.
Stay close to the people you love. Not across the room. Not in the next room. Right next to them. Touching if possible. Your people are here and you should be where they are.
Be honest about what you want. If you want to go outside, go to the door. If you want attention, put your head in someone’s lap. If you want food, sit by the bowl and stare. No hinting. No performing. Just clear, direct communication.
Get excited about the small things. The walk. The treat. The car ride. The ball. None of these are new. You’ve done all of them a thousand times. They’re still exciting. Every single time.
Forgive immediately. Someone stepped on your foot. Someone forgot to feed you on time. Someone left you alone longer than they said they would. You forgave all of it the moment they walked back through the door.
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, bark. If someone feels wrong, don’t go near them. If something feels right, lean in with your whole body.
Don’t hold grudges. It’s a waste of energy you could be spending on a nap or a walk or staring out a window at absolutely nothing for 20 minutes which is also a valid use of time.
Be loyal to your people. Not everyone. Your people. The ones who feed you, walk you, and sit with you when it’s quiet. Those are the ones who matter. Everyone else is just someone you sniff and move on from.
Drink water when you’re thirsty. Don’t overthink it. Don’t schedule it. Don’t buy a special bottle. Just drink it when your body says so and then go lie down somewhere sunny.
Sit with someone who’s sad. You don’t need to fix it. You don’t need to say anything. Just be there. Put your body next to their body. That’s enough. That’s always been enough.
My dog has never read a book, attended a seminar, or listened to a podcast. She figured all of this out on her own and she’s been right about every single one since the day I brought her home.
