Don’t worry, she already got a juicy treat for this.
“Humans have it so difficult. They always stress, are always on the go, they certainly never roll in the mud,” is exactly what I imagine my dog saying to me if she could speak.
I am a proud owner of a Jack Russell terrier, or as she would put it, I am her personal butler. Naturally, we spent a lot of time together, and somehow without even realising it, she shows me everyday how I should live my life (my dog is a walking definition of beauty and brains).
These are some of the things she reminds me, without saying a single word (or rather, without a single bark):
1 Get excited about small things.
I can’t even count all the times that she would get ridiculously happy jumping into a fresh puddle or crazily wagging her tail after unsuccessfully chasing ducks in the local park. The same park that she’s been to a hundred times before and the same ducks that she’s been running after, day after day. And somehow I would always catch myself with a giddy smile looking at her, day after day. She teaches me to find something fun in mundane tasks, to live like everyday is an adventure.
2 Get excited about everyone.
No matter if you’re someone who lives with her, a neighbour with the best doggy treats, or someone she’s seen only twice in her life, she WILL get excited. Her tail will wag, her ears will lover and her eyes will shine. This is how humans should be — accepting of everyone, happy about the people we know and excited for the people we have yet to meet. The world would be a much better place.
3 Express your love to the people you love (just maybe don’t lick their face — or do, if they’re into it).
Don’t be afraid to let the people you love know you love them. When it comes to this, my dog knows no limitations, her pride is not an issue, any possible grudges or resentments don’t stop her. She shares puppy kisses with everyone. Don’t take people for granted, show them you care.
4 Sleep when you feel like sleeping, eat when you feel like eating, poop when you feel like pooping.
Ok, this one is pretty obvious, right? But with our crazy schedules we tend to forget what is actually fuelling us, our bodies. Take time to listen to it and its needs. Rest when you have to, move when your muscles need moving, eat when you’re hungry, not when it’s lunch break. Of course it won’t be possible to do it all the time, but at least trying is better than doing nothing.
5 Enjoy every day like it’s a new one.
Imagine yesterday got erased and tomorrow was too far away. Enjoy the present moment, without the burden of yesterday’s mistakes or regrets. Don’t wait for tomorrow, just be present, now, here, even while reading this. Become aware of your surroundings, any sounds, even your bad posture (straighten up:)). Take each day as a new opportunity. My dog certainly does.
Seriously, having any kind of pets has its ups and downs, but it’s so rewarding. The connections that can be built with them are beyond amazing. I am more than grateful that this little fella (sleeping currently next to me, dreaming of the ducks to chase) came into my life. Over time we became best friends, and trust me when I say this: our dearest pets can become our biggest teachers if we only give them the opportunity.
Before you go back to the main page, if you take away only one thing from this post, let it be this:
Enjoy life. It’s not as serious as we humans make it.
Green Bean 
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