10 Things Dogs Teach Us About What Matters Most In Life

Dogs can teach us about a whole bunch of things if we are open and willing to learn. They come into our lives to teach us about love, they depart to teach us about loss. 

They have a way of finding the people who need them… and fills an emptiness we didn't even know we had.

Below is a wonderful article by Debbie Gisonni that we've found very insightful. Enjoy!

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“I've been around dogs since my childhood and have always loved being in the company of our four-legged friends. When I told my husband I wanted a dog, he wasn't too thrilled with the idea at first. I was traveling a lot for work at the time, and he knew he'd have most of the responsibility.

The compromise we made was to let him choose the breed. I wanted a small, non-shedding, off-leash dog. What we adopted, however, were three husky puppies. A large breed known for shedding and wandering.

And despite the years of constant vacuuming up dog hair, we loved the breed so much that when our original three passed away, we adopted two more huskies!

Our dogs have been a constant source of love and amusement, but even more so, they've taught us some of the greatest life lessons.

Here are 10 things dogs can teach us about what matters most in life:

1. Live in the moment.

Although dogs remember things like where the treats are kept, what street takes them home and who they've met before, they only access that information when they need it — in the moment.

Whether they're eating a bowl of kibble or chasing a ball, dogs live for the present moment. The past is gone; you can't do anything about it. The future is unknown. The only thing you can really enjoy and affect is the present moment.

picture by Moyan Brenn on Flickr
picture by Moyan Brenn on Flickr

2. Overcome fear with love.

There are plenty of stories about frightful, aggressive dogs who transformed into kind, gentle dogs after they were placed in a loving environment. Dogs can overcome their fear and insecurities through love, and so can humans.

Love truly does conquer all, and the first step for us is to love ourselves. If you can replace fear and self-criticism with self-love, no matter what situation you're in, life gets easier.

picture by Britt Selvitelle on Flickr
picture by Britt Selvitelle on Flickr

3. Don't hold grudges

A grudge is a feeling of resentment toward someone. It originates in our mind. Humans are probably the only species that holds a grudge. A dog will never be angry with you because you didn't give him a treat after dinner last night.

Holding a grudge weighs you down emotionally and keeps you from moving forward in life. Let grudges go and you will create your own personal freedom.

picture by Dippy Daloo on Flickr
picture by Dippy Daloo on Flickr

4. Play every day.

Dogs love to play, which usually involves lots of movement, whether it's running, chasing or jumping. This is a good reminder for us to play and move our bodies every day as well.

Playing opens up your mind and spirit to all kinds of new ideas and creativity. It's a needed break from the constant 24/7 work environment. And if you can exercise while you play, even better.

Dogs actually give you a reason to get out and go walking, hiking, running, biking or even Rollerblading. (Although, I wouldn't recommend Rollerblading if you have dogs that pull like I do. Very fun for them. Very scary for you!)

picture by Jim Sher on Flickr
picture by Jim Sher on Flickr

5. Jump for joy when you're happy.

Have you ever seen a dog circling around or jumping up and down at the thought of getting a treat or chasing a ball? Wouldn't it be fun if we could all jump around when we're excited about something?

We live life so fast that we often forget to get excited and celebrate the good times because we're already on to the next thing.

We live in a miraculous world where the sun comes up every day, flowers bloom and seasons change. There is much to jump for joy about.

picture by BeachcombersNW on Flickr
picture by BeachcombersNW on Flickr

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One thought on “10 Things Dogs Teach Us About What Matters Most In Life

  1. Just read 10 Things Dogs Teach Us About What Matters Most In Life! So very true and inspiring! Would Love To Share This On Facebook Connecting loving animals with caring and loving people, this was beautifully said.

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