On Being Happy: Lessons I Learned From My Dog

One of my dear friends calls me a dog. In a good way. I take it as a compliment.

And I’ve had a good teacher. My old buddy, my happy dog, Beau (yes, that’s him as a younger pup in the picture) has taught me more than a few life lessons in the past ten years. Beau teaches by example and everyday he reminds me to keep things in perspective.

1.  Grab every opportunity to fully engage in life…always say yes to a walk (or a car ride, for that matter), no matter what the time of day or the weather…you never know what grand adventure lies ahead.

2.  When given a choice between playing fetch, eating or hanging out on the couch – play fetch!

3.  High self-esteem and humility go hand in hand.

4.  Ego gets in the way. Let it go.

• Physical appearance isn’t all that; but attitude is everything.
• Age doesn’t matter. Stop counting.
• Don’t take anything personally; it’s never about you.
• Feeling sorry for yourself is a waste of time.
• Never hold a grudge.
• And the point of worrying about the future or ruminating about the past is…what, exactly?

5.  Give yourself completely to the moment, each moment.

6.  Gladly welcome others into your pack.

7.  Love them unconditionally.

8.  When given a choice, choose happiness (and you always have a choice).

Be a dog-
Jess