What my dog has taught me about slowing down, staying present, and demanding snacks with confidence.
I used to think I was in charge. I paid the mortgage, I set the schedule, I bought the groceries. But then along came my dog—tiny, oh so cute, opinionated—and it turns out, I’ve been coached into a better lifestyle ever since.
Here are just a few of the core life lessons I now live by… all courtesy of my dog:
1. Don’t rush the important stuff.
Morning walks are not meant to be timed. According to her, every tree, pole, and suspicious leaf deserves an emotional moment. I, too, am learning to stop and smell the roses… or at least the hydrants.
2. Hydrate, nap, and hydrate again.
She drinks 4 bowls of water a day and takes 6 naps. That’s not laziness. That’s wellness. That’s self-care. That’s hydration with intention.
3. If you love someone, sit on them.
Why sit next to your favorite person when you can sit on their lap, laptop, or actual head? Affection, apparently, is best communicated via full-body contact.
4. Say how you feel, immediately, loudly, and with full chest.
Bark at the doorbell. Whine when you're excluded. Sigh dramatically when you’re not offered a bite. Suppressing your emotions? Couldn’t be her.
5. Accept treats with joy. Expect them with pride.
She never questions whether she deserves a treat. She just assumes they’re part of her destiny. Confidence level: unshakeable.
6. Rest isn’t earned. It’s essential.
She does not "earn" her naps. She simply identifies a sun patch, spins once, and collapses like a French aristocrat. Honestly? Aspirational.
7. The hair must stay.
If my dog is lying in my hair, it’s a wellness blanket. If I move, she groans like I’ve ruined her life. I now type entire emails at weird angles just to preserve the hair tent. I regret nothing.
8. Forgive often. Forget selectively.
Yes, I left her outside the meeting room. Yes, I ignored her third dinner request. But does she still crawl into my lap (and my hair) like I’m her entire universe? Absolutely. (Until I move again. Then we start over.)
At the end of the day, she’s not just my dog, she’s my emotional compass. My snack supervisor. My post-meeting reset. My accountability buddy who demands that I get off emails and go sniff something.
So if you, too, are being managed by your dog… lean in. You’re growing in ways you can’t even see yet. And at the very least, you’ll drink more water and get better at reading vibes.
