I love dogs. I grew up playing with my family's dogs, my friends' dogs, stray dogs—I have always loved all the dogs. But it wasn't until I got my very own dog at 21-years-old that I realized there's an awful lot of wisdom in those puppy paws.
1. Always cherish sleep.
When I first got Fish at eight-weeks-old, I learned to sleep when I could in preparation for when he was awake. His baby bladder meant potty breaks every hour on the hour even in the latest hours of the night. But watching him has taught me to enjoy whatever sleep I can catch. He's taught me to sleep where I can, when I can, for as long as I can. According to Fish, power naps can cure anything from a bad day to losing a favorite toy.
2. It's OK to be goofy.
I'm an introvert by nature. Socializing takes a lot out of me and I often find myself feeling very self-conscious in front of people. But Fish reminds me on a daily basis to suck it up. He's constantly fumbling, tripping over nothing and running into things. Watching his spastic play reassures me that by tomorrow, in a week, a month from now, no one is going to care about that really funny and completely embarrassing thing I did. That is, if they even noticed in the first place.
3. There's a difference between listening and hearing.
I've always been bad about giving people half of my attention. Fish has his moments of hearing but not listening, too. He'll take a step when I say "stay" or he'll lay down on the bed when I tell him to get off the bed. Be that as it may, he also has a great habit of putting one ear up when he's listening to me; he tilts his head when he's really listening. These are the times that remind me to have meaningful conversations with people. Listening to the words coming out of mouths instead of just blindly hearing them leads to less miscommunication and a better quality of connection with other individuals.
4. Everything's better with a buddy.
In case you haven't caught on by now, Fish is the textbook example of an extrovert. He has a I-have-to-say-hi-to-everyone attitude that has resulted in his running across the park to meet new pups and even jumping in strangers' cars just to say hello. He's not a bad dog, he's not misbehaved, he's just very enthusiastic. But I realize that if he didn't put in this type of effort, he wouldn't have many friends. It's his good mood after encounters like these that encourage me to try to step outside of my comfort zone in order to make and keep friends on a daily basis.
5. But don't be a pushover.
Even though Fish is a social butterfly, he makes sure to stand his ground when another dog pushes his limits. Corner him, he barks. Take his toy, he barks. Plays too rough, he barks. It's nice to see that my extra-friendly six-month-old puppy can put his paw down when enough is enough. It's hard for me to say no to the people in my life; Fish gives me the courage to stand up for myself. He's continuously helping me understand the concept that I come before anyone else (except him, of course). He reminds me that it's OK to say no and it's OK to fight for what's mine. Better yet, he reminds me that it's OK to be strong.
6. Soak up adventure as often as you can.
Between classes, work, family, and friends, it's easy to forget to get outside and explore. Fish's thirst for adventure boosts my desire to make the most of the world around me. Thanks to him, I hike, swim and drive without a map more often. His enthusiasm is refreshing. His curiosity is enlightening. Watching him explore opens my eyes to things I didn't notice before like the way birds flock to open fields or how many mud puddles form after a rain storm. And rest assured he will find every bird and mud puddle out there.
I've heard these same six tips from human after human. My mom, dad, professors and friends have all tried to engrave these ideals in my mind to no success. They never stuck, though, until I got Fish. His innocence in this world allows me to see old life lessons in new ways every day. I guess some things just don't sink in until a wagging tail and goofy grin are telling you.
