My love for dogs is no secret, and it’s probably the most obvious thing about my personality. The thing about dogs is, they can teach us so many things if we let them. Here are five lessons we can all learn from dogs.
Perseverance.
An energetic dog is hard to deter. If you throw a ball through a barbed wire fence, a patch of quicksand, a swamp, or a field of three-foot tall grass, you bet that dog will run to it -- for better or for worse. The thing to acknowledge here is that it’s never impossible to go after the things you want with all the energy and enthusiasm you have. Maybe you can exercise more common sense and grace than an excited dog, but the idea is to persevere through anything and everything to retrieve your metaphorical tennis ball.
Graciousness.
Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. More importantly, thank the hand that feeds you. A dog’s thankful attitude rarely falters. Learn by their example and thank all the people in your life who regularly help you to succeed and give you opportunities in life.
Forgiveness.
You can step on your pup’s paw on accident and he’ll take half a second to whine about it, and go right back to licking your face. There’s no time in a dog’s life to dwell on negative aspects of life, and certainly not enough time to stay mad at the people he loves the most. Accidents happen, people make mistakes. Acknowledge your pain for a short time and then forgive. Know when people aren’t intentionally trying to hurt you and live more of your life being happy with your loved ones.
Loyalty.
One of a dog’s greatest traits can teach us a lot. Staying loyal to friends and family that take time out of their lives to take care of you (in big ways or small ways) is crucial. It doesn’t mean devoting every second of every day to any single person, it means regularly sharing your appreciation and making sure they know you realize the sacrifices they might be making for you, and returning the favor whenever you can.
Sympathy.
Most dogs can pick up on emotions of other dogs, and of their humans. In most cases they’ll be the first to offer a furry shoulder to cry on. Regardless of the reason, they want you to feel better and this is something we need more of. People are people and everybody needs comfort at some point in their lives. Dogs know when something's up, and they're gonna ask what's wrong.
