On October 10th, Americans celebrate Columbus, the man that sailed the ocean blue, but more importantly this was the day my dog, Alice, was born. Alice has many nicknames, but Kujo has been adopted by most friends and family. No, my dog is not rabid; she is just old, blind, and misunderstood. With her birthday approaching I find myself admiring her a little longer each day. For the last 12 years, I've had the privilege of growing up with my four legged sister by my side. While I've taught Alice many things over the years I realize that Alice was overly reciprocal as she taught me the most valuable life lessons.

1. Protect your family.

When I take my dog out she is always on alert. It starts from the moment we exit the elevator; she runs out before me and looks left and right as if she is checking for incoming traffic before crossing the street. What she is really doing is making sure the coast is clear and thus fulfilling her role as the family guard dog. When strangers get too close I can count on Alice to release the fury that is her “tough girl bark”, so that everyone understands that despite her mere weight of 23 pounds she is a force to be reckoned with.

Every once in awhile you should bark at those that threaten your family. Family comes first and while there is no need to bark at strangers, you should always make it clear that you have your family’s back.

2. Wholeheartedly enjoy your food.

If you’ve ever seen a dog chew, you know it is not a pleasant sight. When Alice chews she looks like a ravenous beast that has just laid her eyes on food for the very first time. Even when Alice consumes a blueberry her whole head is involved in the motion of chewing and all of her teeth are on display showcasing their discoloration from the deep hue of the blueberry.

Interestingly, studies show that chewing with your mouth open both increases happiness and cures mindless eating. So I encourage you to chew like a cow and lick your chaps…in the comfort of your own home! (no one really wants to see this in pubic)

3. Communicate without speaking.

Language barriers are often used as an excuse to separate us, yet I find my communication with my dog to be stronger than it is with most people. Though Alice has never uttered a word of English, we speak all day long; body language acts as our means of communication. Alice seems to always know when I am sad because she picks up on my body language, and she will respond to my sadness with a nudge and a glance of concern.

If we all start to be more in tune to people’s body language we could easily communicate without ever speaking. Now I’m not saying go out and pet somebody's belly to show your affection. Humans are a little different than pets so they require different body language. Your gestures should differ according to the emotion you want to express. For example, a hug or pat on the back can sometimes signal comfort better than words.

4. Enjoy every day.

Alice wakes up every morning with the same vigor as the last. Each morning she is eager to begin the day and scratches at my door at exactly 8:30 am. From the excitement of eating to the blissful moments of belly rubs, she fully engrosses herself in every moment. This is natural for dogs, but not for humans.

Make a conscience effort to enjoy every moment of every day.

5. Get a little dirty.

When Alice sees an empty plot of grass she frantically sprints back and forth for several minutes before exhaustedly plopping onto the grass and beginning what I like to call her “roll around dance”, where she proceeds to drag her body through the grass in alternating directions until her fur is filled with grass and all of her teeth are showing in a wide smile. Her connection with nature is undeniably strong and beautiful to watch.

Nature has a cleansing affect on human beings, so don’t be afraid to get a little dirty. Let the water splash you while rafting or the snow meet its melting fate against your skin. I would recommend walking barefoot, also known as "earthing". A review published in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health, discusses the vast health benefits of "earthing" that occur from the relationship between human bodies and electrons in the earth.

6. Use your nose wisely.

Alice’s nose scrunches and wiggles about two times every minute. She is always sniffing around whether she is indoors or outside. If I am about to feed her she could be amidst a deep doggy sleep, but because her schnauzer smells food she will manage to quickly awaken and trot into the kitchen. Outside she is always taking the time to smell the roses, well not just roses but rather every flower and anything else near by.

Take the time to sniff around a bit. Take in the aroma of homemade meals or fresh cut grass. And, of course, take some time to smell the roses both literally and figuratively.

7. Embrace your inner alpha dog.

Dogs are descendants of wolves and thus have innate pack instincts. Every wolf pack has an alpha male and female. Alice has always wanted to be the leader of the pack and when she was a puppy my family spent countless days establishing our role as top dog or alpha leader. She may be 12 years old, but Alice is still the alpha dog of her doggy friends.

Being a leader requires a level of confidence that not everyone has, but everyone should strive for. Leaders our champions of change and without them there would be no progress in the world.

8. Love unconditionally.

Even when I reprimand Alice for peeing in my room or begging at the dinner table, she loves me just the same.

People make mistakes and sometimes forgiveness is just as healing for the one who inflicted hurt as it is for the inflicted. Don’t let one fight ruin a friendship and try to love one another like a puppy loves its owner.

9. Stick your head out the window.

I never quite understood why it was so appealing for dogs to stick their head out the window of a moving car. So naturally, while watching Alice stick her head out the window I decided to join her.

It's both relaxing and freeing to stick your head out the window of a moving car. Screw the convertible, this is just as satisfying. You get to feel the wind against your face while watching the clouds move by; 10/10 would recommend.

10. Be a good listener.

In high school, a Vietnam veteran visited and discussed how his dog helped him cope with PTSD. Specifically, he highlighted the benefits of his dog's nonjudgmental listening. Alice is the best listener I have ever encountered; she is patient and always readily available to listen to anything I have to say.

Listening is key for successful communication. When you take the time to actively listen to someone, it is easy to understand how you can truly help them. So take some time to really listen to one another.