In an unforeseen turn of events, my dog Buddy died today. This came as a shock to my entire family. At only three years old, Buddy had a seizure on my porch. We rushed him to an emergency pet clinic, but by the time we got there he was already not breathing and unresponsive. Nothing like this had ever happened before, and it is still unclear as to how it happened. My head continues to spin as the reality of this loss settles in. This is not a story about loss though. It is instead a story of how Buddy taught me an important lesson about life.

As I begin reflect on my brief time with Buddy, I realize what a huge part of my family he was. Always the first to greet anyone coming into the house, Buddy was a dog with an infectious energy. Even though he was amateurish with the concept of fetch, his signature orange bouncy ball was always the first matter of business to share with anyone who came through the gate. I will always remember the most important lesson Buddy taught me. It was a lesson taught over time, and something I now reflect back on.

Every night when I would pack my lunch for work the next day, Buddy would stare intently at me from his fenced-off area and wait for his years of conditioning me to take effect. Before I closed the refrigerator, I would grab two small pieces of cheese to share between the two of us. This ritual, while it at times seemed tedious, is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life. It’s very unlikely that he intentionally decided to give me an existential lesson by insisting I feed him cheese, but whatever his intentions were proved to be effective.

Buddy was a goofball, and the most important message he taught me was that life is too short not to do what makes you happy. In the same way, life is too long to not strive for what makes you happy. Maybe cheese isn’t the key to making your dreams come true, but something is. What’s stopping you from finding it?

Don’t take today for granted. You are here in this moment, in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. Greet everyone you see with the enthusiasm of a dog with an orange bouncy ball. Even if today isn’t your day, find a way to help make it someone else’s. Take every opportunity to show love to another person. Most importantly though, don’t forget to eat cheese. I miss you already, Buddy.