Life On My Terms: Lessons Learned From Having My Dog As My Life Coach

I’m a dog person for sure. As in, my dogs are my second set of children. I’ve learned there are a couple of different levels of “dog person”. There's my crazy level. Then there are people who say they’re dog people but have to wash their hands after they touch one (Not from allergies) Now there is no hate coming from me. It’s just me noticing a difference. 

Over the past couple of years, I’ve become closer with my dogs. You know through the pandemic and them being my most favorite companions ever.

There is a lot to say about the love and companionship we get from our pets or if you're like me, your furbabies, and today I want to share a few things I’ve learned just from watching and spending so much time with them.

These things I believe are life-changing, meaning they can change our health and our relationships for the better. How many times have you heard people say, “I like animals more than I like people” There is a reason for that and I believe we should all take a closer look at why so many people feel this way. I believe the reason we love our animals so much is that what they have is a part of the way we're supposed to be, it's our true nature to be like them but with society being the way it is now, and all of its unreasonable expectations, we’ve lost this natural connection with ourselves. 

Here are some of the things I’ve observed and the things I think we all could benefit from doing more of.

Rest a whole lot more. 

Have you watched how much your dog rests? Sleeps? They sleep a lot. They are at rest or relaxed when they are not playing or active. They are not doing, doing, doing, all the time. At least most dogs. As people, not only do we measure our worth with the amount we do but when we’re at rest, a lot of us feel guilty, some even label themselves and others as lazy. 

I do not think it's normal that we work so much and I’m positive most of us lack the rest we need on a daily basis. I know what you’re thinking. Tina, get real, my dog does not have to bring home the bacon. 

Well of course I know this but one important thing I’ve learned is that when I’m resting, I should just be at rest. I should allow myself to do nothing and feel good about it! If you can, every once in a while, take an afternoon nap with your dog, and DO NOT feel bad about it. Also, make sure part of your body is lying in the sunshine. You know how they do that. 

Lesson one: Learn to rest more and allow myself to rest without guilt. Bonus: Add sunshine

Play hard and more often.

Dogs haven’t just mastered rest, they have play down too. When my dogs play they go crazy, they’re goofy, and they zoom around without a care in the world. They don’t care who's watching or if they have a good picture of what they’re doing for social media. They are just going hard into experiencing joy from the most basic things. A ball, a bone, a stick, sometimes nothing, just running around in the grass and being outside. I love watching my dogs just roll in the grass. It’s pure happiness for them. 

As adult people, we don’t do this often enough. Pure unplanned fun. We need to add more of this to our lives. 

Lesson Two: Play more often and be as silly as possible.

Bonus: Get outside and roll in the grass, nature is very healing.

Love Unconditionally.

This is the thing I think we all need the most. The unconditional love from our dogs. They always are happy when we get home. They’re always excited to see us. They cuddle with us when we’re sad or don't feel good. They don’t give a shit about what we look like or what we wear. They are the constant companion that we can always count on. Their heart is wide open. They give and receive love fully. You can always count on them for this. I also give this right back to them. I mean have you heard the way people talk to their dogs? In the morning I always say, in a high pitched cutsy voice. “Good morning pretty girl, How did you sleep last night, were you cozy, you’re such a pretty girl.” This goes on all day, with me at least. But I know I’m not the only one. I’ve witnessed this on many occasions with other people. As a matter of fact, I love people even more if they have a ridiculous dog-talk voice. I just love it!

Lesson Three: Be open to love deeply and unconditionally.

Bonus: Have a silly voice you use to talk to the ones you love, lol:)

Be tuned into your surroundings.

Dogs are so tuned into all their senses that they notice things we never will. I know they’re senses are different than ours but I believe part of the reason they’re so tuned in is because they are well rested and happy. Most dogs at least. Yes, it’s a survival instinct but I’m talking about how I learn from them right now. In order for us to be tuned into all our senses, including our intuition, we need to slow down and pay attention to the signs that are all around us. If we are “Busy” all the time and never at rest, we will not notice as much, if any, of the signs that are there to guide us in our lives and protect us. 

Lesson Four: Slow down so you can tune into your intuition and higher self.

Bonus: Use this as an excuse to rest more without guilt:)

So as you can see, my dogs are amazing life coaches. The things I learn from them on a daily basis are as I said, life-changing. 

Also, the love and companionship they give us cannot be measured. Why would anyone NOT have a dog?? (This goes for cats too)

I hope from this point forward you will look at your pets from a new perspective or perhaps you already knew all of this but never really put it into words. 

Be sure to give your pet, or a pet, an extra squeeze today. 

Xo, T

P.S. Always ask permission before you squeeze someone's dog!

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