10 Important Life Lessons My Dog Has Taught Me

Its true: Im obsessed with my dog. My mastiff Henry turns four next week, and I cant help but reflect on the time weve had together. Over the years, hes become a true part of the family, my best friend, and above all, a reminder of what lifes truly about.

If youve ever loved a dog, you understand this bond. What we dont always understand as dog lovers, however, is how much our dogs teach us about ourselves, about others, and about life. Here are ten lessons Henry has taught me.

1. It doesnt always take a lot to make someone smile.

I dont know if its his sheer size, soulful eyes, or joyful personality, but Henry brings out smiles in everyone. Weve been walking and had cars stop just to smile and say hello. Henrys been to the nursing home and to book events. No matter where he goes, he brings out happiness in others just by being present. Hes made me realize that sometimes in life, all we crave is connection and a small moment to get us through.

2. Some of the best days are spent at home.

Henry loves the local pet shops and ice cream shops, dont get me wrong. However, hes also just as happy hanging on the couch, napping in the yard, and playing with his mountain of toys. Hes helped me see that sometimes the best days in life are the days parked at home.

3. Dont be afraid of looking like a fool.

Whether hes dashing through his sprinkler, barking and running as I dance to Taylor Swift , or just zooming around the yard by himself, Henry isnt afraid to be silly. He takes every moment for what it is and does what he wants. He doesnt worry about looking crazy. If only we were all willing to find our own sense of joy without worrying about what others were thinking.

4. Its okay to be afraid.

Everyone assumes since Henry is so big hes brave and not afraid of anything. Hes actually afraid of almost everything. As a baby, he was terrified of squirrels. Hes afraid of grates, certain spots on the kitchen floor, and horses, just to name a few.

5. Cupcakes are seriously the best comfort food.

Henry is obsessed with cupcakesa smart dog, if you ask me.

6. Family keeps you going on the worst days.

On the worst days, Henry is always happy to see us. Even when my husband or I are in the midst of rage, tears, or just frustration, Henry is right there for us. When I feel like life is terrible, Henrys wagging tail at the door when I get home reminds me that hes always there for me. He reminds me what unconditional love looks like and that this unconditional love is at home with my family.

7. Dont be afraid to talk to people.

Henry draws a lot of attention to himself because of his size and his overly social nature. He actively looks for people on our walks to come and pet him, and he will try to steal a pet as we walk by people. He loves people and would never shy away from a chance to meet someone.

As somewhat of an introvert, Ive learned from Henry that connecting with others is a good thing. Ive met so many great people in our neighborhood thanks to Henry and struck up conversations I would have avoided without him.

8. There are worse things in life than muddy paws on the carpet.

Dogs remind us to not sweat the small stuff. Henry reminds me to find the joy in life and not panic over things that really dont matter in the scheme of thingssuch as huge, mastiff-sized muddy paws on the white carpet or on the sofa.

9. Sometimes things we dont want are the best things of all.

When my husband said we were getting a puppy, I was enraged. I didnt have time for a puppy. I didnt want a puppy. I hated Henry before he even got to our house. I hated him for the first month. And then, over time, something happened.

I loved him.

Henry wormed his way into my heart and hasnt left since. Hes taught me that sometimes the things we need in our lives most of all are things we never would dream of wanting. Hes shown me that the unexpected joys in life sometimes stem from disappointment, anger, or loss. Hes shown me to never thing you have everything figured out.

10. We never, ever get enough time.

As Henry approaches his fourth birthday, Im thankful for all of the moments weve hadbut Im also sad, too. Every birthday that goes by is another year less I get with my best friend and, as any dog lover knows, we already get way too little time with our four-legged best friends. I cant even imagine what Im going to do when Henry has celebrated his final birthday, when the moments are gone, and the photographs are all snapped. I dont know how Im going to go on without his soulful brown eyes to look at me every day.

I know that no matter how long he lives, it will never be long enough.

However, it is because of this that Henry has taught me the greatest lesson of all; hes taught me to enjoy every single moment we have with our loved ones. Hes taught me to get off the couch and go for that walk or dash through the sprinkler. Hes taught me to laugh, to have fun, and to soak up every second because life is too short to do anything else.

Happy birthday to my best friend and teacher, Henry.

Lindsay Detwiler is a high school English teacher and a contemporary romance author. To learn more about her seven novels, which all feature Henry as a character, visit www.lindsaydetwiler.com .