3 Lessons I Learned From My Dogs
The masters at communicating without words
At times, I prefer the company of dogs to humans. Dogs are simpler and, even without words, easier to understand. Over the years, I’ve raised “my boys” — Bournville, Bentley, Bojangles, and Branston — all Labradors. I believe that all humans would benefit from the 3 life lessons these dogs have taught me.
1. Live in the present moment
Dogs think. When I look at my dogs, I can see those mental cogs turning as they wonder what will get them more rewards. Anyone who has ever watched a sleeping dog will know that dogs dream as well. You can see the rapid eye moments, twitching, and moving paws. Dreaming is nothing more than thinking while asleep.
From what I can tell, a dog’s thinking is all in the present moment. I don’t believe dogs worry about the future or are plagued by the past, though they do remember. A dog who has been abused might fear men (if the abuser was a man). Or a dog might fear water if they were ever thrown into a lake or the sea. But those fears are only present when they see a man or come near a body of water. A dog doesn’t spend time “worrying” that it might happen. A dog lives in the present moment.
During the last 10 years as a coach, I’ve asked my clients how much time they…
