Learn From Your Dog

            Though my pup Marty can’t actually ask the questions later, he is always in to take advantage of the opportunities set in front of him. Whether it be springing outside for a game of catch, or jumping in the car for a quick ride to the grocery store – Marty is in. He is quick to get up and rise to the occasion, no matter if it is for a breath of fresh air, a snack, or just for company – he’s a rally-er.             I think that this is one of many lessons that we learn from our dogs. Though this is not the classic loyalty story, companionship dog tale, or unconditional love lesson, our dogs teach us to live in the moment too. Their undeniable excitement and willingness to jump at every opportunity shows motivation that everyone should have in life, whether it’s applying for that job that you think you may not get, taking the spontaneous trip across the world, or going on that blind-date...

Although I have always been a self-described “dog person,” most of my childhood was spent canine-less. My family had a golden retriever, Gracie, who died of cancer when I was just three. Gracie had been my parents’ first baby, and it took them a long, long time to get over her. They always talked about how she was a “once in a lifetime” type of dog—that one amazing dog that sticks out among the others. My dad claimed that most dog owners are usually lucky enough to have just one of these dogs in their lifetime. Therefore, he argued, they are extremely difficult to replace. But twelve years after Gracie's death, and after years of my brothers and I badgering my parents, they finally said yes to us getting another dog.  My mom contacted a golden retriever breeder who had just two puppies left from her latest litter—a boy and a girl. Having had such a good experience with Gracie, my mom was pretty sure she wanted the female. However, she wanted to go ...