On February 21, I received the worst phone call of my life. My dog, Walker, had passed away unexpectedly at the young age of 8. Walker was my best friend and was more than just a dog to my whole family. Anyone who has lost a dog knows just how hard it is, no matter the age or if they knew it was coming or not. Walker left a mark on everyone he met and he taught me life lessons that no human ever could
1. When life gets you down, lay on the floor and breathe.
Every time I was upset or stressed I would lay on the floor with my dog and do what he did, close my eyes and breath.
2. Make the best of every situation.
No matter the situation, dogs always seem to make the best of it.
3. Always smile.
There's no question that dogs have the best smiles. Sometimes they even smile when they’re getting yelled at. My dog’s smile never left his face.
4. No matter who is at your door, show that you're excited to see them and welcome them with open arms (or paws).
It’s natural for every dog to get excited when someone is at the door. My dog would automatically get up and make sure to give whoever it was a big welcome. His home was anyone’s home if they were willing to give him attention.
5. Protect the people you love .
One of the best things about dogs is how protective they are about the ones they love. Your dog being by your side makes you feel 10 times safer.
6. Family is everything.
Dogs are extremely important to families, but families are even more important to dogs. Show love for your family every day just like dogs do.
7. A kiss will always make you smile.
Whenever my dog kissed my cheek with his sloppy tongue it automatically brought a smile to my face whether I was upset or if I was mad at him for tearing another hole in my sock.
8. Take walks outside.
I learned from my dog that it's important to get out of the house and take walks outside and to actually enjoy it.
9. Anything can be fun if you let it be.
Just like my dog, you can make any ordinary thing (like a stick) a little more fun. It’s all about your mindset.
10. Life is short, enjoy it.
The biggest and most important lesson that my dog taught me was that life is short. 8 years is young for a dog and it is extremely hard to lose a pet unexpectedly. I didn’t know that the last time I saw my dog before going back to school would be the last time ever. Because of this I’ve learned to always hug someone a little tighter, tell people you love them a little extra, and smile a little more. You never know when it could be the last time. Life is short, enjoy it.
