1. Always be positive, no matter how many times you've been knocked down

I feel like this is the most obvious thing my dog has taught me. Dogs tend to be the most optomistic beings on the planet, making their love for life contagious. Even when I've had an absolutely terrible day, my dog is right there with me to cuddle and turn my frown upside down.

2. Dont judge a book by its cover, or ever

Dogs don't discriminate, they love you no matter what your past was or your present is. On top of that, they look straight through the political lines we seem to draw. They are blind to gender, race, or any other group politics seem to focus on. As long as someone is kind to them, they are there to support and love them back.

3. They forgive 77 x 7 times

They never seem to truly turn their back on anyone, ever. In fact, they don't seem to hold grudges towards anything. Whether they have a run in with a toy, or someone rubs them the wrong way, they almost always are willing to give the relationship another shot.

4. You have to take care of yourself

Although dogs may not have as much to worry about, they remind us to prioritize our health. A dog sleeps when it needs sleep, it eats when it is hungry, and will even attempt to be clean and have a healthy coat in certain instances. When they need something, they're usually quick to alert there owner. I can't say I do the same, which just adds stress to my already overwhelming daily routine. Dogs have the right idea when it comes to self-care. If you can't help yourself, then you definitely can't help others.

5. They’re extremely empathetic

Every dog I’ve ever been around has reacted to my emotions and feelings in some way. And while it’s not always healthy to react to others emotions, dogs are always willing to help cheer someone up. If you’re sick, your dog knows before you. If you’re sad, your dog will be the first to sit down next to you and give you a “hug”. Dogs pick up on people’s emotions way before humans can, and they take advantage of that. We should all learn to be more susceptible to others emotions and try to be a kind shoulder to cry on when someone needs it.

6. They prioritize happiness

Dogs do not like to be stressed. They would much rather sit down with their favorite toy and keep to themselves then try and get to close to an overwhelming situation. We should take this trait, and apply it to our own lifestyles more often. My dog taught me that if I put oo much on my plate, I'm hurting myself more than I'm helping.