things i have learned from my dog

chloe has a great love for the simple things in life
eating and sleeping
being touched
being outside

in getting to know her, i have come to appreciate her many sensitivities:
when she is somewhere too loud, or too busy, she gets nervous
new people make her nervous
the vacuum cleaner makes her nervous
i know that she's nervous because she wedges her tail between her legs

when she is with me in the car, i can tell how recklessly i am driving based on her exaggerated stumbling. she easily loses her balance and so, i make a concerted effort to drive more smoothly and calmly when i have her as a meter beside me

when she says hello to me, she does it with so much love and enthusiasm that i can't help but smile (even if i'm in a shitty-ass mood) and i am inspired to roll around on the floor with her (even if her coat smells like damp shit)

in essence, my dog takes any inkling of a feeling and blows it out of proportion. she is a reminder to appreciate those simple things: eating and sleeping, being touched and being outside

she is a reminder that one should not drive recklessly (actual cars, nor metaphoric ones) but to be mindful of the passenger who is at the mercy of your steering

she is also a reminder that no matter how shitty of a day, you can always feel better entering into that cyclic giving and getting of love and affection. it is in fact contagious.