8 Ways Our Puppy Has Reminded Us of the Simple Joys in Life

Two years ago, we decided to make our lives a little less simple.  We adopted a puppy. 

Adding a puppy to our family meant adding more responsibilities to our life and more stuff to our home. It also meant establishing new routines (whose turn is it to take the dog out?!) and practicing new habits (if you don’t want your shoes chewed, you have to put them in the closet when you take them off).

It had been 30 years since I had a puppy.  (We’ve adopted all of our dogs since then and they were always at least two years old.) 

My goodness, had I forgotten how busy and mischievous puppies are!

Yet in the midst of the chaos and craziness that those early weeks brought, we were also blessed with so many laughs and countless puppy snuggles. This rescued stray burst into our hearts and our home with energy and love that only a puppy can bring.

She has graced us with the opportunity to see the world from a fresh perspective – a curious, lighthearted, no-cares-in-the-world puppy perspective. 

And she reminded us of the simple joys in life.

Here are 8 ways our puppy has reminded of the simple joys in life:

1. You can never get enough sunshine.  It’s always the best place to hang out for a while.  And if you can get sunshine AND lay in the grass, that’s even better.  Go outside!
2. At first, some things seem scary, but most of the time they’re not as bad as you imagine.  Those ocean waves are loud. And wet. And sometimes they come at you when you’re not paying attention.  But most of the time, things aren’t as frightening as they might seem.
3. A good walk can do wonders.  Especially when you need to get some energy out.  And when you want to spend time with a friend.
4. Curiosity can lead to exciting new things.  Don’t give up on things that are just outside of your reach.
5. Just keep digging.  Not everyone will agree with your efforts. But if you sense you’re on to something, follow your heart and keep digging.
6. It’s fun to play and do tricks...and you can never get too many treats. Seize the day and say yes to opportunities to play full out.
7. Rainy days are good.  It’s nice to have an excuse to sleep in and stay snuggled under the covers once in a while.
8. Routines are the best, but a little spontaneity is good once in a while, too. Sometimes the unplanned moments are the best.
9. Sometimes you set off for something with one goal in mind but you get totally sidetracked with something else.  That’s okay.  You have permission to go off course and follow your heart.

Adopting a puppy might disrupt the simplicity of your life, but the experiences they provide each day make it all worth it. My dogs have taught me a lot. They’ve kept me present and reminded me to savor the simple joys of each day.