A dog's life

I feel blessed to have the presence of a five-year-old Bichon poodle mix in my life every day. He is constantly teaching me lessons about life. He lives in the moment. I observe that when we go for a walk. His focus is on whatever is under his nose. Sometimes I forget that what I need may be right under my nose. He is always up for play. He has a favorite toy which he will bring to me to play fetch. If I throw it ten feet away, he makes sure that he adds another ten feet to the trip just to make it worthwhile. It isn't about working hard to gain something tangible. I sometimes forget to play for the sake of playing. He also teaches me moderation. After about five fetches he lets me know he has had enough. He just stops fetching and moves onto another activity. He reminds me not to become overly driven on a task. And most importantly he teaches me how to practice unconditional love. It doesn't matter if I haven't seen him in two hours or two weeks. He wags his tail and jumps on my lap as a welcome home gesture. There is an invisible bond that is forever present. The same is true between myself and every person on this planet. Sometimes I need a reminder of that understanding. How lucky I am to have such a teacher! What lessons have you learned from the animals in your life?