Lessons In Life From A Dog

A friend e-mailed me this the other day. I enjoyed it, and I think you’ll like it, too.

It goes like this: 

If you can start the day without caffeine; 

if you can get going without painkiller; 

if you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains; 

if you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles; 

if you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it; 

if you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time; 

if you can forgive a friend’s lack of consideration; 

if you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you when, through no fault of your own, something goes wrong; 

if you can take criticism and blame without resentment; 

if you can ignore a friend’s limited education and never correct him; 

if you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend; 

if you can face the world without lies and deceit; 

if you can conquer tension without medical help; 

if you can relax without liquor; 

if you can sleep without the aid of drugs;

if you can honestly say that deep in your heart you have no prejudice against creed or colour, religion or politics; 

then, my friend, you’re almost as good as your dog. Almost, but not quite.

This is dedicated to every dog lover in the world.