During this pandemic, my husband Drew and I frequently reflect on the many things we previously took for granted, and the aspects of our lives we feel especially thankful for. When it comes to cataloging our gratitude, our fox-colored yellow lab puppy, Leo, always makes it to the top of the list.

Getting Leo was an impulsive decision. We already had a full house with two other yellow labs: our sweet thirteen-year-old Oscar and our rambunctious five-year-old Henry. Yes, Oscar was getting old and having health issues, but even more significantly, I was feeling a strong nudge from above. My father-in-law, Jim Goodman—the biggest dog-lover I’ve ever known—had recently passed away, and there were some strong indications that he might be pulling some strings from heaven to bring us this dog.

Drew missed his dad and was ready for a new being to love, so despite my trepidation about the exponential work of caring for three dogs, I felt pretty certain that Leo was meant to be part of our family.

As soon as we brought eight-week-old Leo home at the end of November, I knew we’d hit the jackpot. In addition to being adorable, Leo has the sweetest disposition of any dog I have ever known. He overflows with love and affection, but is also calm and independent with many entertaining quirks.

The trio of Leo and his brothers have sweetened our sheltering in place tremendously, and we feel incredibly lucky to live on a farm where all of us can roam free. The timing of Leo entering our lives couldn’t have been more perfect.

My father saw dogs as teachers as well as companions. In Quest for Eternal Sunshine, he talked about, Zephyr and Flick, the two dogs we had back in the ’80s who followed him around as he worked. “They were good company, and great examples of how to live. They didn’t fret about tomorrow or regret what happened yesterday. Instead, they took pleasure where they could find it and gave affection unconditionally.”

Inspired by my dad, I’ve decided to share eight lessons I’ve been learning from the newest member of our family, eight-month-old Leo:

1) Eat slowly and savor every bite. Leo savors his food and chews it thoroughly. He doesn’t take another bite until he’s finished the one in his mouth. Drew and I have had many dogs since moving onto our farm in 1984, and I’ve never seen anything like it. In my own life, trying to slow down and pay attention to every bite has been a hard-to-achieve goal. If Leo can do it, I believe that with enough dedication, I can, too.

2) You don’t have to be good at something to enjoy doing it. Leo loves to catch balls, and the fact that he’s not very good at it doesn’t impact his enjoyment one bit. I’ve been overly achievement-oriented my entire life—way too focused on my goals versus delighting in my moment-by-moment experiences. Leo constantly reminds me that there is a much more joyous way to live.

3) Love with total abandon. I’ve never met a more loving being than Leo. Multiple times throughout the day, he suddenly runs to me and gleefully showers me with kisses. Being adored with such enthusiasm and abandon makes me feel cherished and joyous. When I bring some of that same exuberant-for-no-reason love to my husband, I see how it lights him up. Leo inspires me to do it more often.

4) Cherish your elders. While Henry and Leo sleep soundly enough to spend the night with us, Oscar sleeps on a dog bed in the dining room. But now, every morning without fail, as soon as we open the door to the hallway, Leo runs to Oscar and kisses him all over for several long minutes, his tail wagging furiously. As I prepare the green tea I always sip during our first early stroll, Oscar is getting showered with attention, and the message that he is appreciated and treasured.

5) Stay curious and keep searching. There is a huge mound at the back of our farm that’s made from the weeds we’ve been piling there for years. Theoretically, it should be 100% decomposing plant matter, but almost every day Leo goes exploring there and searches until he uncovers a new treasure—an old ball, a long piece of mulching fabric, a dried-out thick stalk. With great delight, he runs his prize full speed in circles around the farm, tail twirling. Leo proves that curiosity and persistence yield great rewards.

6) Incite play. Leo regularly motivates play, which means we all exercise more and worry less. Research shows that play does indeed trigger the release of endorphins, our body’s natural feel-good chemicals. A big part of my father’s healing journey was accessing his inner child. He loved to play with my kids when they were young, and was always 100% present, no matter the activity. Leo reminds me to be less serious and focus more on frolicking.

7) Meet every day with joy. Every morning, Leo is ecstatic to greet the world anew. Nothing gets old or loses its appeal. My dad also viewed life as the biggest adventure ever, filled with wonders to explore. Leo reminds me that there are boundless gifts to enjoy, and that attitude makes all the difference.

8) You don’t need to be perfect to be lovable. Leo has disproportionately long legs (he looks like a newborn colt), the indefatigable habit of taking our footwear (especially Ugg boots, sandals and slippers) from our closet and depositing them all over the house, and a persistent infatuation with rocks of all sizes (digging them up, chewing them, carrying them around), yet we adore him. Would we love him more if he were “perfect?” Of course not! Although it’s easy to idolize perfection, falling in love with Leo has taught me that, in fact, perfection is boring, because it means eliminating all the details that make each one of us unique.

Thank you for all the great life lessons, Leo!

Explore more of Leo’s life lessons!

Lessons from Leo