It's no secret that my wife and I love our dog.
We aren't shy about posting pictures of her on walks or telling our friends stories when she does something bad.
(She swallowed two English muffins whole this week.)
When we got her, people told us having a dog was a great way to prepare for kids. This may be true, but what no one told me—what I've really learned from our dog—is how much she prepares me for life.
Here's three lessons Neilly is teaching me to make me a better human:
Everyone is worthy of celebration.
No matter who you are, what you do, or where you come from, you are worth seeing. And if you're worth seeing then you are worth celebrating.
Whenever a guest walks through our door, no one is more excited to greet them than Neilly. It doesn't matter if you're a friend old or new, you matter to Neilly and she's so happy to be in your presence. Neilly understands celebration better than any human I know, and I think she's onto something.
If you're in our home, it's a cause for celebration.
Just you being you is enough.
Everyone is uniquely made.
Everyone is a gift.
Everyone is worthy of celebration.
Sleep is essential.
Most of us see a healthy amount of sleep as optional—maybe we'll get there or maybe we won't. We've got a lot of work to do, after all, and sleep can easily be sacrificed on the altar of productivity or social life.
My dog would disagree.
How can you have energy to enjoy each day without sleep?
Neilly sleeps a lot, but her rest propels her to savor each waking moment.
Going outside is non-negotiable.
I'd love to sit inside all day, sucked into my screen and basking in my air-conditioned cocoon, but before I get too comfortable, my dog reminds me who’s boss.
Neilly will literally knock my phone out of my hand to let me know it's time to step into the fresh air.
She serves as a constant reminder to that there is a beautiful, created world on the other side of the window.
By not going outside, we miss out on so much beauty and life.
Now don’t be misled. Having Neilly is no walk in the park. As for behavior? She’s below average. The world is hers, and we’re all just living in it. Nothing is off limits to her—including our English muffins.
But despite all of our frustrations, I can honestly say that I’m a better liver of life thanks to her.
One Book I’m Reading: Killers of the Flower Moon
Shortly after the turn of the 20th century, wealthy members of the Osage tribe began dying from mysterious causes. Chronicling the infamous Osage murders, David Grann opens up one of the darkest hours of Oklahoma history. On top of the sheer entertainment value of this book, it also highlights the gross mistreatment of Native Americans in Oklahoma. Shocking, heartbreaking, and fascinating, I’m enjoying this one.
P.S. Shoutout to my Mom for the recommendation.
One Thing I Love: This new podcast👇
Mike Cosper is doing an incredible job documenting the rise and fall of one of America’s largest churches as well as their founding pastor, Mark Driscoll.
I hope you enjoyed this week’s newsletter. It would mean so much if you passed it along!