May12

A Parents And Teacher’s Guide To Teenage Depression

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A Parents And Teacher’s Guide To Teenage Depression

As a parent or teacher, we know that it is normal for teenagers to be moody and sullen. However, it is important to understand when this becomes something more serious. It is a sad fact that the suicide rate in young people is growing, so as a concerned adult you need to recognize the symptoms of depression and understand the pressures your children might be facing.

It may be that you already work in the field of mental health, are considering a career in doing so, or taking one of the masters in clinical mental health counseling programs. Parents, teachers, and counselors are on the front line when it comes to caring for children, and it is vitally important that you know how to help when they are suffering inside. Depression sucks, and here’s a few of the reasons of what might be causing it in your children, students, or friends:

Causes of Depression: Medically speaking, there is still no real evidence as to what causes depression. Genetics may play a part, as is a chemical imbalance in the brain. For the teenager, there are certain factors that can contribute. These include:

Self-Image: Every day, children are bombarded with messages from the media, peers, and social networking on how they should look, feel, and conform. Many young people suffer from body issues when they unrealistically compare themselves to the airbrushed models in magazines and online. If they are not the right weight or don’t have the right clothing, this can be a great source of stress for the teenager, especially when they face bullying because of it.

School: We all know how hard school can be (as if we needed reminding!). It is supposed to be a place of learning and growth, however, for some young people, the only knowledge they are getting is that they are not good enough. Fitting in with peers, broken relationships, dealing with too much homework, studying for tests and exams, and preparing for colleges can add a huge amount of stress into your child’s life.

Bullying is a major issue that can affect children physically and mentally. With the rise of social media, so much bullying is done online, with vile private messages and the posting of personal pictures, which the child has no control over. This can give off the illusion of nowhere being safe for the child.

What can you do? For starters, be there to offer support. They may not tell you how they are feeling, but encourage them to talk when appropriate. Symptoms of depression include moodiness, withdrawal from family and friends, lack of passion in things that they normally enjoyed doing, and mood swings. Some of these are normal for a teenager as their bodies change, but they could also be warning signs.

When you talk to your child or student, be open and listen to what they have to say. Do not judge or say something glib, such as ‘snap out of it’ (smh!!). Share your concerns with a doctor and other mental health professionals to ensure that the child receives the help that they need to get them back on track and smiling again.

Featured Image By: Vimeo

May11

Mystery Blogger Award #2

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Mystery Blogger Award #2

Hi everyone and happy Thursday! This post is compliments of my friend, Tiffany, over at Tiffy’s Wild World, who nominated me for my second Mystery Blogger Award! Her blog is a real treat so please make sure to check it out. 🙂 I always am so flattered whenever I get nominated for something, and I think that these award posts are so fun and such a great way to get to know our fellow bloggers a little bit better. I always jump at the opportunity to make these posts so a major thank you again to Tiffany for the nomination! Alright, let’s get to it:

The Rules:

  • Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
  • Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well
  • Tell your readers 3 things about yourself
  • Answer the questions from the nominator
  • Nominate 10-20 people
  • Share a link to your best post(s)
  • Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog
  • Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice

3 Fun Facts:

  1. My current favorite movie is The Eyes Of My Mother, which can be watched on Netflix. If you are a horror movie junkie, like myself, watch it and you’ll thank me later!
  2. I’m turning 23 very soon on June 7th and I am SO not excited.
  3. Prison TV shows are my favorite and Bea Smith from Wentworth is my red haired spirit animal.

Q & A:

What would your perfect date be? Hmm…Let’s see…Probably going ice skating and then to Taco Bell. It doesn’t take much to make me happy!

What is your favorite beauty hack? I’m not creative enough to come up with my own beauty hacks!!

When was your favorite birthday? Even though I don’t remember much of my 22nd birthday, I had a really great party and everyone told me after how much fun that they had! So, I’m guessing that I had fun, too!

When was the last time you went on holiday? Last October my family went to Asheville, North Carolina and I loved that. It’s such a cool area and the people and atmosphere are all wonderful.

If you could go and live anywhere in the world, where would it be, and why? Probably London or Paris. Preferably Paris, though, because fashion and I can perfect my French.

My Best Post:

Uhhhh…I don’t know. Lol, I literally don’t know. I’ve never really thought about it before.

My Nominees (I’m only doing three):

My Questions For You:

  1. Who or what is your spirit animal?
  2. Is there a food or drink that you like that everyone else hates? (Everyone but me in my family hates Indian food! I friggen love it.)
  3. Where do you like to do your blogging at?
  4. How do you normally start your day?
  5. If you were a boy, do you know what your name would have been? (Mine would have been Matthew or Phillip.)

Muchos gracious again to the lovely Tiffany over at Tiffy’s Wild World for nominating me for my second Mystery Blogger Award! How would you answer some of Tiffany’s questions? How about some of mine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May11

The Three Skills You Need To Get Ahead In Your New Career

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The Three Skills You Need To Get Ahead In Your New Career

It’s a competitive world out there. People are actively discouraged from taking a jump into a new career or to leave their miserable job for a freelance career because there are so few roles out there but with so much competition. The fact of the matter is, is that for anyone that’s unhappy in their job, there is no point in resigning yourself to a life of the mundane blues if that’s not what you want. So if you want to take the plunge away from the work blahs, then all power to you! But before you go into your new life, it’s always best to make sure that you have the right skills. “Skills” is a bit of a vague term in life, but there are three constants that you definitely need to have in your reserves. Know how to implement these three and it will see you through any difficult work situation in the future:

Leadership Qualities: You don’t need to have had experience in running a ship! But when you’re looking for a new role, the brief will be likely to include the phrase “self-starter”. And this may not mean leading a team to victory, but you will need to be able to motivate yourself. And if you can’t motivate yourself, then how can you be expected to motivate anyone else? Learning about leadership opens up so many new doors for you. Knowing the vital skills that it takes to motivate people and knowing the right techniques to achieve results will make you indispensable and a cut above the rest. While you may think that you need to learn by doing, which is a fair assessment, there is a Fresno Pacific Online Leadership Masters program, which you can complete online. People don’t make the most of online courses, and it is possible to complete whole degrees or Masters courses without leaving your home and in your spare time (and in your pajamas!).

Research Skills: Vastly underestimated in any role, the ability to research a topic properly and demonstrate a good working knowledge is something that can take some time to get right. While we all have our own ways of researching a topic, it may be a possibility that you are doing it the long way round. The big trick to researching a topic is to identify the touchstones – i.e. the salient points, before burrowing further into each one. It’s like ironing in some ways; go over each bit once and then thoroughly go across the whole thing.

Interpersonal Skills: Getting along with people is a must in the vast majority of roles. So if you’re searching for a new career as a change from your cubicle where you have been on your own for the last 25 years, it can be a major challenge to start communicating with lots of people again. While we all know how to speak to people, do we really know how to listen? This is a big part of being a leader or being able to work in a team, and it’s all about learning to work with different ages and types of people. The value in developing excellent working relationships is incredibly high. Being an amazing team player is something that rarely goes unnoticed in the working world!

Having the skills above is something that will make you irreplaceable at your next or current career opportunity. Hone in and perfect them and you will certainly be a force to be reckoned with!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

May11

Ask These Questions If Your Dog Is Ill

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Ask These Questions If Your Dog Is Ill

If you are a real dog person, then you will know how upsetting it can be when they are not feeling on top of the world. Especially as with dogs we are so used to seeing them all bubbly and happy – when they are no longer that way it can be really quite distressing. If your dog has started to act strangely recently or if they look like they are getting ill, then you might be wondering what is going wrong. It goes without saying that if things get serious that you should take them to the vet – but what checks can you carry out at home to rule anything out? Let’s look at some of the questions you should be asking yourself if your beloved doggo is getting unwell:

Are You Feeding Them Properly? Just as with any other animal, your dog needs the right diet in order to function properly. Knowing what such a diet should be, however, is something else altogether. As it happens, most dogs need a combination of dried food like Royal Canin and meat, although what meat is not quite so important. If you are only feeding them one or the other, then this can cause some serious nutrient deficiency so make sure that you are giving them a more balanced diet. You should also check that you are feeding them the right quantity – this depends on the size and breed of your dog and it something that you should ask your vet about. Lastly, make sure that you are feeding them at regular intervals, in order to really ensure that their diet is as good as it can be.

Are They Getting Enough Exercise? Dogs of different breeds, sizes, and ages need differing amounts of exercise, so you should make sure that you know your dog’s type well enough to give them the right amount. Generally, however, walking them twice a day is optimal – and absolutely no less than once a day. If you have a large garden, then that can sometimes suffice instead of walking them, but you should still take them elsewhere occasionally to give them new experiences. You will know if they are not getting enough exercise, because they will start to look weak and might even begin whimpering. As a rule, you can’t over-exercise them – they will stop before they do any real damage to themselves. Make sure that you take them out for exercise as much as you can, which should help to keep illness away.

Are You Looking After Their Coat? As it turns out, their coat is not just an aesthetic concern – it is also a majorly important part of their health. There are a number of issues regarding their coat which you definitely want to avoid, such as fleas and nits, so make sure that you do everything you can to keep it clean. You might also need to brush it regularly or semi-regularly, so make sure that you do that too if necessary for your dog. If you look after their coat properly, you will actually help to keep them healthy and happy.

#DOGS ❤ ❤ ❤

Featured Image By: Pexels

May11

The Real Reasons Why You Sneeze So Much!

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The Real Reasons Why You Sneeze So Much!

Allergies at any time of the year can be frustrating. Having a stuffy or blocked nose gets in the way of enjoying the summer months and it makes people really miserable. Of course, we can take basic medication to solve the problem, like antihistamines, but is it really getting to the root of the problem? It seems that more and more of us are suffering from allergies now, so here are some common causes in the modern world:

A Gluten Allergy: There are so many more people diagnosed as celiac now than ever before. This could be because there are more issues in the processing of food but also the fact that our immune systems are sufficiently weaker now than they were 100 years ago. We are now used to having a whole manner of processed food, but it’s not necessarily something our bodies can process. There are an increasing number of people who are now being diagnosed with a gluten sensitivity. And if you feel a bit sluggish it could be a sign. But you also may even have a very runny nose.

Toxins In The Air: More people on the planet means more dirt, dust particles, and waste. There can be so many toxins in the air at any one time, from cigarette smoke to hazardous fumes to mold and mildew in your home. With that in mind, we are being exposed to a dangerous level of chemicals on a daily basis! To minimize the amount of bad air in our homes, we can use air purifiers and air cleaners. Companies like Farnen & Dermer specialize in whole-home air cleaners, which work more effectively than an air purifier, which is suitable for a smaller area. Even something like mold, which is predominately invisible to the naked eye, if left untreated, can really develop into a long-term health problem.

Medications: So many people are being prescribed antibiotics for an infection, and a common ingredient in many antibiotics is penicillin, which can cause serious reactions such as anaphylactic shock. If you ever experience a serious allergy due to a medication, you need to contact your doctor immediately or call the emergency services if it is a potentially life-threatening reaction. Some other common drugs that may cause an allergic reaction include aspirin, medication for autoimmune diseases, corticosteroid lotions or creams, and products containing bee pollen.

It’s important to remember that an allergic reaction can be a symptom of an issue with your immune system. For issues such as a gluten sensitivity, the problem can be solved by avoiding gluten and gluten-containing foods. If your immune system isn’t fighting at full strength, it may mean that you are constantly fighting allergies and getting more than your fair share of colds. To determine what you may have an allergy to in common, everyday circumstances, you should avoid the suspected substance for around 30 days to really be sure. And for many of us, a lack of vitamin D is the reason why we cannot fight infections as well. So make sure to take a good vitamin D supplement, too. Ahhchooo!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

May10

Mini Makeup Haul

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Mini Makeup Haul

Hello everyone and happy Hump Day! To conclude my Target Haul appreciation posts, I am here to talk to you about two gorgeous new makeups that I purchased this past weekend. I’ll be honest with you guys, I am not a big makeup girl. I stick with what I know and I legit paint my face the same way every day – which my sister LOVES to dog on me about. So I thought that I would take a step out of my comfort zone with a beautiful emerald green eyeliner by Maybelline. But I am a creature of habit, so back into my comfort zone I went with a lovely new red lipstick by L’oreal, which I am so obsessed with! Take a look and let’s discuss:

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My Purchases:

  • Maybelline Glossy Emerald eyeliner #608
  • L’oreal Ruby Flame lipstick #317

As I’ve mentioned about a million times on lifewithlilred, fifty shades of green is my color. With pasty pale skin, bright red hair, and hazel eyes that frequently change color to green or golden yellow, green is one of the colors that always looks good on me. When I worked at The Body Shop, I was definitely more adventurous with my makeup and I can remember using deep green eyeshadows as eyeliner and loving the way that it looked. So I thought that I would revisit that and attempt something different than my normal gold eyeshadow with a bright emerald liner…

The only problem is, is that I freaking suck at applying eyeliner to my top lids so this is definitely going to be a trial and error type of thing! But hey, we’ll see what happens and maybe then my sister will get off of my back for wearing the exact same makeup every day of my life, lol smh.

Now, as for my new L’oreal lipstick – I LOVE it. I have been on the hunt for a red lipstick with glitter in it for the past month and am so happy with this shade in Ruby Flame. When I took my sister shopping at Sephora for her birthday at the beginning of April, I tried my luck there for a lipstick shade that I liked but nothing spoke to me on a spiritual level. Not only did I hate everything that I tried there, but I wasn’t too keen on spending over twenty dollars for a lipstick, anyways.

I wasn’t expecting to find a glitter red that I loved for a whole seven bucks at Target! I had originally seen this L’oreal shade at the drugstore when I was killing time in between meetings for work and I really liked it but didn’t buy it. But, I made note of it for future purchasing purposes and I am really glad that I did! Ruby Flame is exactly what I’ve been searching for. A gorgeous shade of red, a light overlay of fairy dust, and a reputable brand that wasn’t going to break my bank. I am SO pleased with this find and cannot wait to use it on my next night out!

My Mini Makeup Haul at Target left me with a revamped version of a tried and true favorite in L’oreal’s Ruby Flame lipstick and a *gasp* not gold eyeshadow with Maybelline’s Glossy Emerald eyeliner. I’m looking forward to giving both of these new makeups a try and we’ll see what happens! How do you step outside of your makeup comfort zone? What is your go to shade for eyeshadows and liners? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May10

Beach Body Health Hacks

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Beach Body Health Hacks

Are you hoping to get slimmer and more slender in time for swimsuit season? If the answer is yes, then you are in the right place. The worst thing that you can do to slim down is start a crash diet. Sure, the weight will drop off quickly, but the moment you start eating normally again the weight will creep back on – you may even end up heavier than you were before.

The best thing to do when it comes to getting in better shape is putting your health first. Then, you should start to see your body changing and becoming stronger and leaner. Want to feel shiny and new for the first summer outing by the pool? Then take note of the health hacks below, implement them in your daily life, and you will see results – that’s a promise!

Start Each Day With Yoga or Pilates: Not only are both yoga and Pilates great ways to tone up, but they are also very good for your mental health. The types of meditation-based exercises that both Pilates and yoga offer incorporate gentle stretching to calming music. This helps to improve your flexibility and increase your muscle tone, as well as helping to improve your mental health and stress levels. Remember, to be truly healthy; you need to be mentally healthy, as well.

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#nameste

Have a Glass of Water Before Every Meal: Water acts as a natural appetite suppressant, which means that if you drink a glass of it before each meal, you will consume fewer calories. Water also comes with many other benefits, from improving skin health and boosting your immune system to speeding up your metabolism and preventing fatigue. So, obviously,  it’s definitely something that you want to be drinking more of! Instead of buying filtered water from your local store, visit cleanairpurewater.com and look at the cost of having a water purification system fitted into your home. It might mean making an investment, but if you are serious about being healthier, it’s an investment that will pay for itself in the long run.

Quit Sugar: One of the best things that you can do for your health is to quit sugar. The fact is, is that processed sugars are extremely bad for our bodies. Processed sugars are linked to all sorts of issues, from premature aging to acne, as well as weight gain, of course. If you are serious about being healthier and getting slimmer, then quitting processed sugar is a must. You can eat natural sugars, such as fruit sugars and raw sugar, but not processed sugars.

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So good but so bad!

Start Having Breakfast: They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and they are right. Grabbing a cereal bar as you rush out of the door to work isn’t a suitable breakfast and could actually be harming your health, especially in terms of meeting your weight loss goals. A nutritious breakfast will give you the energy that you need to have a productive day and will stop you from snacking, which is an added bonus. Ideally, your breakfast should be a combination of protein, healthy fat, and carbohydrates. Something like poached eggs, avocado, and rye bread is ideal. It keeps you full and is quick and easy to make.

Don’t expect to feel different overnight but after a few weeks of utilizing the above hacks, you should start to feel much healthier and happier in yourself. Just in time for swimsuit season! Score.

May9

Cropped Hoodie Cuteness

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Cropped Hoodie Cuteness

Hiii everyone and happy Tuesday!! The Target Haul appreciation posts continue, as I was able to work in some very fun new pieces into my wardrobe thanks to going to Target twice this weekend (lol). One type of clothing that I am SO into is the crop top. I was working at PacSun when the crop top began to become a thing again in 2014 or so, so my closet is jam packed with all of the itty bitty tops imaginable.

Not only do I love the way that crop tops look on me but I LOVE that they show off my tattoos. Because I’m getting a new tattoo on my side on the 20th, I really wanted to find a new crop top to wear when I introduce it to the world. And GOOD NEWS – I found one! Take a look and let’s discuss:

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On day one of shopping at Target this weekend, I saw this cropped hoodie and I thought that it was really cute but I didn’t bother trying it on. On day two of shopping at Target this weekend, I STILL thought that this cropped hoodie was really cute so I tried it on. #redundancy 😉

If there’s one thing that Lil Red loves, it’s urban wear. I love jerseys, joggers, backwards ball caps, and tomboy cool everything. This cropped hoodie screams urban chic to me and that is one of my favorite looks to style so, of course, I ended up buying this bad boy. This was one of those pieces that I knew I was going to like as soon as I tried it on and I was obviously right!

Not only is my new side tattoo going to look so pretty against the grey scale with a pop of red color palette but the wardrobe possibilities are endless. I am most looking forward to pairing this cropped hoodie with a pair of black short shorts, a backwards ball cap, a chunky gold chain, and my pair of floral print or tye-dye Nikes. That look will be ideal for outdoor drinks on my deck with friends or some day time running around. To Target, perhaps?!

The Cropped Hoodie Cuteness is so real with this top and the seventeen dollar holler price tag was another added bonus! Who else is a crop top fan? What style of shirt is your fave? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May9

Introverts Unite: Making Friends At College

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Introverts Unite: Making Friends At College

One of the hardest things to overcome in life is the challenge of making new friends, which is what makes college so daunting for so many. It’s just an overwhelming concept. Everything about it can make even the most extroverted person’s hands sweat profusely (and no one likes sweaty hands!). It doesn’t matter whether you are just starting out, or you have a new set of classes this semester, etc.; it can be really scary.

Luckily for you, pretty much everyone is in the exact same boat, unless they have literally no anxiety about making new friends. They may look like they’re swanning around with all of the confidence of a young Sophia Loren but, instead, they are panicking just the same because college is scary. That’s why you should take the first friendship step! But, if you’re not exactly sure how to start, here’s a few ideas for you to explore:

Say ‘Hi’ Every Time You Sit Down: We don’t mean say ‘hi’ to yourself every time you sit down because that probably won’t help you make new friends. We mean, say ‘hi’ to the person next to you. Ask them how they’re doing, how their weekend was, what they think of the professor’s paisley patterned suit. It’ll be seven seconds of awkwardness that could blossom into a lifetime of BFFing.

Have A (Secret) New Friend Calendar: You don’t have to have an actual calendar for this, although it could be fun to look back on in the future. All we want you to do is to meet someone new every day. Set yourself that challenge and see what happens. It doesn’t matter where, it just matters that you do. Statistically, some of them are going to be immensely like-minded people and if not, there’s always tomorrow to try again!

Sign Up For A Team: When you think of a team, you are probably thinking of a sports team; like cheerleading or football. But it doesn’t have to be sports. It could be a debating team, a chess team, an acapella singing team. It could be anything that resembles a team because a team suggests more than one person. Even a study group could qualify as a team, minus the fancy jackets. So whatever it is that you are interested in, go for it. You may hate it, you may love it, but you could meet your best friend because of it.

Do Your Work In A Campus Coffee Shop: If you’re shocked that going to college means doing homework, then college probably isn’t for you. Anyways, when it comes to doing the work set after each class, you should do some part of it – planning, writing, or research – in one of the campus coffee shops. Why? Let’s put it this way, you are not going to meet anyone if you do all of your studying in your room. Coffee shops, however, offer the perfect chance to fall into a conversation with someone around you – especially if you both frequent the same place often.

Get A Job Somewhere: The nice thing about college campuses is that there is the chance to earn a little bit of cash. It could be working in one of said coffee shops, for the college newspaper, in the research lab, or whatever. The point is, a lot of jobs are a great place  for networking, which is just a business term for making friends. A job requires you to be somewhere at a specified time with the same people, so you are going to get to know them without having to step outside of your comfort zone to start up a chatter with a stranger. Clever.

Alright introverts, let’s unite! But in our own rooms with the door shut. JK. Get out there, take a deep breath, and make some new friends around your college campus. 😀

Featured Image By: Pexels

May9

The Best Things About Owning A Dog

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The Best Things About Owning A Dog

Dogs are one of the first domesticated animals in history, and it doesn’t take long to figure out why humans have had such a long and amicable relationship with these amazing creatures. They’re funny, loyal, and are always happy to see you, whether you’re in the mood for their antics or not! If you or someone in your house needs just a little more convincing, here are some of the best things about owning a dog (besides for all of the things!!):

They’re Hilarious! Your dog will make you laugh pretty often, perhaps every day if you bring the right pooch home from the shelter! Dogs are always getting up to silly, funny things that will bring a little more joy to your day, even when you’re having a really tough one. Whether it’s breaking into fits of barking and howling when a certain song comes on or licking peanut butter off of their nose for an hour straight (and they will), as a dog owner, you’re sure to see all kinds of things that will put a smile on your face!

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DOGGO!

They Keep Your Mind Engaged: You probably already knew that dogs can be great for getting more physical exercise in, but they’re also very conducive to regular mental exercise, which is often just as important for a healthy, happy life. Any long-time dog owner will tell you that their dog has taught them all kinds of things, and continues to teach them to this day. This is especially true when they’re puppies and your mind is buzzing with all kinds of questions and uncertainties. What are the signs that they’re ill? How often should you walk them? What’s the best food for your dog? Similar to caring for a child, getting into the rhythm of parenting (lol) a dog takes a lot of time and mental effort, which never really stops.

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#friendship

You’ll Have a Friend for Life: Dogs spend a large part of their lives observing us and interacting with us. After a few years of living with a dog, they’ll be intimately familiar with all the little mannerisms and quirks that makes you the person that you are. Healthy dogs also have a natural sense of empathy, and will be able to pick up on a familiar human’s emotions with the drop of a hat. Many long-time dog owners have had instances where they’ve been feeling particularly dejected, and their pet had started exhibiting worried, submissive behavior. At times, it seems that man’s best friend can communicate better than man! Good dog. ❤

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Sweet PUPPER!

They’re Great Personal Trainers: If you know that you should be getting more exercise, you’ll obviously know how hard it is to push yourself into a solid regimen and then stick to it. When you own a dog, on the other hand, you’ll have your own little personal trainer who will keep on getting you out of the door and moving those muscles. No matter how lazy you’re feeling, when a dog wants a walk, they’ll come right up to you with some intense, meaningful looks, maybe even with their leash in their mouth. You won’t be able to turn down that little face as easily as yourself! Seriously. You won’t.

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SO. CUTE!

Long story short: dogs are the best. The end. 😀

Featured Image By: Pixabay