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    25 Life Lessons From Cody

    This post is for my dog Cody who was tragically taken from me way too soon. I decided to share pictures that inspired words, quotes, philosophies and smiles. Enjoy and share!

    lagilbare
    by lagilbare

    Community Contributor

    1. Spread Joy

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    Cody always brought an encompassed complete joy and unconditional love.

    “Find a place inside where there's joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.”

    -Joseph Campbell

    2. Remember to Smile

    Cody's smile was and still is contagious. It is important for us to remember and to actively smile because studies have shown that smiling makes us happier.

    http://www.ted.com/talks/ron_gutman_the_hidden_power_of_smiling

    3. Presence

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    Cody was always completely engaged anywhere he went with no hesitation. It is hard for us to fully be present so strive to let it all go so we can give our full presence.

    "When you are existing, life happens to you

    and when you are living, you happen to life."

    -Steve Maraboli

    4. Get Out in Nature

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    Cody truly enjoyed all the sights, sounds and smells of nature and loved exploring it. Be compelled to appreciate nature and embrace our beautiful surroundings. So get out there and soak in the beauty of it.

    "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."

    -Henry David Thoreau

    5. Be Curious

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    Being curious or wanting to obtain knowledge about something can open us up to new possibilities, ideas and experiences which is fundamental to growing and learning.

    6. Learn to Reflect

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    It is essential for us to learn to self-reflect because it contributes to personal growth by genuinely observing and challenging ourselves. It allows us to gain peace about past situations and take those lessons into the future with us.

    One of my all time favorite quotes from Emerson, "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

    7. Contemplate Life

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    Look at things thoughtfully.

    "The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness

    and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival."

    -Aristotle

    8. Live in the Moment

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    Cody was, just as many other dogs, truly a Zen dog. He always lived fully in the moment which we all can practice a little more! Let the mind just be and enjoy the present because life is too short to get too focused on future or stuck in the past.

    If you worry about what might be, and wonder what might have been, you will ignore what is.

    9. Unreserved Readiness

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    Have the willingness to do every and anything. Step out of your comfort zone and dive in fully.

    "Live every act fully, as if it were your last."

    -Buddha

    10. Rules are Meant to be Broken

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    Break the rules sometimes. Be Bold. Be a Rebel.

    "If I'd observed the rules, I'd never have got anywhere."

    -Marilyn Monroe

    11. Lead the Way

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    Lead the way and others who share that same vision will follow.

    “A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.”

    -William Shedo

    12. Be a Good Sport

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    Cody loved (might be too strong of a word haha) to let us play and dress him up. Be a good sport and let your guard down from time to time.

    "To share your weakness is to make yourself vulnerable, to make yourself vulnerable is to share your strength."

    -Criss Jami

    13. May the Force be with You

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    Cody was a wise old soul and apparently channeled his owner's love for Star Wars. To whatever you believe in, always have faith.

    “A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack.”

    -Yoda Empire Strikes Back

    14. The Inside

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    It is okay to have a bad hair day....as long as you rock it with confidence. The thing is that external beauty does not matter and eventually fades what really matters, what really is important is what you have inside.

    Beauty isn't about having a pretty face. It is about having a beautiful mind, a kind heart and a good soul.

    15. Work Hard, Play Harder

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    Cody reminded me that sometimes work can wait. Yes we have responsibilities and need to work/study but remember we must have a lot of fun too.

    “When he worked, he really worked. But when he played, he really played.”

    -Dr. Seuss

    16. Get Your Rest

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    Mostly put this one up because the pictures are so cute but sleep is so important for our emotional and physical well being. Rest well.

    "Sleep is the best meditation."

    -Dalai Lama

    17. Walk Your Path

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    Walk your path or make your own trail. Be and do what feels true and right for you and only you, not for others.

    "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."

    -Ralph Waldo Emerson

    18. Live Harmoniously

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    Cody wanted to play with all, even Misty (parents cat) who was very resistant. Don't judge someone because they are different from you. We are all humans just trying to figure this life thing out.

    "We must all learn to live together as brothers (and sisters) or we will all perish together as fools."

    - Martin Luther King Jr.

    19. Wander

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    Learn to just wander and see where it takes you.

    All that is gold does not glitter,

    Not all those who wander are lost;

    The old that is strong does not wither,

    Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

    -J. R. R. Tolkien

    20. Explore

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    Explore. Dream. Discover.

    "It is only in adventure that some people succeed in knowing themselves - in finding themselves."

    -Andre Gide

    21. Remain Pure

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    "If a man (or woman) lives a pure life, nothing can destroy him."

    -Buddha

    22. Look Up

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    Remember to stay and actively think positively, our brains naturally dwell in the negative (thanks ancestors).

    "Change your thoughts and you change your world."

    -Norman Vincent Peale

    23. Different Perspectives

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    Look at things from other's perspectives or explore different viewpoints. You can learn something from changing your perception and remember its okay to be wrong.

    “One person's craziness is another person's reality.”

    -Tim Burton

    24. Love

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    Love your friends and family fully.

    All you need is love, love

    Love is all you need

    -The Beatles

    25. Be Loyal

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    Cody my ever faithful companion. It is hard to trust people but show them they can trust you and you will be surprised by the reciprocity.

    "If having a soul means being able to feel love, loyalty, and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans."

    -James Herriot

    26. Last Lesson

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    Walk into the unknown.

    “It is this belief in a power larger than myself

    and other than myself which allows me to venture

    into the unknown and even the unknowable.”

    -Maya Angelou

    27. In Remembrance of Codes Ba Godes

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    To Cody

    Who taught us to

    say yes to life

    and so much more...

    You will always be in my heart and

    I will carry your spirit with me

    To my love nugget, snuggle bug, codes ba godes, codes, Cody

    Cody Walden Gilbert

    5/1/10-1/04/14

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