Given the choice to lie on the hardwood floor or on the plush carpet, our dog Sydney will choose the carpet every time. And she’ll bring along her favorite toys, positioning them in a way that assures they’ll be there when she wakes up from her nap.

Sydney is making a choice to be happy and to surround herself with things that keep her that way. Our pets can teach us a lot about making the choice to be happy. Here are a few:

Be grateful. Bring Sydney her food and she’ll gallop for joy. Approach her to pet her and she’ll wag her tail. Give Sydney a DQ treat and she’ll be too busy to say thanks, but you’ll understand just how grateful she is.    .

Be present in the moment. When she wants attention, Sydney sits perfectly still, looking up with her tail wagging. That moment is all that matters to her.

Be forgiving. Leave the house or accidentally step on her foot, Sydney doesn’t doesn’t hold a grudge. She forgets and stays focused on the positive.

Be health conscious. When it’s time to eat, Sydney eats. When it’s time to play, Sydney plays. And when it’s time to rest, Sydney rests.

Be kind. More than anything, Sydney is happy to see you. She’ll jump on you, give you her paw, and generally just let you know that you matter.

The choices we make can lead to a happier life. It’s turning on some relaxing music in a traffic jam. It’s choosing to manage our time so that we have time to play. And it’s being open to the call God has for our life by making choices that honor Him.

In their book, “How we choose to be Happy”, Rick Foster and Greg Hicks write, “It’s the decision to consciously choose attitudes and behaviors that lead to happiness over unhappiness. We may not be able to choose our circumstances or the events around us, but we do have the power to choose our reactions.”

So choose wisely and be happy.