One of the things that I am most grateful for this year are the amazing role models and mentors in my life. These are the women working hard to build a company that impels our girls to be authentic, face their fears, and live as leaders. The women that I refer to include women in my family, mothers of daughters in our programs, mother of friends— all who bring their own stories, strengths and experiences to the GLI table. But there is one mentor in my life that I never expected or recruited, my dog Ronald.

Nobody is better at being “real”, asking for what he needs and communicating how he feels than Ronald. I know he is a dog. I get it-- but he has so much to teach us! The fact that Ronald is so good at being real isn’t always easy for me. Sometimes I wish he would be a good dog and put my needs and wants first, but he never does.

His first priority is always food. Food goes before love, comfort and sleep. You know that you’ve felt the same way at some point in your life-- you definitely considered biting the hand of the person taking that last piece of pizza. Ronald can be snoring away, but if I open a bag of anything in the kitchen he is quickly and stealthily by my side. Put food in his bowl and it is gone in seconds. If I (loving and doting owner) try to take food out of his mouth, I may loose a digit.

Then there is this “cool” thing that most of us learn along the way. Coolness keeps us from sharing too much of any emotion, including elation and love. Ronald is far from cool. This means that when a friend walks through the door he dashes towards them, his whole body trembling with joy and tries to jump up and lick them. If he is mad at you for leaving him, then he barks, licks and jumps all at the same time, because he is both angry and excited, or “exigry.”

So next time that I worry that someone is watching what I choose to eat, I will let myself be inspired by Ronald as I spread butter on my bread. I’ll give myself permission to be both relieved and angry when a loved one comes in the door late. Best of all, I will let myself be thrilled to see my people. Ronald shows me there no reason to hold back.