Many people interact with pets on a daily basis. One look into their faces, and we realize we are the blessed ones to have them in our world. There is something about our pets that give children a sense of security, and provide a calming presence to adults. Beyond the many benefits of having a pet, they exemplify a certain wisdom that humans might do well to take notice of.
Animals
have inherent worth that deserves our respect. Cherish
your pets as the family members they are. Though pets can be challenging at
times (just like humans), the effort of caring for our pets is always worth it. Often humans feel like they need their pets more than the pets need them. Animals can teach us so many
lessons about life. They can mold us positively into who we’ve become today:
1.
Contentment In a world full of opportunities to compare myself to
others, I find this lesson to be the one that resonates most with me. In the
midst of being blessed with family and friends, good health, and a beautiful
place to live, I still find ways to compare myself to others. It’s
ridiculous, but I find myself falling
into the trap time and time again. Whenever I need a reality check, I think
about the ways in which I’ve learned about contentment from the pets I’ve had over
the years.
Pets don’t worry about overdue
bills, home repairs, or ill relatives, but they still remind us of all there is
to be content with including the basics like food, water, shelter, and love.
Pets are content to simply just be present with their owners, which is a
reminder of how meaningful it is to spend time with loved ones.
2.
Gratitude Pets remind us of the value of being grateful for all that
we have. This life lesson goes hand-in-hand with the concept of contentment:
First we learn to be content with what we have, and then we learn to express
gratitude for those things. Pets are thankful for the simplest little things in
life, and most are able to express their gratitude in specific ways, whether it
comes in the form of kisses or verbal
affirmations. I wonder if I approach the little things in my life with
enthusiasm. It reminds me that there’s something that I can be thankful for
every single day.
3.
Loyalty The loyalty they display reminds us of the ways in which we
can be loyal and loving to the important people in our own lives. Pets greet
us, and show us affection on a regular basis. Loyalty isn’t a topic we discuss
much even though it’s a crucial component in relationships.
We often focus on honesty, openness
and love when discussing relationships, but we less frequently expound upon the
importance of being loyal to one another by being supportive of one another’s
decisions, showing up when someone’s in need, and protecting the parts of each
other’s lives that should be kept confidential. Pets remind us of how it feels
to be on the receiving end of someone’s loyalty, encouraging us to treat our
family and friends in the same way.
4.
Responsibility As any pet owner knows, taking care of your pets can be a
lot of work. It’s worthwhile work. Scheduling appointments, tracking medication,
keeping living spaces clean, and taking pets out for bathroom breaks are
consuming tasks that help teach us to become more responsible with our time and
our resources. We learn to better prepare for financial emergencies, should
they arise, and we make our schedules in such a way to be the best parents to
our pets.
“A cat does not want all the world to
love her. Only those she has chosen to
love.” (Helen Thomson)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“10 Helpful Life
Lessons You Can Learn From Your Pet” Elizabeth Street
·
“10 Important Life Lessons we can Learn From
Animals” by One Green Planet
·
“Life
Lessons We Can Learn From Our Pets” by Rachel Brown
This post is dedicated
to my three Chihuahuas, Chico, Rosco, and Lola. They give my life meaning.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY 2018
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