Seventeen years ago I let a puppy into my life. It was love at first sight, I won’t deny that. However, I didn’t suspect how much it would change my life. Living with a dog – really living – that is, spending time together to the point where you both know exactly what the other wants and experiences, can change your life, or at least your view of the world.
Pets not only bring us a great deal of happiness, but they can also teach us valuable life lessons. We just need to be attentive and learn to listen with our hearts because, as Saint-Exupery said, “what is essential is invisible to the eyes.”
The most important life lessons dogs can teach us
1. Love unconditionally
True love does not impose conditions, it is self-giving. Love is not subject to certain conditions, we love because we want to, because it is a necessity and because that act makes us feel good, without expecting anything in return and regardless of the mistakes the other person makes. Many pets are capable of giving that kind of love, most people do not achieve it because they assume affection as a commodity.
2. Express affection, always
It doesn’t matter if we’ve only been away from home for 30 minutes, when we come back inside, our pet will greet us as if we’ve just returned from a long trip. Our pets never miss an opportunity to express their feelings. In the same way, we shouldn’t miss any opportunity to show the people we love how important they are to us.
3. Live every moment as if it were the first and the last
Our mind is our greatest ally, but also our most bitter enemy. We are unable to enjoy many situations simply because we are too worried about the future or stuck in the past. Obviously, dogs have a much simpler psyche than ours, which plays in their favor and allows them to live the here and now more fully. However, we can also learn to do so, putting passion into each moment and living it as if it were the first and the last because, in reality, we will never know if we will have another opportunity.
4. Forgive, no matter the affront
Dogs also get angry, anyone who lives with one knows this. And they show it. However, they are also capable of going a step further and forgiving. They quickly make peace, they do not hold grudges. It is much more difficult for us to forgive and move on, we remain stuck in the past, reliving the affront over and over again. However, only when we forgive, we can truly free ourselves.
5. Enjoy the little pleasures in life
I could spend hours watching dogs play or even feeling their breathing while they sleep. A pet teaches us that happiness is not found in big things but in those small moments that we often throw away, rushed by the rush. However, it is essential to learn to be happy, with much or little, because happiness is within us, it is not something we should look for outside.
6. Be loyal and committed
Dogs have a special sense of loyalty and commitment, a sense so strong that it sometimes makes us feel ashamed of ourselves. Your pet knows perfectly well that he should love you even when you least deserve it, because that is when you need it the most. Learning to commit, but really, is a quality that only does us good.
7. Embrace the chaos
Most people find it difficult to deal with uncertainty and chaos, but we like planning and order because they create a sense of security. However, most dogs are happy in absolute chaos and even enjoy it. This is because they don’t have too many preconceived ideas, they simply adapt as circumstances change. They adjust their sails to the change in the wind, and so continue sailing along calmly.
8. Defend personal space
Dogs also experience negative emotions, and at such times they let us know by defending their space and privacy. This is how we come to realize that it is not the best time to play or cuddle them. In the same way, we should not let others continually invade our personal space and privacy, no matter how much they love us, but we should learn to defend it assertively. It is about not letting others use our time and resources as they please, just because they manipulate us emotionally.
9. Communicate without words
Words fill the void that comes from a lack of emotional connection. Obviously, in some situations, we need to express what we think, but when it comes to feelings, words are often superfluous. So, when we look for someone to share our life with, we need to make sure that we can communicate without words, connect emotionally without having to speak. Sometimes a hug or a look can convey more emotion than a thousand words together.
10. Feeling unique
The affection of a pet makes you feel unique and irreplaceable. It is as if it were continually telling us that we deserve love, something that we forget as we grow up. When we are aware of this, we can not only develop greater self-esteem but we want to surround ourselves with people who make us feel just as good, who are by our side because they have decided to be and because they really want to share their lives with us, making us feel special.
Leave a Reply