7 Things My Dog taught Me
Living with a dog changes your life. Not only is it a great responsibility, but it is an inexhaustible source of education and well-being. Having shared a large part of my life with animals has made me immensely happy, but it has also brought me countless benefits.
Every day is an adventure and there is not a single moment in which being with him you feel alone. So, if you accompany me, below I will tell you 7 things that my dog taught me:
1. My dog taught me to love unconditionally
My dog taught me the value of commitment and reciprocity. Thanks to my dog I learned the value of loyalty, which is immense. And unconditional love, love whatever happens and the love of “I always want you by my side because with you my life is infinitely better.”
2. To be patient and to forgive
Actually, my dog teaches me every day not to get angry. Life is not rosy, and my dog knows that; However, he is able to forgive any wrongdoing or any departure from tone and move on, because there is a much greater bond that binds us forever.
3. To live each moment intensely
My dog enjoys a walk, a game time or a meal as if it were the first or the last of his life. He also has his anxieties and worries, but everything makes him enjoy and tries to live it intensely. It is something like the “doggy carpe diem” .
In addition, each day they set aside time to explore and exercise, they don’t spend a whole day without doing it even just a little bit. As for the walk, he does not care where to go, he is happy to accompany me and knows how to value those moments. There is nothing to make me smile like seeing how happy he gets because he goes out for a walk.
4. To worship chaos
I adore their neat mess. Amid the chaos of toys and bones between the different rooms of the house, he knows where he has what he wants and what he wants at all times.
There is no reason to waste time organizing things or prioritizing: my dog is happy with how much or how little he has, he remembers that he has it and knows how to enjoy it. If I start picking up her toys to take them to her crib she chases after me to make sure I have everything under control. And the most amazing thing is that it succeeds. I wish I was able to lead my life so organized without constantly worrying about order.
5. To enjoy the little pleasures of life
Listening to his calm breathing at night gives me an indescribable peace. He lies close to me and feels safe and loved. As much as I am by his side. Listening to him is as delicious as listening to the sea breeze or the singing of the birds.
6. To communicate with my body
He may not understand what I am saying but he knows from my gestures or the way I put my body towards him what my emotional state is, or if I want to say something to him. We have both become very skilled at understanding each other and there is nothing that can resist us. Animals are true emotion detectors.
It is very common that those who have shared their life with an animal have had the feeling that they really seem to understand what we are saying. It’s true, they do it … I don’t know if it is because of what we say or how we say it, but our ability to communicate and exchange becomes amazing. This has really made me aware of what I can get to transmit.
7. To feel unique and irreplaceable
A dog teaches you hundreds of things, gives you what you need and will follow you for a lifetime. But what an animal is going to teach you is to love yourself and accept the fact of being a person worthy of love.
My dog has made me a better person and I know that he will continue to do so every day. It has taught me that I can be loved with great intensity and unconditionally. But also, it has taught me the value of saying I love you every day and, moreover, saying it without words.
Images courtesy of Annette Shaff and Christin Lola
