Don't you agree that it’s awesome to have a pet, yet it’s tough to decide getting one because of the huge responsibility and commitment it entails?
I have witnessed how my mom and my siblings (well, my mom especially) spend hours every single day preparing food and looking after the two Shih Tzu and one Golden Retriever at home. Taking care of them and cleaning their mess seemed like a full-time job. It is eating up a lot of my mom’s time and energy. It is exhausting.
My 6-year old son TJ had been wooing us for weeks to get our own dog. Is having one really worth all the time and effort? I mean, my siblings and I had one lovely dog when we were children, and that was a beautiful experience. Now that we are busier adults, can we afford to have a dog at home?
After several trips to many pet shops and choosing over several dog breeds, we finally brought home a black Labrador puppy one cold December night.
It was like having a new family member. We didn’t quite know what to do during the first night. Where would he sleep? Oh, I have an old baby blanket, he could make use of that.
The next morning, we knew our life would change in many ways. It was almost like having a new baby, minus the birthing process.
But more than anything else, here are the five best things we realized and learned to love again having Doodie around, our puppy Lab.
1. Go out, walk, run, jump, play several times a day.
Bask in the sun and bond with nature. Enjoy life. Move your body. Loosen up. Go all out and chase that ball. Give yourself a break. Life’s a lot more fun outside.
2. Love, loyalty, and attachment are three great things to experience every single day.
Dogs are known for their unconditional love. You come home late, exhausted from a terrible traffic, and your dog will shower you with wet kisses while wagging his tail. And he does this even though you just shouted at him for biting your slippers, again! Spending fun and lazy moments with Doodie sparked the relationship which we now enjoy. Dogs are loyal creatures. Imagine if all the people on this planet are loyal and dependable.
3. Take care and look after others.
Animals make people more human. That’s what animal lovers say. And that dogs are men’s best friend. To some, this is an arguable statement. But to dog lovers, it is a meaningful declaration. If we can only truly care for one another, then this earth will be a more beautiful place to live in.
4. It’s awesome to feel valued every moment of your life.
Dogs are awesome and they value being with you so much. See the excitement in their eyes and the never-ending wagging of the tail when you walk in the door, like it was the most exciting moment of their lives? Shouldn’t we feel the same way, treasuring every moment we spend with our loved ones, cherishing every step we make in our journey in this world?
5. Remain simple.
Dogs just love simple things. Give them a braided old cloth and they would happily play with it until all threads disentangle. Appreciate the little things in life. We can dream big and aim high, but we can remain simple during the journey.
Doodie has reminded us of many good life lessons. All awesome!
Feel free to share what you have learned from your friend dog in the comments below.
My older Cocker Spaniel, Spencer, is blind now. He can no longer play with his beloved tennis balls. (He actually preferred playing to eating!) But that has not stopped him from enjoying life. He can still go for walks and sniff every leaf and blade of grass along the way. (Cockers LOVE to sniff!) He still bounces forward even though sometimes he walks into things. He still enjoys his treats and having his tummy rubbed. In other words, he has not given up on life! He can't do everything he did before but he enjoys what he CAN do. I admire his attitude towards life and have learned from it.
ReplyDeleteWow! That's an awesome and very inspiring story, Sherry. Spencer is a fighter and lives his life to the fullest. He oozes positive attitude, and that's amazing!
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