Everyone needs a companion in life. That might include a partner, a friend, or many of them over the years. But most people would accept that the relationship we have with our pets is special and unique.
When our lovely cat sits on our lap and purrs as we watch a film, or when we wake up each morning to an excited dog begging us for that morning walk in the park, it’s easy to feel full of joy.
Better yet, a pet can be a wonderful friend to have when going through a tough time in your life. They never judge you (even if a cat seems like they are), they will be there by your side no matter what, and they can provide companionship for those quiet moments when you don’t feel like talking.
For this reason, a furry pet could be a great life companion through tough times. But of course, this involves more than just sitting around and relaxing with your pet, more it’s about how they contribute to your lifestyle and how they help you get out of your comfort zone that really counts.
Sure, you’ll need to adopt to new habits, such as using a pet hair remover for laundry, or house training them. If you are having a cat see Boxiecat cat litter subscription for natural clumping cat litter. But the whole process is so worth it, and part of the joy of looking after a new family member.
In this post, we’ll discuss a few means by which to think about bringing home a pet if needed, and how they improve your life perspective:
Having a pet means you’ll need to stick to a routine, and that’s not a bad thing at all. Pets need consistently to be as healthy as possible, and so do we, even if we don’t always realize it. You might find yourself waking up earlier to feed your cat or take your dog for a walk, and suddenly your mornings have a purpose beyond just dragging yourself out of bed. It’s hard to overstate how important that is when you’re having a tough time and may suffer depressive symptoms.
It’s also amazing how quickly you can adjust to these new norms. Before you know it, you’re looking forward to those quiet moments with your furry friend before the chaos of the day begins, maybe walking with a flask of hot tea, for example. If we’re honest, there’s something incredibly satisfying about being needed, even if it’s just to scoop some food into a bowl or change a litter box too. If you can’t look after yourself so well right now, maybe doing so for a furry friend is good enough.
It’s not just about routine, but about getting out the house too. Sometimes, especially when we’re feeling down, it can be tempting to become a bit of a hermit, as we explained above. But with a pet, you’ve got a built-in reason to step outside.
Dogs need their walks, of course, but even if you have a cat or another indoor pet, you’ll find yourself popping out to the pet store for supplies or to the vet for check-ups. Some cats may even relax with you outside. These little periods of leaving the home, especially after a difficult life event can be a breath of fresh air, literally and figuratively.
Having a pet tends to be a gentle nudge to stay connected with the world outside your four walls, and that can be incredibly valuable when you would otherwise stay inside, spend time on the computer, or use up your free time doing nothing.
There’s something incredibly special about being the center of someone’s world, even if that someone has four legs and a tail. To your pet, you’re not just a person – you’re their whole world. It’s important to remember that of course. Your pet is just part of your world, but you are everything to them, be that how they socialize, how they’re fed, the health they enjoy in life, all of it is down to you. It’s a big responsibility but they love you for it all the same.
Little furry friends don’t care if you’ve had a bad day at work or if you’re feeling a bit down. To them, you’re perfect just as you are, something not all humans might make clear. Let’s face it, sometimes life can be harsh, mean and difficult ,and so having this constant reminder that you matter, that you’re important, and that you’re loved is very massive for some people. You don’t have to be weak or alone to find value in that.
Pets seem to spawn with huge personalities and it’s amazing to see. Your cat could have a bizarre obsession with sitting in cardboard boxes, or your dog does a happy dance every time you sneeze for no reason at all. It’s funny to see these quirks.
Such little unique characteristics can be genuinely incredible for familial comedy. The best part is they’re not even trying to be funny – they’re just being themselves. Maybe they love watching television with you or become very concerned when you have a nature documentary on. All pet owners have stories like this.
Pets have a wonderful way of making us slow down and appreciate the little things. They enjoy routines as we discussed above, and certainly know what time they need to be fed. But apart from that, they have no appointments, they don’t care about being productive, they have no digital calendars to fulfill.
For that reason, when you’re cuddling with your cat or playing fetch with your dog, you’re fully in the moment. You’re not thinking or worrying about tomorrow. You’re just… there enjoying a mutual companionship. This kind of mindfulness can be incredibly beneficial for our mental health, especially at a time when our emotions are frayed and we might be confused. It’s no wonder people tend to rely on and love their pets when they’ve lost a loved one, or are going through a health condition. It allows them to see the value of everyday again.
It doesn’t really matter if you’ve been gone for five minutes or five hours, a pet’s excitement to see you is the same. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that no matter what kind of day you’ve had, there’s someone waiting at home who thinks you’re the best thing since sliced bread (or since squeaky toys, in their case).
Of course, it’s important to make sure they’re not home alone too often (if you work a 9-5 (giving them a companion or making sure people come and go from your house is helpful). That said, this continual presence of love and affection can be incredibly comforting, because you’ll always return to warmth no matter if your job sucked that day, or if you broke up with your partner.
Chatting with other dog owners at the park or swapping cat stories with your neighbor can be a nice way into social connection with other people, even if your pets never meet. These interactions might seem pretty small, but if you have a nice friend you can greet in the park each morning, well, that’s lovely.
You might even find yourself part of a whole new community of pet lovers such as with local dog walking groups. Better yet, there tends to be no pretension about these people – it’s hard to think too highly of yourself when you’re picking up poo while talking to someone. Getting out there and meeting new people, even if it’s just at your dog training sessions, can be a nice life experience to have.
Read my bestselling book Happy Habits
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