Today I feel moved to share something from the heart, how pets quietly and beautifully enrich our lives. They fill our days with comfort, companionship and a kind of unconditional love that asks for nothing and somehow that gives everything. Let’s be honest our pets aren’t just pets they are our four legged children and often the rulers of the house. This isn’t just a retirement thing. I have happily seen it from all ages, from very young to the elderly. If you have ever tiptoed around a wagging dog or negotiated bedtime with a cat who insists on sleeping on your chest, you already know who is in charge. These are the bonds we share with our pets.
The Nurturer in Me Never Retired – The bonds we share with our pets
As someone who has had an empty nest for the past several years, I have noticed that the urge to nurture doesn’t disappear when the kids grow up. It just shifts. After years of focusing on raising children and building careers, we suddenly find ourselves with time to breath and maybe notice the quiet. That’s when the tail wags and feathered chirps start to mean more.
A Dog’s Schedule
In my case I have two dogs, Lily and Lucy who have seamlessly stepped into the role of keeping me to my schedule. Mornings begin with the ceremonial letting out of the dogs. This is followed by the sacred boiling of the tea kettle, all the while two pairs of bright eyes with wagging tails keep a very close eye on me making their breakfast. They watch me like I’m a piece of well-cooked bacon. Breakfast time is an event of equal parts patience and enthusiasm. They wait for their meals with a level of joy I reserve for chocolate filled croissants and a day without any appointments.
Once breakfast is done, my furry companions head off to find a cozy spot in the sunlight or nestle in a blanket while I ease into my morning routine. Dogs have such an uncanny sense of time. By late morning they know it’s going to be time for a walk. I do not have to look at the clock. I know it’s time when I have two sets of eyes tracking my every move. When I ask “who wants to go for a walk?” The joy that erupts is pure magic, tails wagging, paws dancing and off to the front door we all go (I love the walks as much as they do!)
Dog Superpowers
Now let’s talk about their real superpowers, sound recognition. Forget about doorbells or alarms. The subtle crinkle of the opening of a snack bag, the whisper of the shredded cheese bag being opened or the subtle snap of a cracker sleeve? That’s their call to action. From the farthest room in the house they appear in record time, alert, hopeful and determined. They have absolutely mastered the art of the sweet stare-down. They inch closer in tiny scoots silently asking “ Just a little bite”
Bedtime: A Shared Adventure
Let’s talk about bedtime. Remember the parenting milestone of your child sleeping in their own bed? Yes, well it has reversed itself with the dogs. My dogs have declared my bed as community property. One curls up neatly near the pillow burrowed like a professional blanket thief. The other dog, the larger one takes a more interpretive approach to sleep. It’s all diagonal limbs, limbs in the air, and belly to the sky. Some nights I find myself perched on the edge of the mattress, one leg cramped and frozen in place. Heaven forbid I disturb them.
Here’s the thing I have realized that I wouldn’t ever trade it, in this stage of life or at any stage. Pets remind us what love looks like when it’s simple, unconditional, soft fur and someone is always happy to see you. They don’t ask for much, but somehow they give us back parts of ourselves we didn’t know we lost.
No matter the species, dog, cat, rabbit, pig or anything in between our pets love with an open heart. They feel deeply. They flourish when they’re met with the same kind of unconditional love they so freely give. Just like us they thrive with the warmth of connection. The ASPCA recognizes just how important these bonds are.
Tell me your Pet Story – The Bonds We Share With Our Pets
If you’ve got a pet who’s claimed your heart and maybe your bed,. I’d love to hear your stories about the bonds we share with our pets. Have they helped you discover new things in this phase of life? Drop a comment below or send me a photo.
“ In a world that moves too fast and talks too loud, our animals teach us in the quiet magic of simply being together”
Thanks for being here,
-Soraya