As you read this, you are probably in the same situation that I’m in, which is being stuck in your house, waiting for more news on the Coronavirus, and trying to figure out how to preoccupy yourself as you begin to run out of things to do. Some of you have the ability to work from home, which in a way can be a good thing, but also a bad thing as you try and balance your personal life with your professional one. In any case that you find yourself in, isolation stress/depression has come into your life one way or another. Whether it’s for a fleeting moment, or a constant uphill climb, the vast majority of us are left to face this endeavor on our own.
But then it happens. You feel a wet nose nudge your arm. A lick on your face as you sleep on the couch after binge watching Tiger King. A rub against your ankle as she walks all over your feet. It’s your pet!
Pets, whether dogs or cats or lizards or whatever you have taken in as your own, have been there for us no matter the circumstance. When we are happy, guess whose there? When we are sad or angry, look whose coming up to see you, or laying on your lap? Yep, it’s your pet.
Especially in times like those we face today, pets, in my opinion, are a unique, and also a reliable source of providing us with a smile or laugh when are days turn grey. They have no recollection of good or bad in this world. Sure they get grumpy or tired, but most of the time, we think it’s the cutest thing ever! And none of that has changed.
I think in normal life, when we have so much going on, pets can become more of a liability, rather than an asset to our happiness. Pooping in the house, spilling their food, and begging. But that’s not the point in having a companion like your pet around. They love us no matter what, like seriously. They are so happy that you woke up this morning or came home from work, it’s like they’re meeting the love of their life for the first time. They don’t know what going on, and that’s probably the best thing we could’ve asked for.
All we know is that these animals see us as their best friend, and will roll over backwards or chase a laser pointer to put a smile on our face.
So I ask that, if you have a dog, cat, fish, lizard, etc., give them some time to make your day a little brighter. Eleven times out of ten, they’ll be able to.
thementalhealthminute.com 