Everyday wisdom from my canine companions

Being a proud parent of two doggies - Zoe the Shih Tzu and Kyra the Boxer, who have such infectious energy, I cannot stop thinking about how much they affect my life and well-being. In my newsletter, I had delved into the importance of mentorship and somehow missed my two furry friends who are repositories of wisdom and teach lessons in forgiveness, selfless love, and a lot more.

Although I do not remember how my love for animals began, I got it from the mothership, who was so involved in canine welfare activities throughout my childhood that I picked it from her or maybe it was something that came naturally.

Today, I cannot imagine my world without my dogs. Not only do I look forward to taking them out for their everyday stroll, and watching dog movies, but even my clothes have dog symbols.

Having spent quite a large chunk of my life with dogs around, I can say for sure that there is a lot you can learn from them in life. They teach you about love that is unconditional, trust that is unwavering and the fact that family does not always come in the shape of humans who share a bloodline. So, what are the lessons that I have learned from being a dog parent.

Live in the Moment:

Dogs are the epitome of mindfulness, fully immersing themselves in the present, be it during a game of fetch or a quiet cuddle session. Adopting this trait encourages us to focus on current tasks with undivided attention, enhancing productivity and quality of work while reducing stress and anxiety.

Forgiveness and Resilience:

Dogs have the remarkable ability to bounce back from setbacks with grace and positivity, forgiving quickly and holding no grudges. Incorporating this resilience into our professional lives can foster a work culture that values growth from mistakes and encourages open communication and understanding.

No judgement:

In a society that is constantly judging us for our looks, weight, and position, dogs hold none of that. Zilch. They rely on their instincts and react based on how they are treated by humans. So, if you call out their names with love and pet them, they will copy your behaviour and give back in the form of wags and licks and cuddles.

Loyalty:

My heart was touched by the recent news from Jammu and Kashmir where Kent, a six-year-old Army dog was killed while trying to save the life of a soldier during an encounter. If this is not loyalty, I do not know what is. As a dog parent, I experience this kind of loyalty every day. I think this is something that we humans could learn from our dogs, how to be loyal in our relationships.

Be open to adventure:

As humans, once we get set in our habits, we tend to be wary of change. Not dogs. Heck, no. They are open to new adventures, in the form of scouting for rat holes during their walks, shooing the birds away from the balcony or even picking a bark fest with a dog thrice their size. They are open to adventure, road trips and joy rides, always checking back to see that their human is around.

Learning from dogs cannot be written down in a few lines. In fact, you need a lifetime to experience lessons in love, empathy, kindness, and forgiveness. The learning?never?stops.