What it really means to have a pet?
The story behind 'good boy Bruce'
Hello Friends,
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I hope you are having a good weekend. Last week it was Bruce, my dog’s 3rd birthday and it was also my sister’s birthday and so as the legacy follows we celebrated both of them together! So everyone, go, wish Bruce HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY in the comments below!!
As any parent, I have done my share of letting the world know that I indeed own a dog, who is a “very good boy” but of course special occasions call for special appreciation. And though Bruce will never be able to read and understand this newsletter, I still wanted to write about how important he is in my life and what it actually means to be a dog parent.
Owning a dog or for that matter, any pet is a big responsibility, a big commitment:
Now, I don’t want to sound like Oscar from The Office while making this point, but yes owning a dog is definitely not limited to Instagramming their cute pictures. My life in many ways wrapped around the needs of Bruce. From something as basic as making time every day for outdoor walks to scheduling my weekend plans, trips, and vacations in a way that there is someone to take care of him. At an emotional level, I am so attached to him that if he ever gets hurt or is sick, I am unable to focus on my work. Now that I am in Mumbai it sometimes gets even more difficult for me to coordinate his trips to the vet and make sure everything is okay. That brings me to my next point…
Bruce has empowered me emotionally:
Communicating with another human being is a challenge even though we share language and thought and have the same cognitive abilities. Now imagine communicating with a 4 legged little furry friend who does not understand anything you say (at least not at first) and is unable to express what he is feeling to you. In the process of coming up with a mutually communicable language consisting of solitary words like ‘sit’, ‘no’, ‘go’, ‘up’, and loving gestures I feel like I have grown more patient and more understanding. I always try to decode what Bruce is feeling when he just stares at me or is unusually jumpy on certain days and that has taught me a lot about my human interactions as well.
He has made me happier and healthier:
There are literally hundreds of studies indicating how owning a pet improves your health in tangible terms like increased mortality, fitness, allergic resistance, and fewer risks of depression, heart diseases, and more stable blood pressure. In fact, pet owners over the age of 65 make 30% fewer visits to their doctors.
Not all researchers agree, of course. Some say the sort of person who takes on a dog may be the sort of person to adopt a healthier lifestyle and that less healthy people simply aren’t able to care for a dog. The old chicken and egg.
On a personal level, I can testify to all of these. I feel healthy and I am definitely happier when I am around Bruce. And I never have a lazy day when I am around him because he is always so enthusiastic and he literally drags me to play with him, which I am so grateful for.
Bruce has taught me, unconditional love:
I think this is pretty self-explanatory. Dogs are known for their uncompromising loyalty and love, after a long day at work, there is nothing more fulfilling than having Bruce by my side, looking at me with his large gleaming eyes. But he has also taught me how to love someone unconditionally because I will love him no matter what, even on days he is a “bad boy”
Bruce has also made me popular on Instagram, he is a superstar and people just love seeing him. And though I am always covered in dog hair, I think it’s a fair price to pay for being an Influencer! (lol)
As usual, I asked you guys about your experiences with your pets, and here are some of the answers:
“Having a pet has improved my relationship with my parents as I now understand paternal instincts a lot better” -@abhijeetmalhotra
“I have a pet his name is Simba. He is a GSD and he has changed me in many ways. I never knew I could love someone so much. As a person, I have become more responsible. I can read not only his face as to what he is trying to tell me but it helped me read the faces of people I meet daily. I understand what they are trying to tell via their expression or gestures.
In a way, Simba is a blessing to our family and me.” -@sumeet.thorat
“I had a pet. He recently passed away. For me, he was the first major being, for whom I was responsible, and he was my baby. That brought about a major transformation.” -@anushka.postcards
“I had a rabbit, doe to be particular. She taught me to not expect love in return. Rabbits only reciprocate when they wish or want treats. But they are very demanding when it comes to rubs. Also, taught me to leave a side of my bed empty for her so she can join whenever she wishes, and also taught me to take care of highly demanding kids.” - @ashlesha_dasondhi
What I was Reading this Week?
Something nice: “Do less but do fully” - Mathew Kobach
Thank you so much for reading till the end. Do let me know if you have any suggestions for things I should talk about ahead.
You can reach out to me directly on my Instagram @pawan_rochwani.
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