Can you even believe it? It’s that time of the year, again! The time when we are planning our Thanksgiving gatherings and start reflecting on all the things we are grateful for. As we count our blessings this season, we like to recall the ways our pets have added meaning to our experience of gratitude. The following are 4 ways pets teach us gratitude but there are plenty more!
1. Unconditional Love
Pets accept us as we are. Our pets show up for us on the best and worst of our days and don’t even look for a thank you. They provide us with the greatest mental and physical health benefits and all they want in return is our love and care. Simply being by your side is the greatest thank you they could ever receive because they are fueled by their love for us.
2. Companionship
Our sweet pets do not have calendars. How many times have we done something simple like a quick walk to the mailbox and they are SO excited to see us when we get back. With pets, it doesn’t matter if you were gone for 5 minutes, 5 hours, or 5 days. They are just as excited to see us upon our return, every single time. Any minute without us is the longest minute ever to them. There is no better companion to have than one who loves and misses us so deeply. They just want to sit by our side and live life alongside us, how great it that?
3. Patience
Patience is a virtue — it does not come naturally but it can most certainly be taught. Dogs teach us this every day! Learning to adopt the art of patience with training our pets can spill over into our everyday lives. They teach us that if we are patient and consistent with time and effort, the reward will come — things will fall into place. Learning to be patient lessens our instinct to fall into a trap of frustration and anger, leading to a more fulfilling life for everyone.
4. Celebrating The Little Things
Pets are truly happy with the simplest things in life whether it be pets from mom and dad, a new toy, or a walk around the block to ‘stop and smell the roses’. The smallest gesture brings the biggest reward when we have pets in our lives. They experience joy and happiness so easily. That is a life lesson we can all learn from, especially as we approach the holidays, during which many people develop stress and anxiety surrounding travel, gatherings, and family dynamics.
Here at Shoreline Happy Paws, we are SO grateful for ALL our loyal clients. We cherish every precious moment you’ve enabled us to spend with your beloved fur-babies. It brings us so much joy to see their furry faces each and every day. We are thrilled that you trust us with their care. Thank you, SHP family, and remember to find moments of gratitude around you every day this holiday season. We wish you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving!
We are accepting new clients! New Shoreline Happy Paws clients can create an account to request dog walking, dog hiking, and cat sitting services. We will be in touch to further discuss your needs and set you, your family, and your cat(s) up for success. Existing clients may book services by logging in to your client profile.
Shoreline Happy Paws serves the following areas of the Connecticut Shoreline:
- Old Saybrook
- Essex, Ivoryton & Centerbrook
- Deep River
- Chester
- Westbrook
- Clinton
- Old Lyme
- East Lyme
- Niantic
Certain Parts and Certain Service Hours in:
- Lyme and Madison
- Waterford, New London, Groton
- Uncasville, Gales Ferry, Mystic, Noank
