Let Your Pets Comfort You
They need you and you need them. Bask in their love.
They don’t care that we can’t get a haircut, or a mani/pedi or that the gym closed and we’re feeling (and maybe looking) a little pudgy.
Our pets love us, no matter what. And I am so grateful because we need that pure, unconditional love more than ever.
For those of us who share our lives with cats, dogs, birds, lizards or other amazing creatures, we already know how comforting it is to just be around them, to bask in the different and very individual ways in which they show their affection for us. There’s nothing like it, in this writer’s humble opinion.
My husband and I don’t know where we’d be or even if we’d be without our three cats. They are the light of our lives and for the nearly thirty-four years we’ve been married, have always been a significant part of the picture.
They are our “children” and instead of running to the store for toilet paper yesterday, I drove to our local Petco to stock up on food for them. More than ever, they need our dedicated care and protection. At least, that’s what I believe.
Instinctively, our pets know when we’re in distress, physically and emotionally. They also can pick up when mommy or daddy need a little “me time.”
But now, we’re going to have a lot more of that “me time,” whether we want it or not. Let’s call it what it is folks: “Alone time.”
Many of us will be alone and on our own for a hell of a long time from what it sounds like. From what all the talking heads on the news are saying, we’ll be house-bound, basically. Oh, we can shop for groceries and take walks — on or own — but that’s it. This is a difficult concept to grasp for so many, myself included and I’m used to being at home a good deal of the time. But when “social distancing” is enforced, that’s a horse of a different color.
Perhaps now would be a good time to think and act like the Danes and incorporate what they refer to as “hygge” into our long, anxiety-ridden days.
Basically, “hygge” is the art of living cozy. You know, scented candles. Warm throws scattered around the living room or family room. A hot bath and a cup of tea or glass of wine. That book you’ve been meaning to read.
And above all, now is the time to love and be loved by our pets. Bask in it. Take as much as you want because there’s always more.
Read that book with your cat on your lap and a cup of green tea nearby. Watch your favorite Netflix show with your dog cuddled up by your side.
Stroke their fur. Let the warmth of their bodies warm you. Listen to their soft purrs and sighs.
Gaze out at the rain from the safety of your house or apartment as Fluffy and Rover dream their kitty and doggie dreams.
Let them love you. Let them comfort you, and be sure to give as good as you get. They deserve nothing less.
When our baby Lorna, gives us that look that I captured in the above image, her eyes like moonbeams, my husband and I melt. She knows just what to do to make us feel special.
When we cuddle with Dooley and he starts to drool from pure joy, we can’t help but feel joy, too.
When Conor regales us with his high, pure soprano when he wants his treats, we crack up. He’s such a hoot!
Love, laughter, and healing. That’s what we get from our pets. Now, and always.
What do you think? Time for a cuddle?
Sherry McGuinn is a slightly-twisted, longtime Chicago-area writer and award-winning screenwriter. Her work has appeared in The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, and numerous other publications. Sherry’s manager is currently pitching her newest screenplay, a drama with dark, comedic overtones and inspired by a true story.
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