Summary

The author explains how their pet rats, Pepper and Raven, have positively impacted their life by providing perspective, helping to check priorities, and encouraging healthier eating habits.

Abstract

The author expresses their gratitude for their pet rats, Pepper and Raven, who have significantly improved their life. The rats have helped the author gain perspective by prioritizing basic needs such as food, cleaning, play, and sleep. They have also helped the author check their priorities, as taking care of the rats' needs has provided motivation during difficult times. Additionally, the rats have encouraged the author to make healthier eating choices, as they often share similar foods. The author acknowledges that these creatures have added immense value to their life and their daughters' lives.

Bullet points

The author's pet rats, Pepper and Raven, have positively impacted their life.
The rats have helped the author gain perspective by prioritizing basic needs.
The rats have helped the author check their priorities during difficult times.
The rats have encouraged the author to make healthier eating choices.
The author acknowledges the immense value the rats have added to their life and their daughters' lives.

Rat Patootie Bless My Soul

🌸 January Prompt: How Does Your Pet make you a Better Person?

Raven the rat in her doughnut, not pictured Pepper the Rat, Photo by Bridie D

Our pet rats improved life in a way I couldn’ve expect, their company and warmth help me glow. Pepper and Raven are irreplaceable company and I am so grateful to have them in our world ❤

My two ratties make me a better person by:

Gaining perspective
Check my priorities
Eating better

I think it’s apparent that I need to rethink my life a little bit. What’s my problem? First of all, I’m a rat. Which means, life is hard. Second, I have a highly developed sense of taste and smell. — Remy, Ratatoullie

Gaining perspective

They don’t want to be cuddled or sit on my shoulder sometimes, at first this was hard to get, but they know what they want, I can respect that.

The perspective I gained from my little fluffballs is what they care about:

prioritise food (and store it for later),
Cleaning,
play/exercise and
sleep.

They also don’t poop where they eat or bring food into their bed (Hammock). It sounds silly but taking a good honest look at how they live helps me check myself before I forget to do the basics and wreck myself. I’m ashamed to admit these girls are cleaner than me most days… *facepalm*

Check my priorities

When I am feeling sorry for myself it’s hard to remember to do anything, but having pets means it doesn't matter how I feel because they need to be fed and cared for.

Eating better

Rats are omnivores, I am a vegan, having them around means we often have the same foods (or variations, eg tofu and steamed veg).

Since having these little creatures around I have become far better at making healthier choices, it’s easy to slip into the unhealthy eating pattern as a vegan mainly because I’m lazy. So if the food isn’t in the house I have to make healthy choices.

I have come to think of it like this: If the rats can’t or shouldn’t eat it, is it going to be any good for me?

Final Thoughts

These creatures have added infinite value to my life and the lives of my daughters. Without them, I think I’d be far less along with in the self-growth journey.

Thank you Yana Bostongirl for this prompt ❤ This was a response to the Prompt from The Coffee Times #Life Colum:

🌸 January Prompt: How Does Your Pet make you a Better Person?

Speaking of becoming a better person, I would like to recommend Niall Leah’s piece ‘The Quest for Immortality’, contemplating the removal of death in society getting us a firmer grip on creating a life we are proud of.

Bridie D. If you enjoyed this, Subscribe to get ALL of my stories in your inbox! ❤

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