This blog will be about life and relationships; mostly, from what I’ve learned from my two companion animals, Dali and Oskar. Sometimes I’ll post other types of resources and anecdotes. I hope what I share is helpful or at least fun.
I am sitting on the couch with Oskar, next to me and he moves to get more comfortable and drapes his leg across my leg. It is comforting to me and I imagine comforting for Oskar since he put his leg there.
This was after Dali and Oskar and I went to a local park. exploring woods we hadn’t been to before. We all enjoyed the adventure and I felt closer to my companion animals.
According to research, physical affection and doing new things together are qualities of a long-term love.
In your relationships, human and nonhuman, make time for contact comfort and exploring the world together.
The other day I was returning to home after walking with my dogs and I heard someone crying. I looked around and saw the postwoman sitting in the postal truck crying. I went over to her to see what was wrong and if I could offer her help. She explained, through tears, by removing tissues from her mouth, to show me two big gashes on her lips from a dog bite. She was waiting for her supervisor to come get her. I told her that I would wait for her and let her know that it must have been very scary, but that she was going to be alright.
We waited for about 10 minutes and no one came. She tried to call the supervisor again but couldn’t get through and was distraught and in pain. I suggested that I take my dogs home which was about a three-minute walk from her and come back with the car and if her supervisor hadn’t arrived by then, I would take her to the emergency room. She agreed. And that’s what happened. I took her to a local urgent care and afterwards, delivered her keys for the locked postal truck to the post office.
Afterward, I had such a good feeling. Helping someone out really made my day. Here’s a video on how helping others help ourselves:
This surge of well-being is a similar feeling when I’m a source of comfort to either Dali or Oskar.
Recently, Oskar woke me up to go eat grass outside. It seemed as if he had a stomach ache. When we came back in, he wanted to sit on the couch and cuddle. He lifted his paw for me to hold – he likes that – and then, over time, tucked his paw and my hand under him and put his head on my lap. I felt so happy being a source of comfort to him..
And this good feeling is true when I take a spider outside.
Or feed the squirrels and birds and raccoons.
I believe the feeling of positive well-being of caring for others has no boundaries.
Helping others makes you feel good. What are some of your examples of feeling good when you help others?
On Being: Lessons I Learn From Animals 