A compassionate pet person I know recently was pontificating about how amazing it was how much we enjoy having pets, despite the difficulties they can put us through with say, destroying our couch, or otherwise emptying our wallets. Pets provide us with so much joy and love, most pet owners will agree they are worth the occasional challenge a hundred times over! Obviously the love they give and enjoy receiving is a huge part of the connection we feel to the animals we tame and take care of as our own. There’s many reasons 60% of US households include pets, and why studies have shown pet owners reap health benefits including leading longer healthier lives. But as I was reading Ten Simple Things You Can Do to Be Happier, Backed by Science (looking for a mention of pets, and finding none) what caught my attention was the before and after mediation images of the brain, shared below. “Meditation literally clears your mind and calms you down, it’s been often proven to be the single most effective way to live a happier live.” Now try saying that sentence, replacing meditation with a favorite quiet activity with your pet…
For me, one would be, “Snuggling with cats and dogs literally clears your mind and calms you down, it’s been often proven to be the single most effective way to live a happier live.” I could just as easily say enjoying the sunset with my dog on the couch in the back yard, or brushing my foster cat till he flops over and shows me his bunny belly!
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