WHAT WE LEARN FROM OUR DOGS
For the majority of human civilization, we have found companionship with dogs. In our pre-history, dogs were protective, helpful, and loyal. Not much has changed regarding a dog's unwavering dedication to humans over the last 15,000 years, and our loyalty to them in return. Dogs continue to be one of our family unit's most reliable parts — dogs love you the same no matter what type of day you're having. There is so much we learn every day from our dogs' personality, behavior, resiliency, demeanor, and most importantly, their ability to provide their family with unconditional love, loyalty, and companionship.
After a long day, your dog doesn't judge you when you walk through the door. They don't care how you're dressed or if you've just had a terrible day, your dog is just always happy to see you, and they greet you with the same enthusiasm every time you walk in that door. Imagine if everyone could put aside whatever parts of their day they didn't enjoy and were able to interact with everyone they meet with the same joy and affection a dog does. How much different would your day or your life be? Dogs have no problem spreading pure love to everyone they interact with. They spare no expense and ask for nothing in return but our love.
Dogs have an understanding of what's going on in their family. No, they don't understand the complexities of our social interactions or know why we do the things we do or feel the way we do. However, they know what is happening at a base level by paying attention to nonverbal cues such as body language and energy. If we knew what dogs know and were able to assess situations, our relationships, and even ourselves like dogs do, we could better understand the world around us, the people around us, and ourselves.
Anyone who has had dogs or has been around dogs frequently knows that dogs don't hold grudges. In dog packs, there is a distinct lack of continued conflict. It's because the pack members resolve disagreements, then immediately move on. Just imagine what our society, or even your family, would look like if we all dealt with our conflicts before they spun out of control and then didn't hold onto negative feelings. Holding onto negative emotions only causes them to deepen, preventing us from moving forward. Dogs only live in the present moment; they don't worry about the future, and they don't regret the past. From our dogs, we learn to appreciate and focus on what's happening in the here and now, we live much healthier and more fulfilled lives for it.
Sometimes, we get caught up in the world around us that we forget that our dogs rely on us for everything and ask for nothing but your love. For your dog, every morning with you is like Christmas morning. Every meal is the best meal, every walk is the best walk, every game is the best game, and every time they see you, they love you just as much. We gain so much by valuing our time and our loved ones the way our pets do, and by loving our dogs as much as they love us. Our lives are shared with our dogs for a short time, and no one knows how long that will be. They are devoted, loyal, non-judgemental, kind, loving, and are valued parts of our families. Our dogs show us how to find joy in life's simplest moments and take time to celebrate the gifts hidden in the ordinary events of your life. Silver Lucy is here to celebrate the love and joy your dog brings, and we want to honor your dogs and the impact they make on your life.