Pet lessons?

Ok,  I read another article today that I think most of us already know about the topic of. It was about Love Lessons from Dogs? Well, I thought perhaps I would expand on it.

Of course we've always labeled dogs as "Man's Best Friend", however, everyone seems to forget the quiet and stoic cat. They are just as good at being best friends as the dogs. And the writer thought that the dog would be the one you'd seek out to play catch with, not necessarily go to for love advice. Actually I'll agree with the writer as our pets can teach us much more about love and relationships that we might choose to realize.

Here were some of the pointers:

Forgiveness: Pets are the ultimate forgivers. They are good at letting the past be in the past. Our inabilities to get over issues and problems is a roadblock to our happiness. Animals always live in the moment, and even though you just might have disciplined them for being naughty, they've already forgiven you your temper within a matter of moments. Now, the writer noted that they don't hold grudges, generally this is so. However...... some animals can hold a grude, then once they've repaid you  to their satisfaction, they're over it. As a general rule they will always forgive you over and over. If we could let the little things go as easily as our pets do, think what a better place the world would be in.

Unconditional Love: Ah, those of us who choose to share our lives with animals already know all this. And it provides security, knowing you're loved no matter what you look like, or act like. When an animal loves it's human partner, the bond is very, very strong and real, and it lasts throughout the lifetime. Perhaps we need to emulate our animal companions more, by making genuine offers of love, kindness and warmth.

Consistency:  Consistency in any relationship is a comfort. What's not to love about someone who is never has mood swings or changes their mind  or whims in a second.  We do crave consistency even though we don't always show it. With your furry companions you pretty much get the same behaviors unless they are ill. And whether or not we're aware of it, we do derive comfort from that aspect of sharing our lives with them. Now apply that level of comfort to a relationship. Mmmmmmm, nice.

Need to be playful:  Animals have a good time playing and keeping things light and not so serious all the time. And yes, you can burn out a pet bey working them all the time, same applies to relationships. You need to balance play and fun with work. You relieve stress and pressure of the workday through play.

Importance of good communication: Pets like people will have to be communicated with in different manners, and it's up to us to find the way to communicate with our partners in the way that works best for them and us. No one soul animal or person communicates in the same way. And taking time to find out your partner's or companion's needs is the key to a strong bond.
While this is a great thought, it isn't as easy as they make it out to be. It can be tough to figure out the communication angle. However, using love and compassion is a good start to figuring it out.