Many of you have probably already read many articles on the life lessons that pets teach us. Some of you may not even need to read any of those articles to know that pet ownership teaches us how to become responsible for another life, how it helps us become patient, and how it can even be viewed as a training ground for parenthood.
Benefits of Owning Pets
Well, this article isn’t going to state the obvious and those commonly mentioned tropes. You, gents, and your precious time deserve far better than that. These benefits that you’re about to read about transcending things that are mundane. They delve into the human psyche and maybe even the existential. In any case, you may already have learned the lesson, you just haven’t realized it yet.
And these benefits come in the form of:
An Increase in Self-Esteem
Pets will, to a degree, show unconditional love and loyalty. There are a certain satisfaction and a sense of capability in being able to provide for the needs of your pet. The sense of being able to care for another successfully is an affirmation of your ability to do things right. Everything from keeping pets safe at home to make sure that they get the proper veterinary care all adds up to your value as a person. To feel that there is another living being that deems you worthy of affection is more than enough to put your mind at ease.
The Ability to Feel and Show Compassion
We have many biological needs. The needs for rest, food, water, and shelter. In fact, most life forms have this need. Pet ownership makes us realize this, and we then provide these basic needs to our pets. But there’s a need that’s far too often overlooked — the need to be needed.
This need is often satisfied when we are able to show compassion to one that needs us. Our pets are heavily reliant on their owners for their basic needs, and in turn, we, as pet owners, fulfill the need for being needed by showing compassion to our pets.
The Improvement of Social Skills
Social animals like dogs are great for helping you improve your social skills. Pet ownership teaches us how to respect life and to exercise patience for those who aren’t as capable as us.
Those who are gifted with intelligence are cursed by the fact that they have to deal with others who lack it. And that requires patience.
By understanding the value of respect and patience, we are then better equipped to handle the shortcomings and flaws of other people, but more importantly, we are able to handle our own. This imbues us with the confidence necessary to deal with all sorts of people on a regular basis.
The Ability to Handle Bereavement
Finally, as a benefit — albeit, a sad and tragic one — we learn to handle loss and bereavement. It’s a painful thing to experience, spending time raising your pet, and then having to bury your pet. Life goes on for you, and as jarring a fact as it may be, we all need to learn to move on.
This ability to handle loss and bereavement is vital if we intend to make it far in the world.
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