The Power of Love
from our furry companions...
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."~Anatole France
Over the years I have been blessed with many wonderful pets from childhood through the present day. Growing up on a dairy farm, I always remember my father had a dog by his side. The first dog I can remember was named Ginger, a Brittany spaniel that bore generations of puppies and was my favorite dog from kindergarten through my high school years. She had the distinction of being the first dog our mother allowed to enter our house (even though it was just the entranceway).
Cats, on the other hand, lived in the barn and had a limited, more aloof existence. Unfortunately being stepped on by cows was a common occurrence and they ended up living in the haymow in order to survive. Tom and Jerry were our haymow cats and thinking back I really wondered how they survived as well as they did.
When my parents retired they had rescue dogs. The first was named Beauty and she loved to travel in the van with my parents on their many trips to their cabin up north.
Following Beauty’s passing, Abe was the next rescue dog I found for them. Abe was a black and white Springer spaniel and he used to curl his top lip and smile at us when he was happy. When I would get into my car to leave after a weekend visit with my parents, he would climb up the driver’s seat, give me one of his smiles, followed by a quick lick goodbye on my nose.
When I married, my husband and I adopted Pete, a rescue cat, who was my loving companion for the next 13 years. Later we had a Golden retriever puppy named Ginger, a kitten we playfully called Kiwi, followed by our current rescue cat, Marcus. Each animal had their own unique personalities, quirks and memorable moments.
They have been my companions, my therapists, my personal cheerleaders...I am sure many readers can relate. During the past three years, I have found myself, like many Americans, adding to our furry family. Our “pandemic pet” is our Shiba Inu named Eto who came to our family as an eight week old puppy back in July 2020.
The puppy addition was totally our son’s idea and it did not start out as an easy one. Anyone who has raised a puppy can attest to the fact that it is very similar to bringing home a baby - you do not get much sleep, potty training is exhausting, your house becomes filled with toys and you find yourself talking in that silly baby-talk voice you thought you’d never hear yourself use again.
But after all the hard work, comes the rewards. The unconditional love and companionship, plus the benefits of exercise (all those daily walks), make for a good trade off. And especially during the last few years, I think we can all agree that the more we can do to benefit our physical and emotional health, the better version of ourselves we can be, for not only those around us but for ourselves as well.
Pet Therapy
Research has shown that the presence of a beloved pet or therapy animal can help a person control daily anxiety, regulate emotional arousals, and improve their mood. Since therapy dogs are trained to be attentive to a person's needs and offer unconditional love, they can often stabilize intense emotions. Petting an animal can cause your brain to release chemicals called endorphins. These chemicals counteract your body's reaction to pain by causing a sense of pleasure or well-being. This can also help ease depression.
In a new study, researchers at the University of Saskatchewan asked more than 200 ER patients to record their pain levels. Half of the patients were given a 10 minute encounter with a therapy dog, after which both groups were asked how much pain they were in. 43 percent of the patients who had visits from the therapy dogs reported less pain and anxiety.
I have witnessed in my own life, the positive power of friendship between pets and “their humans”. I think I will be like my Dad and always have a furry companion by my side.
Smile Video
This week’s smile video occurs at a nursing home in northwest Arkansas, where 11-year-old Ruby Chitsey likes to go to work with her mom, a nurse who travels to several nursing homes in the area. And it was on one of those visits that Ruby started going up to residents with her notepad and asking them, "If you could have any three things, what would they be?" And so started a charity called "Three Wishes for Ruby's Residents."
#spreadkindnessandlove #stevehartman #smilevideos
What I am reading…
What is courage? I have read several books over the years looking for the answer to that question.
One of the reasons I enjoy reading nonfiction versus fiction books is that you can learn so much more about the resiliency of the human race when you read about true experiences others have had in the face of personal challenges.
Laura Hillenbrand's book "Unbroken" definitely meets that criteria. Louie Zamperini is the subject of this true story which reads more like a fiction story, not only because of the exquisite writing style of Hillenbrand but also because at times it is hard to believe that so many incredible adventures could happen to one person.
Zamperini went from juvenile delinquent to track star in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He began to focus on breaking the four-minute mile record for the next Olympics, but when World War II started, he retired and joined the Army Air Corps. He became a bombardier and survived some horrific battles. Then in 1943 his plane lost power and crashed into the Pacific. Zamperini and two other men floated on a raft in shark-infested waters for weeks.
Hillenbrand's descriptive language of the gruesome conditions throughout the story makes this a book for older young adults and adults. And the details become even more harrowing as Zamperini is captured by the Japanese and becomes a prisoner of war for the next few years.
Despite the terrible circumstances he finds himself in, Zamperini remains "unbroken" and not only survives his captivity but learns later in life to forgive the men who tortured him. Years later he would return to actually meet with some of those men and forgive them face to face.
The details of this important time in our country's history are well depicted by the author, who interestingly enough never actually met Zamperini in person while she wrote this book over a seven year period. Hillenbrand herself is chronically ill and seldom leaves her home. Only in 2013 did the two finally first meet in person, each complimenting the other on their heroism: one facing it years ago in battle and imprisonment, the other facing it daily with chronic illness. I guess it goes to show that courage comes in many forms and this book is just one example of that.
This week’s TED Talk
I have watched TED Talks for many years now. I love the wide variety of experiences and opinions TED Talks offer. Here is one I would like to share for this week:
Kevin Breel didn't look like a depressed kid: team captain, at every party, funny and confident. But he tells the story of the night he realized that -- to save his own life -- he needed to say four simple words.
Kindness Matters
With everything that’s been going on in our world today, wouldn’t it be nice to have a kinder place to live in? This is where the Facebook group Kindness Matters comes in. My friend Tammy started this kindness initiative last year. Her goal is to make this world a kinder, better place to live in and share inspirational quotes and random acts of kindness. Helping people to feel better about themselves and our world should be a daily goal for all of us. It doesn’t take a lot of time to do something kind for someone.
To join this group go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3154755881406378
Nice news…
Do dogs show positive emotions like people do by smiling? It’s a question many pet parents have likely pondered, and one that researchers are digging into. For humans, smiling is a universal gesture known by every language and culture, signifying happiness and friendliness. When it comes to our four-legged furry friends, the short answer is yes, they can smile, but there’s more to it than that.
Check it out! https://nicenews.com/animals/dogs-smile-research/
Quote of the week
Until next week. Please remember…Begin and end each day with a grateful heart…and always, always be kind….