The tough lesson of compassion

My lovely furry kids: Oddy and Mini

It is such a good feeling when I look at my dog and cat, I get a sense of "peaceful". They bring so much in my life.

Are you an animal lover? I know I am. Today's topic is encouraged by the way I feel every day when I'm away from home. I can't wait to get home to Oddy and Mini (dog and cat). The feeling was strong today, because it was my first day in the new year back at work for a full day. I spent longer hours with them in the past two weeks, because I was working half day because of the holidays.

Mini at nine weeks old hiding behind Oddy - cute!

Animals of all kinds can bring us so much joy, not only when things are going well, but also when we feel pain and are suffering. Pets in general are such phenomenal teachers for us. They teach us about gratitude, love and compassion, being present, and joy. But they teach us more than that. Their companionship, loyalty and unconditional love is unmatched by any human standards. Interestingly enough, we also learn about compassion through our pets.

For them, life is lived in the now — and we can all learn something from that. They only care about the relationship they have with us. It's all about the heart, not the ego.

No matter what, dogs love you unconditionally. They wag their tails when they see you, no matter what mood you're in. They still want to give you big wet kisses, even if you've just yelled at them. And they instantly forgive you no matter how you behave. Loving others unconditionally is a difficult task, but it's the one that would surely make the world a better place if we all just tried.

I couldn't resist this cute prayer - how can anyone not be in love with these beings?

Please leave me your comment/s below, they're always appreciated. You can also get in touch with me via email, I would like to hear from you about your gratitude.