Every Animal Is A Therapy Animal.
Be it your dog, cat, hamster or the birds that visit your garden.
Every animal can contribute to our wellbeing.
The existence of another creature, completely different from us, living nearby uninhibited.
Even though to suggest they are joyful might be anthropomorphising what is essential beautiful because it is unlike us... Joy could be our endocrinological response to what they would call, if they could tell us, simply living.
Just being, present, in the moment. Eating when hungry, napping when tired, asking for cuddles when you feel like and asking to be left alone, unapologetically.
As someone who experienced depression, for me the hardest notion was realizing that I was trapped.
As if there was a veil behind which the real me was silently watching life play out. As if someone took over the wheel, and put me in the back seat. I had no control over where I was going, and I think that is what made me think of 1 particular destination as being the desirable outcome.
However, there was Tobi. He was still there for me, needing to simply live his little doggy life that I promised I would cherish when he finally got over here to be mine for good (long story...).
After seeking help, I got better. And other things in life slowly got better for me. I was lucky.
Now, I can enjoy seeing the green parrots in the park, the way the sun reflects off the water and how the wind makes the masts in the marina sing...and I am content.
I am content.
And honestly, if it weren’t for the dogs in my life, my Tobi and his friends, that probably would not be the case.
What I am trying to say, don’t underestimate any form of life around you.
Please, cherish them all, they all have a place and a purpose.
Not everyone needs to have a dog for their mental hygiene properties.
Find your happy, and re-connect to it.
It can be an ant farm.
Or bird watching.
There will be a form of life that brings you joy when you interact with it.
Even a succulent can be a small step in the right direction.
You can make him tiny paper hats and pretend he is going for events.