I spent this past weekend with 3 dogs and 2 cats in my apartment. It made me realize that animals can truly teach us some important life lessons.
- Simple pleasures are often the best. All those treats and toys you bought the dog aren’t nearly as much fun as watching you carry around a bag of his/her dookie.
- Love the one you’re with. The cat may tolerate you at best, only showing a semblance of affection when it’s time to eat, but you’re stuck with one another, so leave it at that. Not being actively unhappy is the same as being happy, right?
- You’re never truly alone. Think of smiles as dog poop, and spread some around for everyone to enjoy. When other people step in your smile piles, a connection is made, even if you never see the look of joy you caused on the other persons face.
- Rejection happens to everyone. Your desperate attempts to make the cat love you will be fruitless and painful. So give up. Take whatever crumbs of affection you can as they come along. Take comfort knowing you are just as undesirable as everyone else, and your failed attempts at expressing fondness give you much in common with countless others.
- When life hands you lemons, just don’t squirt yourself in the eye. Whether picking it up off the ground, the litter box, or the just cleaned floor, the bottom line is you’re still picking up poop. Be happy when the short straw is of minor rather than major life consequence.
- You’re fine just the way you are. How you treat the dog or cat will have little bearing on how much they actually like or dislike you. So if you want to be nice, be nice, but if you feel like a dick, be a dick. Doesn’t really matter either way, as long as you clean up their messes. Stinky, spiteful messes.
