We all love our dogs. If you read this blog or follow our social media, I have no doubt you love your dogs and all animals! But I’m really learning there is a difference between loving someone and liking someone. Even when it comes to loving and liking myself. 

I grew up thinking that all dogs liked to be petted and cuddled. I never gave a thought that dogs had individual personalities like people. I know it’s wrong. But I didn’t think of them as being equals. I was told they went more on “instinct”‘instead of having decision making capabilities. Or likes and dislikes. Wow. I couldn’t have been more wrong. 

And as the universe has a way of teaching us, I got the dogs I needed. Brickle and Digby were so different in personalities. And because I was around them most of the time, I began to notice how much reasoning abilities they had. I began to notice how they viewed me. And I learned that I had a responsibility in this world to take care of them.

And part of that responsibility, in fact the most important part, was being their friend. That was not an easy responsibility. Because I had to work at being their friend. I had to try to be better. I began to ask myself, does my dog truly like me today? If not, why? They may love me, just like we do certain family. But like is much harder to earn from someone. 

Today, I had a bad dizzy spell. As I was standing on the edge of one of our terraces trying to catch my footing, I fell. Thank goodness I fell the other way. And Fruitycake didn’t hesitate to run over to me to help me. I had been talking to him all morning on our daily hike. Telling him how proud I was of him and his newfound goal of hiking his favorite trail, rain or shine.

I had been talking to him about how much I appreciate his friendship. And that I appreciated all his hard work on encouraging me. And I think we all need to tell our dogs these things. It matters. And I thanked him for trying to help me when I fell. Because I fell in mud. And well, you know Fruity doesn’t like mud. But he likes me. And I’m so grateful. 

As we say our prayers together every night, I pray that I can take care of him daily and do my best. I pray that we encourage and help someone or something every day. And that we make some kind of difference for the world. Big or small. I pray that others can see by how we live that every animal matters. And that they are capable of not only love. But like. And that’s not a responsibility to take lightly. Be your best for them. And you’ll see you are your best for you too. 

–Rachael

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