A very Happy New Year to all my lovely readers. As we enter 2026, I wanted this blog, the first blog of 2026 to be a special one. This one is about my special someone and how he has influenced my life for the best!
Dogs are the sweetest and loyal creatures. Well, we all know that, and especially dog parents know their adorable quirks, including my pet, Joey, who has his own set of quirks.
Every pet teaches you something in life without actually saying anything. Joey taught us so many aspects of life, specifically a few lessons we learnt as kids but growing up, we forgot somewhere along the way. With his arrival, not only did he teach us life lessons but also influenced us in ways we only realized after we were, well, influenced.
So, all the pet/dog lovers, assemble! Here are some ways Joey has influenced us:
Looking forward to something towards the end of a vacation
When every good thing comes to an end, we feel sad. Like how it’s common to feel sad at the end of a vacation. However, recently, we had been to Dubai, and trust me, it is difficult to bid adieu to a place like Dubai. But as the end of the trip came near, I no longer felt sad about it. I was, in fact, looking forward to meeting Joey, who was back in India. The flight back home was not filled with sadness but the excitement of re-uniting with our little monkey.
Be-friending other pet owners
One of the life lessons that Joey has taught us is to enjoy the warmth of friendship. We humans have a hesitation while meeting strangers. While the precaution is absolutely necessary, it doesn’t mean we need to isolate ourselves from everyone. Ever since Joey entered our lives, whenever he sees another pet dog along with their human, a familial feeling of letting our fellow dogs sniff each other replaces the awkward phase of meeting strangers. In that aspect, we have made so many human friends who share the same wavelength as ours, and that has filled our lives with more belly rubs (IYKYK).
Empathy and love towards animals in general
Once upon a time, I was scared of dogs, and it didn’t matter whether they were stray or trained pets, I was scared, and that’s about it. Every time my partner used to pet a dog, I was hesitant and used to tremble silently in fear. Even when Joey came as a puppy during the early days, I used to feel scared of him too. Gradually, the fear in me turned into adoration, thanks to Joey’s quirky habits. I started seeing dogs and other animals not as scary fellows but more like mischievous babies. Granted, I still take a minute to greet a dog, but I slowly try to become comfortable around them. Case in point: I recently met a St. Bernard, a female one, at a vet, and it came to me and sniffed and I didn’t even flinch for a second.
Loving the simple things in life
Growing up, most of us are conditioned to have targets in life. Get a degree, a job, marry, have kids, a house, a vehicle, and the count is endless. Amidst this hustle, we actually forget to live. We wake up in the morning and immediately move into hustle mode. But my pet first wakes up in the morning, gives himself a nice stretch, and gives us a warm greeting. After all, this is life, isn’t it?
A companion you unconditionally love
Sure, we have amazing human companions, but after all, we are humans and we may get irritated at other humans, wanting space. But dogs don’t understand the meaning of personal space. They need your touch, even if you’re angry at them, especially then. And even if you’re angry at them at that moment, it just disappears. That’s unconditional love there.
All the pet owners, do you have such ‘influencers’ in your life? Do share their influence on you.
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