Living Pawsitive is a choice

Most people would agree that life moves at a faster pace these days. When I wake up, I often don’t have time to make the coffee, let alone smell it. As a person who believes in balance, I know this is not a good thing. Sure, I try to eat right, get in some yoga and play classical music on the way to work, but as my cat, Katy, reminded me last week, there’s a lot more to balance than that.

I was working in my home office, frantically trying to get some writing done. After about three hours, Katy came in, jumped up on my desk, and walked across my keyboard. Purring good-naturedly, she rubbed her head against my laptop monitor, all the while throwing me sly looks out of the corner of her eye. At first I was annoyed, and then I realized that Katy was telling me I needed a break. For the next twenty minutes, we played chase the string (she did the chasing) and fetch the pompom (I did a lot of the fetching) and finally ended up on the couch, me with a cup of tea in hand, and Katy sporting a satisfied feline grin. I went back to work feeling more refreshed and in a far more positive frame of mind.

Our animal friends benefit us in so many ways. Of course, there’s the unconditional love that builds our confidence and self-esteem (who doesn’t love feeling like the most important person in the world?). There’s the exercise factor – we might not find time to work out for ourselves but the dog definitely needs her walk. And what about all the recent studies that show how petting and living with animals can help lower our blood pressure and decrease our risk of other conditions and illnesses? As if that wasn’t enough, they make us laugh, and they teach us about devotion and growing old gracefully.

In return, we get the satisfaction of showering them with love and affection, and providing them with wholesome food, good health care, comfortable shelter and simple companionship. It’s all part of what we here at Animal Wellness Magazine call “Living Pawsitive”.

Living Pawsitive is the lifestyle choice we make when we bring an animal into our lives. If you weren’t conscious of that before, now’s the time to celebrate! Plan a special getaway with your four-legged friend. Our article on Top Ten Getaway Ideas (page 33) will give you some inspiration, and you’ll be amazed at how rewarding it is to include your companion in your travel adventures. Check out our Amazing Animals Photo Contest winners – they’re true testaments to what Living Pawsitive means. All our winners will receive Living Pawsitive
t-shirts in addition to their other prizes. Most of all, we hope you’ll pass the message of Living Pawsitive along. Far too many animals just like Benji (see story on page 28) are sitting in shelters and rescues, waiting to change someone’s life for the better.

In the meantime, the next time your animal friends interrupt something “important”, go ahead and let them. You’ll be surprised how good it feels!

Dana