Final Draft: This I Believe

Love Found in Four Paws

I’ve always been a believer in love. The kind that is unconditional, unbreakable or head over heels. Love is one of the biggest reasons we are put on Earth. But how did I learn to love? How do we learn to be great boyfriends/girlfriends or husbands/wives? What experiences in my younger years taught me to have lasting romantic relationships?

I believe having dogs taught me something about love. I have taken away many morals and principles from the events in my life. From this experience, I understand the meaning of unconditional love and reliance from my four-legged friends by knowing when to feed my dogs when they’re hungry.

I can’t remember much of life before my dogs. I have two beautiful Norwegian Elkhounds. Zima recently turned 12 and Lilly, 7. They’re stubborn and picky. Yet, they are sweet, intelligent and always happy. When my heart broke, they were my reason to smile. When weight needed to lift off my shoulders, they never shared my secrets. When I needed someone to listen, they didn’t ask questions. They have taught me more about the guidelines to love than most people ever will.

Love is a blessing and to experience it is a gift. Although I am young, I have loved and had feelings for a man greater than anything I’ve ever felt. Of course, all good things must come to an end. But, those good things were made from good memories that were made from nurtured moments. How to act in those moments was unexpectedly learned from my dogs.

Unconditional love is all about nurturing. I set down the bowl of water for Zima when she needed a drink. That taught me to be there for someone, when they need me most or any day of the week. Lilly needed me to open the front door and let her in when she finished. That taught me to keep an open mind. When Zima wanted to play, I grabbed one of their toys. That taught me to laugh and enjoy the little, sweet moments. Lilly needed her paws wiped from playing in the mud. That taught me to not sweat the small things.

            Having a dog taught me to keep the same effort throughout a relationship with a man like I would with having a pet. They both rely on me. I would have never learned how much someone else could need me if I didn’t have these animals. If they didn’t eat, they would starve. The same things apply to relationships. If I didn’t continue to cherish my relationship with a man, it would crumble.

            Some people underestimate the power of owning a dog. I don’t. Love comes in different shapes and sizes but it all means the same thing. It means putting another persons needs before your own. It’s giving without always expecting to receive. It’s feeding the dog when they’re hungry.