Love Like a Dog, Learn From a Dog

Have you ever heard the saying that a man’s best friend is their dog? Perhaps you agree with this saying or have a dog of your own that absolutely adores your cuddles. 

Growing up, however, I never owned any pets. When I visit my family in Mexico, though, It’s a different story; You can spot a dog in about every corner on the street. Since I was not used to this, dogs always seemed very scary to me. I would do my best to avoid encountering a dog on the street to the point where when I had to do projects with my friends, I would ask them to place their dogs out of sight. I know, pretty drastic, but it did not stay like this for long. 

I reached a point in my life where I wanted to face my fear and so I did. My friends needed to go on vacation one day and needed a dog sitter, so of course I said I could do it. Seconds later, I was regretting my decision not because the dog was bad, but because I was truly about to spend hours with my biggest fear. Now that I look back, this was the start of a new chapter in my life. 

I began to dog sit a lot more often and from doing it so much, dogs were no longer my worst fear or enemies, but rather my best friends. I realized as much as I avoided them, they always found a way to come back and this time, they were bound to stay. The more time I spent with different dogs, the more I learned from them and reflected on my life. 

Dogs teach us loyalty and love; they bark to protect and alert potential danger. However, they also demonstrate respect and courage through their care for the family and courage to stand up for others even if that puts them in danger. My favorite, though, is they teach us to be ourselves. Essentially, dogs could be trained, but in nature, they are playful, protective, family oriented, require attention, and are carefree. Do you notice any similarities between you and a dog? Do you need attention and love, but struggle to admit it? Do you want to do your best to protect your family and provide for them? Do you see yourself occasionally being silly as you play with your children or making silly faces on your phone with the help of filters? 

Our struggle most of the time, though, is fear of what others will say or how they will react when we decide to be ourselves. However, dogs are themselves and, for the most part, are accepted into many homes and walk freely wherever they want.

Now I ask you, are you willing to be yourself? Are you willing to experience freedom after so long of hiding who you are? A best friend is someone who motivates you to be a better person and sometimes, that also means not always saying what you want to hear. For this reason, I encourage you to be yourself and the right people will follow. Just as a dog is a man’s best friend, so are you to many other people who may be looking up to you. 

Written by : Rachel Garcia; Masters Intern at Olive Branch

If you need support, live in the Chicago area, and would like to speak to a professional counselor, please contact Olive Branch Counseling Associates, Inc. at 708-633-8000. We are located at 6819 West 167th Street in Tinley Park, Illinois 60477.