Today, I am celebrating our animal companions.
I suddenly lost my goofy collie, Laddie, very recently, right in the middle of our caucus effort to recognize and celebrate the value animals play in our lives. It’s made me think a lot about friendship, companionship, and animals. Whether guide dogs, pet hamsters or a bird that needs nursing back to health, our relationships with animals can be similar to the ones we have with friends. They make us feel more purposeful, more peaceful and safer. It’s a bond with value greater than gold.
Here is Laddie, with his Trump toy.
"Friends are like quiet angels, gently lifting us up when our wings have forgotten how to fly."
Human beings, as a whole, are the most social of animals. As society has become more disconnected, friendships have become more important than ever, providing companionship and emotional support. Experiencing things together; providing support, encouragement, and perspective; exploring ideas and priorities; or making each other laugh, friends give us a connection to each other and to the planet, that is invaluable. In an increasingly complicated, swift-moving, polarized, and fragile world, it is harder than ever to discover, nurture, and enjoy friendships in the ways many of us remember from our childhoods. Friends offer a listening ear, understanding, advice, help, and a celebratory endorsement of our successes. They can console us, kick us in the hindquarters when necessary, and simply be there for us. Friendship is something we need; it contributes to our happiness and well-being, it helps us thrive.
Counselors and Colleagues
To augment the benefits we receive from friends, some people turn to counseling, which can fill an important gap by helping us navigate crises and our relationships. Colleagues often double as our friends, a reality that holds true within Democrats Abroad, even when some friends have never met each other beyond a computer screen. The companionship they provide often manifests as camaraderie—sharing a familiarity, friendliness, sense of goodwill, and common goals. This camaraderie creates an environment that enhances collaboration and teamwork and can evoke more creative approaches to solving problems. The value of these friendships, as we do the hard work, is beyond all measure.
Ultimately, what matters is the value and trust we instill in each other, the beliefs and goals we share, and the time we oer as a gift to each other (and to ourselves). Companionship can stem from these friendships, but it can also come from our relationships with support animals, pets, llamas that live down the lane, horses to whom we bring carrots, or sheep brought into the neighbors vineyard to serve as hungry weed-whackers.
Animal companionship can dramatically improve our health, both physical and mental, by reducing loneliness, fostering social connections, and enhancing mental well-being. In fact, 85 percent of people agree that interacting with pets reduces loneliness, a sentiment that was most dramatically validated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pets can encourage healthier lifestyles, provide helpful structure, and give us a sense of being needed (“Get up and feed me!” or “I want to take a walk!”). They can introduce us to new neighbors or fellow walkers, further connecting us to the world. They are companions we can count on to be there for us and to help us feel safe (at least that is the reason Laddie’s sister, Ruby, would give for her periodic barking outbursts if she could express it in any way other than more barking. It is eective; people don’t realize she is a marshmallow inside).
Theoretically, they don’t judge us, though I’m not entirely sure if that is true. I’ve seen some pretty skeptical looks. Animals “get” mindfulness; I think they invented it. They will listen to anything for a pretty long time (if accompanied by at least some physical reward). Often, they can respond to our moods with their own unique manner of offering consolation or sympathy.
Studies show that spending quality time with friends, loved ones, or animals we care about releases oxytocin, often referred to as the “love hormone.” This chemical not only fosters feelings of warmth but can also improve overall health. It reduces cortisol, our enemy—the stress hormone! Overall, people with pets can experience lower blood pressure, reduced cholesterol, and better cardiovascular outcomes. We can form relationships with animals, and some can respond to us, learn our routines, and sense our moods. It can become a mutual admiration society rather than a stubborn test of wills.
Pets and other animal companions can create endless fond memories and funny stories, as well as chaos. Taking care of pets can help children learn to take better care of themselves. Research has shown that children who read to animals develop better social skills, increased cooperation and sharing, more volunteering, and fewer behavioral problems. They can be calming and reinforce engagement, serving as a bridge to the world.
As we look forward to 8 months of hard work to crush the midterms, let’s remember to be good friends and be sure our friends know how much we appreciate them. Whether or not they require “treats”, they keep us going, and we can do our best to return the favor. That goes for our Democrats Abroad colleagues as well.