True Love Walking on Four

In many occasions, we remember our loved ones and we spend some time in love with them as an appreciation for what they have done to us. We acknowledge how they helped us and how dear their presence was to us just by being there.

Today, as I go through all the important people in my life, I would like to take a moment to thank them all for their love, care and support.

Among my list of my loved ones, one of a kind stands out. He is not like the rest, he is particularly unique, he has no ID and no passport, he has no tongue to speak but his eyes say it all and he has a heart as big as the world.

Officially, he is a non-human creature but with lots of human qualities, that outshines many humans at times.

This very important icon in my life is my DOG.

I never liked dogs at first; I was more afraid of them rather than liking them, for unknown reasons, that was the case and I did not think about it much. I just accepted it.

Around 3 years back (after I turned 40), I decided to give some of the things I never tried a chance and to see where it will lead me to. On top of the list was getting a dog.

Encouraged by my mother who was always a dogs' lover and with a sense of adventure, I went ahead, and I got a 44-day-old golden retriever puppy. Since that day, my life was never the same and my journey with the most loveable and loyal creature began.

There he was, a tiny puppy, scared or maybe puzzled and does not understand if we are dogs in uniforms or if we are aliens who came on UFO; the tiny baby looked at us and wondered who we are...

My mother quickly made a connection with him and he understood she was the mother in the house and the source of security.

As a young dog, he needed to be fed according to a certain protocol and as well to take his vaccinations timely to ensure he does not get sick. However, baby dogs with their little immunity, eventually do get sick due to weather change etc...and oh my god how his small innocent tired eyes broke our hearts.

As he grew older, he grew stronger and at the age of 6 months, he moved out to his house right next to ours. It was located on the outer wall of my bedroom and this is when I officially took care of him and named as his mother.

Most people think that when we have a dog, it is the dog who is lucky to have us as their owners, while the fact is exactly the other way around- the owner of the dog is the biggest winner in the presence of a dog in his life.

With a dog, you feel and see things that melt your heart and your daily life situations that make you wonder how much love this fury creature has to give.

What does it mean to have a dog? Let me tell you from my own experience:

- It means you are his sunshine and that his day only starts when he sees you and he wags his tail in joy.

- It means you have someone going wherever you go following your footsteps and he does not miss an opportunity to sit close to you or sleep next to your chair.

- It means that you put your troubles behind for a moment and take a break. You forget or at least park all the stresses that happened in your day when you play and cuddle him.

- It means you have a shoulder to cry on and a friend to talk to when you are in hardship an equally a huge hug to embrace when in joy.

- It means you have someone who ultimately chose you to be his only friend while you have many other friends. No matter how busy you are with your life, he remains only busy with you.

- It means you have all the non-material non-conditional love 24/7 in 365 days.

- It means that he sees you still beautiful with a bad hair day or a few extra kilos or even a bad cold that knocked you down.

- If means you are cherished and loved with no but's or if's.

My dog taught me many things and opened my eyes on so many values that he practices and leads by example.

He taught me to rise above the little things in life and stick to what is genuine and never ever to go for style over substance.

He taught me that a true friend is the one at your back, the one that puts you first and keeps his promises to love you endlessly.

He taught me that not everything that glows is gold and that some gold is genuinely a dog by your side.

If I can pick one non-human teacher who made an impact on me, it would be you my love, my buddy and best friend...my dog.

Whoever Said Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend Obviously Never Owned A Dog. Dogs are truly woman's (and man's) best friend where diamonds will never stand a chance 🐶

#True_Love_Walking_on_Four

By Mona Radwan.