A Pet Person

I am a big proponent of having pets.
If you are allergic to pets like cats or dogs - I am genuinely sorry for you for missing out.

But sure, it's not all roses: having pets is a responsibility and a financial expense.
It's a privilege to some and it doesn't fit others' life style. There's clean up you'd have to do - occasional throw up to deal with, or... worst, and there is a significant learning curve or training when adopting/purchasing a new pet. (PLEASE don't purchase. There are so many animals to adopt. Adopt. Adopt. ADOPT. 'KAY???) and there is of course dealing with the very likely (more than likely...) scenario that your beloved pet will not live past you.

So you might be wondering now WHY am I a self-defined big proponent of having pets. Well, because when living day in and day out with animals (and household pets are generally the more compatible type of animals to share households with humans), I am always around PRESENCE. I am always connected to nature, to animal instinct, and to pre-verbal connection with another being/s. 

In the west, life is often a splurge of materials, and the desire or pressure of following societal norms. In our 'modern' style city living, we often consider nature to be only accessible on our weekly hikes, or on a camping trip once a year. We easily can forget the nature of our own beings. And being in the presence of animals - which is being in the presence of presence - can connect us to the animal world, and to nature within ourselves. And let's face it - puppies and kittens are the most watched thing on the internet because they are bundles of love and literally make us humans HAPPY. (Sometimes more consistently than other humans...)

So go ahead, jump on the trend - adopt a dog, a cat, a bird, a fish (if you are into that...) or a pony if that's always been your dream! Be it a camel! Whatever animal it is... - you'll feel the happy effect in no time. Thank me later.

P.S. Though I now have two precious cats, I wouldn't say I am either a cat or a dog person. I'm simply - a PET person.