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Whatever aspect you want to work on regarding your happiness and wellbeing, you can usually find a way to involve the animal kingdom! Even if you want to change your diet, you can do so through animals – you can eat less, none - or more - of them!
Animals are just wonderful motivators - they can instantly bring about a change in our mood because they are so natural - they just say it as it is. Their efforts to survive in a changing world and yet, for so many of them, to love us unconditionally, can be very humbling.
Just look at these ways in which animals can contribute to our lives:
Pure love!
Are you experiencing a wish to be needed, appreciated and loved? To enjoy funny moments and laugh at antics? (Just listen to the llama song!) Many people say that watching their pets brings them as many funny moments as their TV does...some even more! There's lots of opportunity to nurture animals and enjoy being needed.
Animals can bring you love and happiness. They can help put you in touch with your emotions and reach those parts of you that friends and familiy can't - and give us those aaaaahhh moments. Just look at this footage from the NBC Today Show of the pandas in China.
Health & Fitness
Health and Fitness - well, if you want to get fitter, why spent time stuffed in an expensive gym when you can build up some muscle helping care for animals or interact with them? Animals can help increase your energy and fitness levels and reduce your stress levels or activities can really get your adrenalin going and make you feel ALIVE!!
Get social!
Animals can help us with our social lives, relationships and in our dealings with family and friends. It's amazing how they can help us get over difficult moments and awkward situations They provide tremendous support, often at the most difficult times of our lives, either by being our companions or by giving us the opportunity to get active with them and take part in activities such as horse riding, llama walking, or enjoying the peace of a nature reserve. Have fun and something different to do in your spare time, giving you the chance to make good friends of all ages with whom you have something in common.
Want to travel or just get outside?
Animals give us plenty of opportunity to do that. Safaris , volunteering abroad or at home, cleaning up the countryside or seaside - there's lots to do. Get back in touch with nature and connect with the real world - trees, bushes, leaves, the sea, water, air, woods, forests, hills, mountains etc - and the animals which live there. Ethical travel directory Responsible Travel has lots of holidays - each checked to see how they contribute to the local environment and responsible tourism.
Money, money, money....
Financially, too, research has shown that considerable happiness can be enjoyed by giving something to strangers or charities. You could enjoy a new career helping animals, working for a charity or a business which offers products and services for pet owners and animal lovers, or even doing something which brings you a little extra income.
Stretch yourself!
Involvement in the animal kingdom also offers us the chance to stretch out comfort zones and boost our personal development and growth. Animals are great at getting us to do things we wouldn't necessarily do for other people, so you can tap into your love for them and get motivated! Push back those comfort zones - why not take part in an event in 2008 or 2009 which stretches you (realistically, mind!) And if you're looking for something to do during an evening after work, there's lots to keep your mind fresh - learn more about the animal kingdom, whether you do a course or just some informal reading and research.
Volunteer!
The greatest feel-good factor of all surely comes from volunteering. It's been shown to help health, take our mind off our own problems and give us the opportunity to pay attention to others who need it. You can s hift your focus from yourself to a wider world so that you can put your problems in perspective. There's tons of chances to get involved in giving something back to the animal kingdom, as our sister site will show you!
Time to think
Finally, many of us are short of quality time to just have space and time to think, ponder and stare. Animals provide an excellent respite from the demands of others - you're not alone, because they are there - unless, of course, it's dinner time! |
