“You are the person your dog thinks you are.”

That is the sentiment on the front of a greeting card that was given to me by a friend. I cannot think of higher praise than that, so I keep it on my fridge for encouragement. I can only think of perhaps one nicer thing to say: you are the person your neighbors’ dogs think you are.

I don’t feed these two or give them treats. I literally only offer head scratches, sincere compliments, and my time. They are my friends, as I’ve mentioned before, and I’ve earned their trust. But more than that, they make me feel like I’m a good person. Like my attention is special and I have something to offer. I walk away feeling like a better version of myself.

What would our world be like if humans made each other feel that way?

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