Zuki and Chai have been my friends in life when I became an adult pressured by where I should be going in life and how to cope with it. Dogs, as we say, are friendly stress relievers and companions. Of course, we don't just make them stress relievers, but we also make them feel part of our family by tending to them wholeheartedly like a family member. The care we give to our dogs comes back to us in a stress-relieving way, because dogs know when they are loved.
I just want to share a quick snap of our dogs in this blog because I find them silly fighting, which is their love language and playing preference. I am fortunate to capture these ridiculous photos to share with you and show you how child-like our dogs are when playing, as well as how funny their facial expressions are when they play. Zuki and Chai never learned gentle playing; they always play aggressively, but in a way that is normal for dogs and one that doesn't cause physical injury.
This afternoon earlier was our rest time, and we just sat outside the house, feeling the breeze and weather. The weather earlier was perfect. It was not sunny, but it was overcast, and the breeze blew cold, making the atmosphere cozy and comfortable. I was a bit tired and stressed about my work application, and I just couldn't do something further aside from sitting. I brought our dogs with me, put the phone aside after taking photos, and enjoyed their company.
I love spending time with Zuki and Chai. They are my kind of "time well spent" and my daily dose of happiness. My stressed mind and tensed muscles just come back to parasympathetic mode when they are near me, and just touching them, like belly rubs, increases my dopamine and oxytocin. Love is not always romantic; sometimes it is two dogs and a fur parent in one place, spending time with each other. Different species, but the same kind of love.
And in moments like these, I am reminded that life does not always need grand solutions or perfect plans to feel okay. Sometimes, all it takes is a quiet afternoon, a gentle breeze, and the presence of those who bring us comfort without saying a word. Zuki and Chai may not understand the weight of my worries, but in their own simple and playful ways, they make everything feel lighter. And for now, that kind of peace is more than enough.