Taking Care of Yourself: Superpower

Happy Thursday, Positive Animal Caregivers! ♡🐾

There’s a saying in Korean that translates to “the cold is jealous of the flowers,” describing those sudden, sharp cold snaps that come early spring. After a few beautiful 16°C (60°F) days, we’re back to snow here in Toronto — and I’m more than ready for a break from winter.

How about you? Have you had a chance to take a short break lately?

For the next few minutes, take a breather.  This time is yours. Not the animals’. Not the clients’. Just yours.

Animal caregiving is full of peaks and valleys. Last week, every one of you who voted shared that you were feeling positive. My friend Susan, who spent years in humid Malaysia, said: “I'm happy to experience spring again and to let my dogs experience it for the first time. They thoroughly enjoy walks in nature in this mild weather.”  

I can’t wait for Spring. Let’s pause and check in —

Add a note if you want (I read them all)

At the doggy daycare, somewhere between feeding, cleaning, and poop scooping, I’m taking photos. On freezing winter days, I reluctantly pull my hand away from the hand warmer, take off my glove, and pinch in and out to find the right focus. (Touchscreen gloves never quite work, especially once they’re covered in husky hair.) The photos matter — they’re proof that the dogs are having a good time.

This week, in a change of pace, I’ve been catsitting for a friend. At the end of a long workday, after a rushed shower and dinner, I make the 20-minute commute to care for the cats.  

By reflex, I sent photos of Mochi and Mango — eating, sleeping, and occasionally closing their eyes as if to filter out the stranger who had suddenly entered their lives. The response was immediate: a big THANK YOU, followed by a smiling emoji.

Only then did it occur to me how easily animal caregivers can brighten someone’s day. A simple photo can carry joy over oceans and across the world.

And it doesn’t seem to depend on skill — or even ownership. Recently, I came across a story from CTV about Margaret, a retiree who found a new hobby painting pet portraits on the bare fences in her neighborhood. She’s now painted over 100 portraits and raised more than $8,000 to support guide dog training. “I think a dog can always make someone happy,” she said. 

Meanwhile, I read about Mac, who cycles around London with his cat Matteo perched on his shoulder, filming their adventures. He wears a black balaclava to protect his privacy — but no one seems to mind. His 180,000 Instagram followers are happy as long as Matteo hops on and off his shoulder. “We are here to make London smile,” Mac said. 

A photo. A painting. A bike ride. Somehow, when animals are involved, people smile. The animals may not know it, but they carry a kind of gentle power with them. And those of us who care for them get to pass it along — sometimes to one person, sometimes to the neighborhood, and sometimes to thousands — just by sharing a small moment.

The percentage of people who smile when they see a dog.

Add a note if you want (I read them all)

Mark your calendars for these upcoming opportunities to connect with others:

Here are the ways to recharge this week. Pick ONE small thing that makes you smile. You’ve earned it. 

Listen: Travel back to 1999 with Vitamin C and her song Smile. YouTube said: “This is some 90’s spring break vibes ✨🙏🏼.” Reply to share a song that lifts you up.  

Watch: Relax with Ripple, an award-winning short film about a simple act of kindness. 

Write: Start a gratitude journal. This week’s prompt: The Person Who Got Me Smiling This Week. 

Appreciate: Set a five-minute timer and sit with a beautiful piece of art. This week’s artwork: Mitsukuni Defying the Skeleton Spectre Invoked by Princess Takiyasha.

Try: Send an e-card to someone you’ve fallen out of touch with.

Leave me a comment. Last week Kim told me about her struggle with training a reactive dog. It really resonated after all the difficulties I had with Dolly.

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Thanks for spending part of your day with me and the rest of the Positive Animal Caregivers Club. Take care of yourself this week. Remember - even superheroes need naps. 

– Philip