Lessons from dogs

(Baonghean) - Sometimes, when faced with frustrating situations, I often think that humans are the creatures we should trust the least because of their unpredictability and excessive selfishness. But what about dogs? You give them a home, affection, and bowls of soup, and they will consider you their whole world.

While studying abroad, I once asked a friend why foreigners loved dogs so much. She stared at me with wide eyes, as if I were some kind of weirdo, as if I'd just asked a ridiculous question.

Dogs are our best friends. What reason is there not to love them?

- But the way people love their dogs, sometimes more than family, siblings, or friends, is just weird. Some people would rather own a dog than get married or have children. Some people, in their old age, don't need family; the companionship of their beloved dog is enough. The extreme is that some wills leave all their property to their dog. Don't you think that's a little… crazy?

- I think those things are perfectly understandable. You know, we humans are very selfish; everyone puts their own life first. Even with family, siblings, friends, etc., when faced with a choice, they will still choose what benefits them first. Sometimes, when I encounter frustrating situations, I often think that humans are the creatures we should trust the least because of their unpredictability and excessive selfishness. But what about dogs? You give them a home, affection, and bowls of soup, and they will consider you their whole world.

(Illustrative image - Source: Internet)

My friend's answer surprised me a little. Actually, I've never viewed dogs as having the capacity for proper understanding of their relationship with humans. It's understandable that in Vietnam, dogs are often kept as guard dogs – a kind of walking alarm bell – rather than companions like in other countries. Even dog sausage used to be one of my favorite foods (of course, things have changed since I adopted a dog), and if my friend knew, she'd probably ostracize me like some kind of savage, barbaric person…

Later, when I started owning dogs, I often recalled my friend's words from years ago and felt more empathy for foreigners who chose dogs for companionship instead of trusting in human relationships. There's a saying that all dog owners know: "The more I understand people, the more I love dogs." I believe that's not a derogatory statement about humanity, but something more bitter. Of course, many people will consider it an extreme viewpoint, but few pay attention to the first part of the saying. To understand someone or something, you naturally have to invest your heart and feelings into it. However, sometimes what you receive in return for your trust and love is what causes you heartache. Therefore, I believe that those who love dogs excessively, to the point of valuing them more than the people around them, are perhaps the very people who once trusted and loved someone deeply, only to receive unforgettable sorrows. And at that moment, people suddenly realized that there are many things humans can learn from dogs that make them want to believe in and love life more.

Hai Trieu