One study* finds that participants who either had their pets with them or only imagined their pet were able to generate more life goals and have more confidence in their ability to achieve these goals than participants without pets. This is Rafael Leonardo, who hit his goal as you can see, And with so many people wondering where their motivation has gone—if pets are good for goals and just about everything else, well then… The American Veterinary Medical Association reports:

And if you happen to be one of the households owning a dog—don’t imagine this will work as well with Cats, Birds, Horses—try looking longingly into each other’s eyes, as studies* show that long eye gazing increases oxytocin for dog and dog owner alike, nourishing neural connections associated with regulating fear, stress, social skills, love, empathy, bonding… Studies* also show pets bring kids higher self-esteem, cognitive development, social skills, and that pet owners, in general, are happier and healthier in life. Pets bring higher quality of life, and less anxiety and depression for seniors too. *A recent issue of Psychology Today, June 2021, has a lot of really good research (as above), tips, and techniques for clarity, focus, health and well-being including, of course, drink more water. It’s the little things! Warm wishes, Madelaine