These three little bundles of joy are my babies. They are adorable, frustrating, sweet, demanding, hilarious and obnoxious, all at the same time. And I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world. 

Our pets love us unconditionally. They’re joyful when we return home, even if we’ve only been taking out the garbage. Maggie wiggles with excitement at the prospect of a yummy treat. Molly literally vibrates with eagerness (and frustration) when she sees a rabbit – or, heaven forbid, a chipmunk trespassing on the patio. Max loves nothing more than cuddling next to (or on top of) me when he’s settling in for the evening.

Perhaps we humans should take a page from their book – live for the moment, find joy in the simple things like treats and toys, be content when you’re snuggled next to the one you love. It may not always be that simple, but keeping those things in mind certainly doesn’t hurt.