After an exhausting day of school, sports practice, homework and studying for an upcoming Chinese quiz, I sat next to my hamster’s tank. I could smell the familiar scent of paper bedding and hay and see her running on her wheel, carefree and oblivious to everything but the wheel beneath her paws.
As an over-thinker like many Castilleja students, I often have not enough time to relax without everything going on in my life weighing on my mind. Yet, the simple act of sitting next to my hamster was able to clear my mind of worries, which surprised me. How had she succeeded where books, watching TV and taking a long bath had not?
The American Heart Association (AHA) conducted a survey in 2022 on pet owners of all ages, suggesting that “the most popular ways pets help people de-stress are snuggling (68%), making their owners laugh (67%) and helping them feel less lonely (61%).” Similarly, despite not doing anything particularly meaningful, my hamster grooming herself and willingly jumping into my hands helped me feel markedly more optimistic and relaxed.
Additionally, the AHA found that “people overwhelmingly (70%) say they would rather spend time with their pet than watch television (30%) to de-stress,” indicating that spending quality time with pets is often favored over other common ways to decompress.
The emotional connections pets have with us are why we choose them over everything else. Pets are like family members: they offer unconditional love and companionship, and support us in the moments when it feels like the world is crashing down on us. Through thick and thin, they are there for us when everything else isn’t. As our connections with our pets build, we find ourselves seeking more comfort from them, even when we’re not stressed.
Almost everyone gets caught up in the stress and busy work of our lives, and students in particular must find a balance between schoolwork, co-curriculars and extracurriculars. Yet these commitments can make it easier to forget about prioritizing ourselves. When tasked with finding such balance, we may also underappreciate the care and love from others that keep us together.
So, let this serve as a reminder to cherish the fact that when we can’t take care of ourselves the way we should, loved ones step up to the task. As we go about our lives seeking to achieve our goals, we should appreciate the small moments with the people and pets who ground us in love.
