What my dogs teach me about patience 😳
After a few months apart from my little four-legged ones, I’m back with them, returning to our life together in the countryside. After a year in the capital, rural space feels like a natural step—lighter, calmer.
Here, time flows differently. Maybe it’s the hills, the endless trees, the clean air, the blue sky. Maybe it’s the howls of the jackals, the nocturnal visits of boars and deer coming for fallen apples, the birdsong, the rooster’s alarm, or the sound of galloping horses. Or maybe it’s simply the absence of noise.
Being with them gives me a sense of control over my own time. A trust in what I know makes me feel good.
The waiting
Bubi always wants to be near me. She follows wherever I go. Every sound catches her attention, but most of all she needs constant physical contact. I’m glad she’s learned to let me go to the bathroom in peace, and she even enjoys watching me during my bodycombat routine. When it’s time to clean, she waits calmly—no matter how long it takes.
Coco, on the other hand, prefers to hide under a table. When I work, she keeps her nose just a few millimeters from my feet or chair. I feel guilty every time I have to move. She is patient… but also wakes me up at 3 a.m. for affection.
Each has her own way of waiting. Sometimes I wonder if it’s about their breed, or if each has learned a different way from me, depending on the context.
The now
Every morning they try to convince me in countless ways. They jump, get excited, climb on and off the bed, settle down, stir again—until finally, they truly calm down and lie beside me. That’s the moment to go out.
When I stand up, the excitement returns. Always the same.
At night, they sleep with complete ease. And when it’s time to eat, joy overflows.
Watching them reminds me: they have no worries. They live entirely in each moment. It’s something I wish I could learn to do as well.
Calm and frustration
In the city, they react differently. Bubi sometimes wants me to carry her when someone comes up to talk. Coco doesn’t care. Around other dogs, Bubi is indifferent, while Coco gets upset and barks if they get too close.
I’ve learned that the key is my own calm. I thought I had it, but dog trainers’ videos showed me how my tension created more tension in them.
The challenge is staying serene when they react undesirably. And in truth, that’s also my lesson: I can’t solve my own problems without first keeping calm.
The gift
There are plenty of jokes about dogs being freeloaders in the house. But in reality, they give me so much more than they take.
They offer limitless affection, comforting company, and behaviors that—whether instinctual or learned from me—inspire me to see myself and life differently.
Maybe you too have those external sources that challenge you and make you reflect. We think we’re the ones teaching them, but often it’s they who end up teaching us the most important lessons.
Thanks for reading me.
Ave Migratoria 