Living with pets means constantly practicing patience. Dogs sniff every inch of the sidewalk, cats knock things off shelves, and sometimes accidents happen no matter how careful you are.

It can be frustrating, sure, but it also softens me. I’ve learned to slow down, laugh at the chaos, and let go of small annoyances. Pets remind me that not everything goes according to plan, and that’s okay.

In return, they give us unconditional love, which makes the lessons in patience worth every second.