Can you share a positive example of where you’ve felt loved?
A time when I felt truly loved was when I let myself sit quietly and reflect on the deep connections I’ve shared—with both the people and the little furry souls in my life. It wasn’t a grand moment or an event, but rather a profound sense of being seen and appreciated for who I am. I remembered the tender moments of pawrenting, where my pets gazed at me with complete trust, or when a wagging tail greeted me as if I were the most important being in the world.
I felt loved in those exchanges, not because they were loud declarations, but because they were honest. A simple nuzzle from my pup after a challenging day, a soft purr when I was curled up in quiet loneliness, or even the moments of mischievous play that pulled me out of my own head and reminded me that love often resides in the little things.
There was also the love I’ve shared with others through creativity. When I’ve poured my heart into crafting something—be it an idea, a story, or a vision of preserving memories—and someone has looked at it and said, “This means something to me,” I’ve felt that exchange of love, an acknowledgment that what I do, and who I am, matters.
I think the greatest instance of love I’ve experienced is the love I’m slowly learning to give myself. It’s not always easy—there are days I get caught up in my worries or feel unsure of my steps—but when I pause to see myself through the eyes of those who love me, including my pets, I feel the whispers of unconditional acceptance. That, to me, is love in its truest form.
These moments remind me that love isn’t always about grand gestures or perfect circumstances. Sometimes, it’s in the quiet reassurance of presence, the wag of a tail, or the warmth of a friend who shows up, even if only through a text or a shared laugh. It’s in the way my pets love me without judgment, the way they pull me into the present when I’m lost in thought, and the way they remind me to find joy in the simplest of things—a walk, a shared meal, or just sitting together under the same sky.
It’s also in the way I’ve seen myself grow through those connections. There have been times when I doubted my own worth, when I felt invisible or unheard, but those moments were always softened by the reminders of love around me. Whether it’s the loyalty of a pet who doesn’t care how messy life gets, or the unexpected kindness of someone who sees the effort I put into my work, love finds a way to nudge me forward, even when I feel stuck.
And then there’s the love that exists in creativity—the kind of love that transforms ideas into something tangible and meaningful. Whether I’m writing about the lessons of pawrenting, dreaming up new ideas for my projects, or simply finding ways to weave joy and connection into my daily life, those moments of creating are love in action. It’s the love of building something that might make someone else feel seen or inspired. It’s the love of believing in the possibility of more, even when the path isn’t clear.
When I think about feeling loved, I realize it’s not tied to a single person, event, or time. It’s a mosaic of moments—small, fleeting, and often unexpected—that come together to remind me that love is everywhere if I’m open to receiving it. It’s in the way my pets trust me completely, the way my ideas take shape and touch others, and the way I’ve started to look at myself with more kindness.
Ultimately, feeling loved is about connection—connection to others, to the creatures I care for, to the work I pour myself into, and to the deeper parts of myself that are learning, little by little, to embrace all that I am. And in those moments, when I feel that connection, I know that love isn’t just something I receive; it’s something I carry within me, ready to share with the world.
Let Your Pawrenting Journey Begin 