My canine companions offer me a lot of comfort and inspiration. My kids are grown and on their own and since then, I can't tell you how much the four footed critters have added to my quality of life.
I am sure other animals do that for people too. Do you have pets, and if so what kind and what do they do for you?
When I was very ill, my German Shepherd dog, Maxie, wound her big body around me like a life vest. She was a naughty child when it came to jumping the fence. I always felt safe to have windows open to let in the cool air in winter even over-night.
She passed away but now I have three others, all rescues. One had to be hand fed for awhile and fit in the palm of my hand. Now she is solid muscle and weighs about 55 lbs.
Another had two bouts of pancreatitis and was extremely and neurotically afraid of outdoors. She had been thrown from a car as a puppy, the sole survivor of the litter. Then she escaped the shelter after awhile and was on the sts. until someone caught her and returned her.
She's now a healthy and bouncy 68 lbs aussie/setter/greyhound mix. Her anxieties are greatly reduced though she still gets spooked by that back up beeping sound some trucks make like when emptying a dumpster.
The other is golden retriever mix with looks like some Anatolian Shepherd. She is stout and has an over-developed conscience. She loves balls and fetching them and she will roll over and show her tummy to anyone that will give her attention.
Taking them to a dog park makes my day. They run with the pack, splash in the ponds and just have a very very good time. It's like having little kids and watching them have fun, getting that warm feeling that some things are right in the world.