12 Things to Be Thankful for

Because of Your Yorkie

#1 A Welcome That Some People Never Get

It doesn't matter if you were gone ten minutes or all day. The moment you walk in, it's a celebration.

Some Yorkies bark the news down the hallway. Some run off and come back with a toy, as if you need a reminder of how this works. Some just dance in a tight circle until they can reach you.

There are people who go their whole lives without being greeted like that. You have it at the door, every single time.

#2 Someone Who Has Studied You

Your Yorkie knows the jingles of your keys. Your footsteps versus everyone else's. The exact creak of the treat drawer, heard from three rooms away.

The hour you usually get up, and the look you get when you're late.

Someone has paid that much attention to you, on purpose, out of love.

That's rarer than it sounds.

#3 A Reminder That Size Isn't the Point.

Nobody told your Yorkie they were small. And even if they did, your sweetie wouldn't believe it.

They will announce a delivery truck to the entire street. They will stand their ground against a dog three times as big. They take the job of watching over you seriously, and they are quite sure they're doing a fine job.

Courage has nothing to do with size. A Yorkie reminds you of that most days.

#4 The Experience of Being Truly Listened To

Say your Yorkie's name, quietly, from across the room.

Watch what happens.

The ears go up. The head turns toward you like a small satellite dish. Full attention, right away, no hesitation.

Being listened to that completely is not something everyone gets very often. It just happens to come with a topknot.

#5 A Little Sidekick

Kitchen. Bathroom. Back to the kitchen. Wherever you go, there's a small presence a half step behind.

Yorkies are famous for it.

Some people find it funny. Some find it a bit much at six in the morning.

But you haven't walked into an empty room in years.

And that's a gift.

#6 A Reason to Go Outside

Most of us enjoy getting outside. We just don't always do it.

Your little guy or gal makes sure you don't skip it. Even a short walk on a cold day gets you out the door, into fresh air you'd have passed up, past a neighbor you'd never have waved to.

Some days, that's exactly what you needed.

#7 Strangers Who Stop

You already know what happens when you take a Yorkie out in public.

People stop. They smile.

They tell you about the Yorkie they had growing up, or the one their grandmother has now. A quick trip turns into three conversations you weren't expecting.

A Yorkie opens doors that might otherwise stay shut. You get to walk through them.

#8 A Lap That Is Never Empty

The moment you sit down, something warm settles in.

A small sigh. A turn or two.

Then stillness, and a chin on your knee as if that's where it was always meant to land.

Your lap was chosen.

Out of every spot in the house, yours.

#9 More Years Than You'd Expect

Yorkshire Terriers are one of the longer-lived breeds, and many reach their mid-teens.

That's a lot of welcome-homes. A lot of walks and cozy evenings on the couch. A lot of holidays together.

Those are years worth savoring.

Every single one of them.

#10 An Expressive Face Aimed Right at You

All Yorkies have a look.

The head tilt when you say something interesting. The side-eye when dinner is running late. The unblinking stare when you're holding food you clearly aren't sharing.

Those expressions are a whole conversation. Try staying in a bad mood through one of them.

Harder than it sounds.

#11 A Morning That Starts on a High Note

Your Yorkie wakes up ready. Every single morning.

They don't know it's a Tuesday. They don't know the forecast. They know you're up, and that's enough to make it a good day.

Nobody can live that way all the time.

But a few minutes of it, first thing, goes a long way.

#12 A Good Way to End the Day

When the house finally slows down, your sweetie does something quiet.

They find you. They curl up close. They let out one long breath and go still.

Whatever the day held, this is how it ends: together and warm.

They know this is the good part.

Thanks to them, so do you.

A Final Note

However you spend the holiday season ahead, whether it's a table full of people or a quiet evening at home, we hope some of the above comes to mind.

Your little guy or gal brings all of this into your life just by being in it. And if that's not something to be thankful for, we don't know what is.

Continue reading...

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