For most people, the scariest part of getting old is being lonely. When we are young and caught up in the daily grind, it's easy to overlook the fact that our elderly family and neighbours feel isolated. Truth is that when a person gets old and loses most of their friends, or they simply reach a point where physical limitations make it hard to leave the house and socialize, they can easily spend most of their time indoors and alone.
Sadly, loneliness does far more than just weigh heavily on a person's emotional well-being. That constant feeling of disconnection leads to a condition of hyper-vigilance, flooding the system with stress hormones and driving up systemic inflammation. The result of such a biological wear-and-tear is toxic and causes immense damage to the person's immune system and increases the chances of having a stroke, type 2 diabetes, and heart problems.
As reported in a study by the World Health Organization, the effects of loneliness are staggering—surpassing the dangers of obesity and matching the mortality risks of smoking 15 cigarettes a day—and are linked to an estimated 100 deaths every single hour globally.
So, being around people and nurturing social connections are some of the factors that contribute to a long and fulfilling life, and a post by a Redditor that goes by the name Dylan might be the perfect example of that.
Dylan started his post by explaining that he asked his elderly neighbor to look after his pets while he was on vacation for two weeks, not assuming the effects that simple request would have on the neighbour's life.
In a letter Robert sent to Dylan, he wrote, "Good afternoon. This letter is regarding your vacation two weeks ago and how you let me babysit Smokey, Oreo, and Jennifer. I'd just like to give you a letter of thanks."
While the letter didn't mention what kind of animals Smokey, Oreo, and Jennifer are, Dylan later cleared it up: Smokey was a German shepherd, Jennifer was a grumpy little beagle, and Oreo was the cat.
Robert's letter continued, "As you know, I'm an old man. You don't see me outside often anymore, as these joints aren't as lively as they used to be. To add to that, two years ago, in the midst of the pandemic, my dad got diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. After his death, I was left alone in my home. I don't have a wife or kids. I could go to sleep one day and never wake up again. Every day is just sitting around and wondering what I have done for this world.
"Until I met Smokey, Oreo, and Jennifer.
"Your pets are the cutest, funniest, and most troublesome (In a good way, don't worry, they didn't mess up my house too much!) individuals. They gave me the motivation to restart my life again. I started waking up early in the mornings. I began to take walks outside with your pets for the first time in years. Every 10 minutes, whenever I felt sad for a second, they would bark or rub against my leg and make me laugh.
"The highlight of their stay was when I took them to the park. It was the longest time I've spend outside in a while. It didn't just bring back pet interaction, I also met other people, started talking, and made friends with a handful of fellow human beings. I was so happy to finally be able to talk with friends again, interact with others, and feel like I'm part of the human race.
"I realize I sound very existential right now, but I'm telling the truth. It's nice knowing that I'm doing something for someone, even if it's my neighbor.
"I adopted two dogs soon after. (You may have been hearing noise from my home, pardon them!) I now take regular walks to the park with them and talk with friends I made there. Anyways, I'd just like to say: thank you so much. You brought back meaning to my life. And that's all that matters.
"Sincerely,
"Robert (P.S. I think it's time for you to mow the lawn, haha!)"
It didn't really come as a surprise that Dylan's post went viral, with many praising both him and Robert.
"Robert is a national treasure and I take anything less to be an insult!"
"I wouldn't just mow my lawn, but Robert's too. Forever."
"Robert really is the good in all of us. He must be protected at all costs."
A number of people shared their own experience of "fighting" loneliness by adopting a pet.
"My Grandma is 93 and losing her mobility. She loves cats but doesn't think she can take care of one. Enter, Rent-a-Kitty! The neighbor's cat! He comes over and they hang out and she's tickled by his visits, but then he goes to his own house at night. It's a pretty big win for her," one Redditor wrote.
"I'm so glad no one can see me right now. Tears everywhere. I've been so worried that I will become that old man. This year has been such a low and trying to get out of it has been the worst. I can't have dogs where I live but maybe a cat. I need to get my life in order and perhaps having a pet (or really anything more than a plant) will help get me there Thank you," another person commented.
The pleasure pets give is immense, and it is scientifically proven that there are health benefits too because according to the American Heart Association, people who have pets live longer. Being around a dog makes you release feel good hormones such as oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine which helps reduce stress levels and improve mood.
In addition to that, taking your dog for walks is an exercise routine all by itself. Plus, taking a dog out forces you to step outside and connect with the world; you naturally end up chatting with other pet owners or random neighbors, and those small daily interactions can completely turn someone's day around.
Another advantage dog owners enjoy is their ability to bounce back from health scares. Research suggests that individuals who own a dog recover much faster from a heart attack or a stroke than those who do not have a dog as a companion.
Keep in mind that it is a good idea to go check on your older relatives and perhaps take your furry friends along with you. You truly never know what a little visit from a dog can do to their mood.