As the sun begins to peek over the horizon, I step outside onto a small patch of grass with my dogs at my side. The crisp morning air fills my lungs as I take a deep breath and open the door to their abode, allowing them to greet the new day.

We embark on our morning ritual of stretching our bodies together. I reach towards the heavens, feeling the stretch in my arms and shoulders while my furry companions follow suit, playfully mimicking my movements. We move on to our legs, stretching our hamstrings and calves, adding unique twists and turns. Dogs do stretches for various reasons, including warming up muscles, increasing blood flow, relieving tension, and maintaining flexibility.

Beyond these physical benefits, I felt deep gratitude and appreciation for their lessons. With their soft, glowing eyes and the occasional tilt of their heads, they gave me the gift of reciprocity and the desire to pay it forward.

Last Saturday, as I watched my dogs move with ease and grace, I realized that they have accompanied me through difficult times. They have ascertained the value of slowing down and taking a moment to appreciate the beauty around, be present in the moment, and breathe.

As I ventured out for a walk later that day, a sense of peace and contentment washed over me. Strolling down a narrow alleyway, lost in thoughts until the back-and-forth sound of two boys kicking a worn-out football caught my attention.

We all noticed an old man sitting on his porch, watching the boys intently as the ball flew to his yard. One of the boys requested the return of their ball. The old man said he did not want them playing around his compound lest they damage his property. He insisted they find somewhere else to play. The boys grumbled and kicked the dirt, clearly unhappy with the old man's decision since they had nowhere else to play around there.

With a sigh, the old man apologised, stating that it was not his problem and they would have to figure it out. The boys reluctantly walked away, disappointed and frustrated, as their game of football was cut short.

A sudden bolt of recognition hit me like a flash of lightning as I approached his gate. This was not any grey-haired soul but my comrade from college, with whom I graduated from the same department during the days of yore when the world was young and brimming with possibility.

However, it had been ages since our paths last crossed, and I had pondered what could have become of him. A sense of eagerness and expectancy enveloped me as I knocked on the gate. A weathered figure exuded a glistening gleam in his eye and a smile lingering on his lips as the gate slowly swung open.

Meeting my college friend after a prolonged period felt like stepping into a time machine. The second I locked eyes with him, memories inundated my mind, making it appear that no time had passed. We shared laughter and reminisced about our bygone days, catching up on all the years we missed. It was an otherworldly experience, akin to reconnecting with a part of my past that I believed to be lost forever.