Steemit Engagement Challenge S3:W3 - What different animals can teach humans by @patjewell

^{Rio, our beloved child}

Can animals love their owners?

I have often asked myself this question. It is easy for us as humans as we can express our love in words but animals can’t. It is clear that they can show affection towards us but love?

To be able to answer this question we only need to watch the movie Rio. This amazing 3D animated movie tells us of Blu, a macaw, who was found by a little girl. The bond formed between these two takes the viewer on an amazing, funny and heart sore trip.

Today I want to introduce you to Rio.

Rio is a macaw, a bird classified under the parrot family, who was part of our family since 2017.

We got him as a baby. He was so tiny that we had to feed him with a syringe and a special mix of cereal and bird food. He was our child, our adorable and also naughty child.

Soon Rio was part of the family. We took him everywhere with us even down to the coast to our family holiday home. He didn’t like travelling the twelve hours in his cage but he knew that in the end it would always be rewarding. Not to mention how he excited he got when we stopped along the road for fuel and refreshments.

Macaws are extremely curious and intelligent which we got to discover very quickly. He followed us all over the home, climbing the steps to get to us. He ate with us and no, not out of his bowl but from our plates and he would not start eating unless we have said a prayer.

I got so excited when I saw this contest as I know what we have learned as a family from Rio was truly amazing and something nobody can ever take away from us.

10 Things we as a family learned from Rio

1. To start each morning with a song in our hearts

Rio would whistle and call us from his cage every morning celebrating the day. He wouldn’t stopped until we have said hello to him. He could say "Hello" in the morning in the most welcoming fashion, truly heartwarming. I always said that as a family we just need to listen to Rio in the mornings to have a good start to our day.

2. To look after your personal hygiene

I'm certain that you didn't expect to see this point. Rio was the one who called us for his daily shower. He would walk from our bedroom to the bathroom and back until we’ve opened the taps. The reason for this, he was spoiled. He showered with my husband every morning.

3. To be kids again and to play

Gosh, he could play for hours at a time. We got tired of playing but not Rio. He would just carry on, and on and on. Never a dull moment when Rio was near. We've learned to be young at heart again. We've learned to laugh from deep inside our bellies. We had endless happy moments playing with him.

4. To explore the world around us

He found the most interesting places in the home where he would hide from us. Believe it or not, he would hide there not making a sound until we have seen him and when we did his excitement was worth the looks and calling after him. All we need to do is to look around us to discover those unique hiding places.

5. To enjoy the simplest of things as they count the most

As macaws are big “chewers” we had to buy him wooden toys so that he could chew and play with them. It was often the simplest of toys which kept him entertained and not the expensive toys. Give him an empty toilet paper roll and he was at his happiest. Maybe he got excited about the mess he made.

Money cannot buy the simplest things in life. It is for us to find them, just like Rio did.

6. To appreciate nature

He wanted to be outside where he could watch the seagulls and the sun go down. A humans we often don’t have or should I say, don’t make, time to sit and enjoy the beauty of nature. It was not easy getting Rio back into the house before it was properly dark.

He called us to silence, to sit and reflect on the day. To say thank you for being kept safe, thank you for achievements and thank you for just being there for us.

7. To never give up

He would practice for hours to get something right. So often we wondered how long it would take for him to get out of his cage after we have locked him in with a new gadget or idea. Somehow he always got out, a true escape artist.
If he was battling to untie a rope from one of his toys he will get frustrated banging it on the cage BUT he would never give up.

8. To speak up

Gosh, he would throw his toys if he wanted to “say something” and we were not paying any attention and he would not stop until we have listened. If he had no more toys to throw he would start banging on his cage.
"This is me Rio, and you better start listening now".

9. To love each other

He would come to us and nestle in our arms. He would fell asleep on my husband’s chest laying on his back. Love is never far away, it is right under our noses is clearly what he was telling us.

And that bring me back to the question I asked at the beginning of the post. Can animals love their owners?
I am convinced that Rio loved us just as much as we loved him.

10. To say Amen if you don’t want your food to get cold

He would not start eating unless he heard that “Amen”. Precious!

Oh yah, I forgot one thing. We had to learn the hard way that you must be careful what you say as it can be repeated at the most awkward of times.

The dynamic relationships which are formed between humans and animals is a two way street of pure joy, happiness, love... and LEARNING!

I invite:
@bolaji001
@simonnwigwe
@senehasa

10% beneficiary set to @steemindiaa