What it Means to Be Loyal
(In case you don’t recognize her, this is my dog Paisley, the best pup ever.)
By the time you read this blog, I will have just finished Season Five of Yellowstone. I know I am late to the party in tuning in to this popular series. Once I finally started watching, I couldn’t stop until I knew the fate of the Dutton Ranch. (No spoiler alerts here. But if you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend it. )
The show is about many important themes: family, friendship, commitment. But most of all, the show is about loyalty.
Loyalty is one of those qualities we often admire without question. We praise it in friendships, relationships, sports teams, and even our favorite brands. Think of Apple users who refuse to acknowledge the existence of the Android. Or you avid Coca-Cola fans: When you order a Coke at a restaurant, and the waitress asks, “Is Pepsi okay?” for you, it is definitely not.
When I think about the purest form of loyalty, I immediately think of my dog, Paisley. Her devotion to me and Kim is unwavering. No matter what happens—a challenging day at work, any of us feeling under the weather, or even when I forget to give her a Pup Cup of ice cream the second I walk in the door at the end of my work day—Paisley is thrilled to see us no matter what. Her loyalty isn’t based on status, success, or convenience; it’s built on love, trust, and our endless supply of snuggles. This kind of loyalty is beautiful because it’s rooted in care and unconditional support.
On the human side, we see this kind of positive loyalty in friendships that last decades, employees who stick with companies that treat them well, and customers who return to the same coffee shop every morning because the barista knows exactly how much sugar they take in their latte (which is way more than they’d ever admit to anyone else).
The word loyalty comes from the Old French word loial, meaning “faithful” or “true.” At best, loyalty creates strong bonds and a deep sense of belonging. But when misdirected, it can turn into a stubborn allegiance that keeps many people stuck in unhealthy situations.
Consider the Duttons from Yellowstone. Their family has been running their ranch in Montana for 142 years. Their commitment to each other and to their land is absolute, but it often comes at a devastating cost. They justify lying, stealing, and even killing because of their unwavering loyalty to the family name. There were several points during the show when I wished Beth, Kayce, or Jamie would ask, “Wait, are we sure this is a good idea?” Instead, blind loyalty leads them all straight into self-destruction.
And it’s not just fictional ranchers who fall into this trap. Blind loyalty is the kind that makes people stay in toxic relationships and defend bad leaders. We see it in real life all the time:
The employee who stays at a company out of loyalty, even when they’re overworked and underpaid.
The friend who covers for someone’s bad behavior because they think they are protecting them.
The family member who tolerates mistreatment because “that’s just the way our family is.”
At its core, loyalty is powerful—but only when paired with wisdom. So before you pledge undying devotion to anyone or anything, ask yourself these three questions:
Is my loyalty based on love, trust, and mutual respect, or is it fueled by guilt, fear, or habit?
Would my friend (or company, or family member) be just as loyal to me if the roles were reversed?
Am I staying loyal to something or someone that no longer aligns with who I am and what I value?
Loyalty should never be an obligation—it should be a choice. The key is knowing when to stay, when to walk away… and simply when to get yourself a dog. 🧡
This Month’s Resources & Cool Ideas
Looking for inspiring books or podcasts about loyalty?
The Loyalty Effect by Frederick Reichheld: This is a business classic that explores how loyalty drives success in relationships, companies, and life.
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein: This is a heartwarming novel told from the perspective of a loyal dog. You can watch the movie as well.
TED Talk: “How Great Leaders Inspire Action” Listen to Simon Sinek talk about leadership and loyalty in this top rated podcast. (If you’ve already heard it, it might be worth a re-listen.)
Want to learn more about your loyal companion?
Giving your dog a Dog DNA Test is a fun way for dog lovers to learn more about their loyal companion’s breed and health. You can buy a kit right here on Embark (a perfect company name!)
A Guide to Watching Yellowstone Until the Very End
If you haven’t watched Yellowstone all the way through the 5th season, you are missing out on quite a dramatic 6 additional episodes. Peacock stopped running the series at Episode #8 , and then the second half of Season 5 moved to a different streaming network. Good news: You can watch it on Philo for free with a 7-day free trial!
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