Last Sunday I was feeling pretty down. I called my mother. We talked about the various things for a bit, and then, she pulled the best advice from her bag of tricks. Her advice applies to anyone who is having a particularly bad day and is also lucky enough to share their life with a dog:
“Take the day off. Focus on taking care of Miles today.”
“Take care of him, so he can take care of you.”
I took her advice and resisted the urge to stay at home and sink like an anchor into myself. I grabbed my backpack, and ejected myself into the brisk October afternoon with Miles (who has no problem launching himself outside, as long as it is not raining). Our course was set to a place I knew he’d love. A spot ridiculously close to home — only a mile and a half away. “Why don’t we go there more often?” I thought, my frustrations beginning to take a backseat to the mission at hand. The sun was shining, and my attention became absorbed with the various Sunday neighborhood goings-ons on the way down the long hill.
When we arrived to the dog-friendly beach, I let Miles loose, and sat on a log. I stretched, and let my lungs fill with the fresh chilled air. I let my mind relax, and I watched Miles.
And it worked.
You are so lucky to live so close to the ocean! And that is very great advice!
I am just learning a similar lesson lately. Just in the last month or two, I find myself getting stressed out at certain times, often in the morning. I'm rushing around trying to get things done, and I'm often frustrated because Oliver is getting into trouble and I'm constantly having to stop what I'm doing and take things away from him or find him something appropriate to do. I realized that this wasn't working. So now when I'm stressed and Oliver is looking for trouble, I move the armchair beside the window, and we sit and look out the window together. Sometimes it's 10 minutes, and sometimes it's almost an hour if I don't have to be somewhere. And I find it so peaceful, that I don't mind sitting there that long. And Oliver, who cannot sit still for more than 2 seconds, sits quietly the whole time, paws crossed on the window will, occasionally looking up at me and giving me chin kisses. Just cuddling and stopping to watch calms both of us. Now getting the opportunity to do this is a treat that I look forward to.
What wonderful advice….and pictures!
Be careful… Vikings are coming ashore! LUCKILY THE WARRIOR PRINCE MILES IS THERE TO SAVE THE DAY! Hahahahahaha suckers!
Dogs are the best medicine 🙂
Miles agrees with that first part, and I agree with the second part!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thank you for sharing this Danielle — a belated "thank you," yes, but, a very sincere one. What an excellent sentiment to share!
Thank you Gail!
BEAUTIFUL photos! And good for you for taking mama’s advice!