Stress reliever 101
There is no better way to start your day than to take a walk through City Park with your dogs and see fellow dog walkers, runners, and the beautiful Great Blue Herons chucking across the grass under the spread of the majestic oaks. Dogs are interesting creatures. When we were at the beach both Heidi and Loca did some amazing things.
I was walking back to the house from a long walk on the beach, carrying Tin in my Ergobaby, and Heidi, on the return home, insisted on walking point very far ahead. It makes me nervous so I kept calling her back, but she’d return to her sentry duty way ahead of the pack. I was huffing and puffing as Tin is getting heavy and walking in the smushy sand was getting harder and so I kept calling her and Loca kept to my side, in heel position. Finally Loca broke her heel and ran to get Heidi and basically corralled her back to me. A retriever at heart and a good girl.
Then after bringing Tin into the Gulf several times, one time a wave came crashing over us and I though he might be freaked out, so on the last day by the water, I was letting him play near the shore and when he ran into the waves, I was not holding him back but steadily watching him. Heidi didn’t like his proximity to the waves so she came down and started circling us, putting herself between Tin and the water. A protector by instinct and a good girl.
Later I dreamed of Arlene. I dreamed she was at my friend Clare’s house with her dog, Scout. In my dream, I had given Arlene to Clare because Clare had lost her dog and Arlene and Scout could be old together over there. And I felt guilty, guilty to have two young, vibrant dogs. I felt guilty that Heidi had come to us because her owners are going through a rough patch and we’re out of ours. Guilt is a fruitless feeling.
Guilt doesn’t get you to the next rung.
The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a
man’s foot long enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher.
–Thomas Henry Huxley
Musing on growing old, being young, past your prime, balancing life, finding a new prime, discovering my role or rather redefining it at this stage – these are all present on my mind right now – and will bear fruit when I get to some answers or better questions.
I’ve missed my walks the past two mornings, and it showed in my ability to cope. Take a walk!