I think I saw this post when you first wrote it, Sarah Elkins, but it’s something we can see again and again and (re)learn from.
For me, it’s my dogs who save my sanity. I know when I’m anxious or upset, my voice is harsher and poor Gibbs, my little guy, goes in his crate, way in the back of it, sits hunched facing me, with his ears down. And since the whole house is only 525 s.f., I can’t escape his scared look.
Oh boy.
So we usually end up going for a walk — Gibbs, Abby (my other dog), and I walk for a half hour or longer, until yes. I feel lighter, less stressed, more like my usual self. And even Gibbs usually is back to his goofy, sunny self.
And Ben Walker? If I had someone to play tennis with, I’d do as you do — I love tennis. But walking also works wonders, especially here on the bay. Between the sun shining on the water, the cloud formations, and the sheer joy of living here — all combine to calm me.
