courtesy of Life+Dog
I saw this sign on Facebook yesterday and it got me thinking and it really hit home because I think a lot of us feel this way, I know I do for sure.
It’s been a bad year and if I have any hopes of making it through to 2014 I need to just realize that life is as good as I make it and while some things may be out of my control, the way I deal with them is totally up to me.
Dealing with some of those things in a positive manner can sometimes be totally exhausting and stressful but over the past few months I’ve learned that, while I’m not to the point of needing professional therapy, I do need some sort of therapy to help me cope.
Lucky for me I have two very good pieces of therapy right in my home.
They’re a bit furry and drooly but they are just what I need to keep on truckin along.
Meet my therapy:
You might know them as Sherman and Leroy. I now to refer to them as Therapy One and Therapy Two and here’s the kind of therapy they provide:
1.Fur Therapy. I brush them. After a long day at work and when the kids are in bed, I sit down next to one of the dogs and brush. It’s extremely therapeutic for me and for them, and sometimes I even find myself thinking out-loud to them. (that’s an entirely different blog post for another day)
2. Beauty Therapy There’s a lot of ugly in the world but not in my backyard. I sit out in the backyard with them and wait for that perfect picture. It’s relaxing, satisfying and fun. Sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn’t. Either way it a win-win for me.
3. Walking Therapy. We go for a walk and try to make a stranger smile. Going for a walk is something we have always done but seeing my dogs make a stranger smile is a new therapy I found for myself. I learned this last week after a brief encounter with a stranger that left me crying after she asked me if she could take a picture of Sherman and Leroy to show to her husband who was home very ill. She said they would bring a smile to his face and then she told me “”They are just so beautiful. You can tell how loved they are and how well taken care of they are. Thank you for allowing me to meet them. ”
4.Goofy Therapy. We spend time together as a family. Last weekend the whole family had a dance party, even the dogs. Leroy and Gracie won. The only evidence of me and Sherman dancing is on my husbands cell phone where it will stay safe and sound forever, or so I have been promised, as long as I return the Gordon Fisherman Hood.
5. Use of Body Parts Therapy. Belly rubs and lots of them. There’s nothing more enjoyable then laying on the floor rubbing a dogs belly and they throw their arm around your neck and give you a bear hug.
6. Smile Therapy. I write about my dogs and share them with you here. Hoping that sometimes the smile they bring me will be brought to you too and you’ll remember that life is good as long as you have a dog beside you.
Dog Therapy. Best Therapy. Ever.
What about your dogs? Do they provide you with any kinds of therapy?
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Diana Stoll says
April 26, 2013 at 1:31 amYou certainly have given us lots of smiles. Glory and I send smiles right back to you! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Sherrell fick says
April 26, 2013 at 2:06 amI think all dogs give therapy to their people. The brushing ,feeding walking and dog parks. All together it is good for all . Love your blog and beautiful boys.
Sam Tatters says
April 26, 2013 at 2:32 amI like the idea of your walking therapy, I know I’ve made people smile before when I’ve been out with one of my dogs, and it makes me smile too – they can see what a good (and non-domineering) relationship I have with my dog – especially important if they’ve seen anything negative lately (on TV/in real life).
Starr makes me smile with her goofy antics – she acts like such a puppy. Inka makes me smile any time he’s happy and smiling – I’m reminded that he must have lost his faith in humans, but now it’s restored.
Elizabeth Bergesen says
April 26, 2013 at 2:53 amSounds like the best kind of therapy to me.
Jobi and Fisher says
April 26, 2013 at 4:20 amCats do that for me. Sure makes you wonder how anyone can even live without pets in their lives. Those big newfies are so adorable!
Daisy says
April 26, 2013 at 5:09 amThey ARE the BEST therapy!!! Sheesh, it’s only April, you still have a long way to go to 2014. Better spend more time with Sherman and Leroy.
XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy
emma says
April 26, 2013 at 6:32 amYep, my sister and I are mom’s therapy and motivation. We snuggle with her, make her laugh and smile and get her lots of fresh air and exercise all of which helps her with any issues she has at the time 🙂 She says she doesn’t know what she would do without us!
mary says
April 26, 2013 at 7:19 amI have a bad back. Angelita (50 lb. Pit Shepard mix) squishes in between my back & the back of the couch –is instant warmth & comfort. Your pictures today are extra special. Just staring at them is calming for me. So many stories in those eyes. Thank you for sharing. Mary
catchatcaren says
April 26, 2013 at 7:24 amthis is sooooo true but I think that ALL animals provide the BEST therapy ever!
humanrescuesdog says
April 26, 2013 at 8:27 amMy dogs have saved me from many a near-breakdown 🙂 I think they just put things into perspective – they don’t care about money, work, trouble with family, or all the other thousands of potential stressors. I love their simplicity.
houndstooth4 says
April 26, 2013 at 8:28 amOh, of course they do! They listen to me complain about tough days as well as motivate me to get off the couch and quit stewing about things. And tonight, Bunny is attending a funeral visitation with me…
2browndawgs says
April 26, 2013 at 9:28 amWhat a wonderful post, especially the part about making a stranger smile. I imagine Sherman and Leroy do that all of the time. 🙂 Love the pictures. They are wonderful.
Hope you have a great weekend.
PS I replied to your question on my blog today. It was a good one and I may do a post on it one day soon, but didn’t want to make you wait. 🙂 I hope I explained it OK. It is hard without a diagram, hence the need for a post…lol.
SUGAR: goldenwoofss says
April 26, 2013 at 9:32 amWoof! Woof! Absolutely and we shared on last week post … Best Medicine too. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar
jan says
April 26, 2013 at 10:44 amWe believe that the mental health of the world of humans would be better if more people would allow dogs into their lives.
Val says
April 26, 2013 at 11:43 amOH Jen, I have 2 “therapy” dogs myself. I don’t know what I would do with out them. Unconditional love in furry package. Plus, they are the BEST at keeping secrets!! 🙂
Fern Reed says
April 26, 2013 at 12:16 pmI know so well what you mean. My dog died last Stepember 19th. Now I just have 3 cats but they do the same job for me that my dog did!!!
Love you dogs!!
Nichole says
April 26, 2013 at 1:05 pmI’m right there with you…… 2013 has been one hell of a bee-atch thusfar, but thankfully I have 4-legged-furry therapy as well. You just can’t help but laugh and smile with all those pounds of love!
rubytheairedale says
April 26, 2013 at 2:15 pmOMD!! Yups best therapy ever!! Things can be going really crappy and all I have to do is wag and jump and Ma just laughs! Oh, and peeps always laugh at me on our walkies…I don’t know why. Ma says it’s cause she makes me ‘sit’ , and for some reason people find this funny…maybe it’s the 3 inch drool comin’ off my lips….dunno.
Kisses,
Ruby
Blueberry's human says
April 26, 2013 at 2:49 pmThat Gordon Fisherman Hood cracks me up! Maybe your husband will finally just buy the boys their own?
Even some people that have dogs, cats or other critters never really appreciate their therapeutic effect! Thank God there are many of us that do and can totally relate to your post!
I call it “Blueberry Therapy”. 🙂
thatjenk says
April 26, 2013 at 4:07 pmAww I love this! It’s so easy to get into a people-suck funk.
Also, you’ve given me a new perspective. I often see walks as my time to bond and explore with Moses and Alma, and am not always open to small talk with passers-by. And as an introvert, that probably will stay the same most of the time, but every now and again I should see it the other way – as an opportunity to let people interact with the awesome dogs I get to hang out with every day, and share a little bit of happiness. Your point #3 was very touching.
Heart Like A Dog (@HeartLikeADog) says
April 26, 2013 at 4:19 pmConsidering I like my dogs more than I like most people, yes they usually provide great therapy for me. I love that your dogs put a smile on someone’s face, that’s totally awesome!!
BTW, that profile picture is stunning. It brought tears to my eyes.
Oz the Terrier says
April 26, 2013 at 4:21 pmWhat a great post and so true! Dog therapy is the BEST therapy ever.
Flea says
April 26, 2013 at 5:14 pmYou’d better get that Gordon’s Fisherman Hood back to him soon. I’ve got a bad feeling about that.
How did you keep from following that woman home and walking your dogs into her house? Oh my word.
My chickens are the same sort of therapy for me. It’s been a brutal year. I can disappear into the backyard with the birds. Be bitten by ducks. Ignored by chickens. Soak up some sun. Chase away hawks. Be AWAY from people for an hour or more.
*sigh*
Stella and Rory from Down Under says
April 26, 2013 at 6:09 pmCouldn’t agree more. Our dogs give us the best therapy I know. The greetings at the door when I come home after being out are just perfect. Great post, I loved it. No worries, and love, Carol (and Stella and Rory)
Ann Staub says
April 26, 2013 at 6:48 pmThey are some very handsome therapists! I’d have to say that my dog provides “tongue therapy” ;P
Sue at Talking Dogs says
April 27, 2013 at 5:26 amLike you, we’ve had a, shall we say, challenging year. Frankly, I’m quite sure I’d have lost any sanity I had, if it weren’t for the dogs. Such blessings.
Sherrell fick says
April 27, 2013 at 12:39 pmSo true,so true. What a great post. Your boys are so beautiful they make me smile every time I read a. Post. Happy Saturday.
Misty Shores Chesapeakes says
April 27, 2013 at 8:10 pmGreat post Jen! And yes I agree with you 100%, I have four therapy dogs here and could not imagine my life without them. The pictures are stunning!
karen friesecke says
April 28, 2013 at 1:00 amI have to say that nothing makes me smile more than watching Dexter run & frolic when we are playing fetch. He is a creature of pure joy when he is playing.
Jen says
April 28, 2013 at 11:40 pmtesting
Winston says
April 29, 2013 at 12:00 amStopping by from the blog hop, love your photography of the pups!
Dogs N Pawz says
April 29, 2013 at 12:48 amSherman and Leroy are such beautiful dogs…I’m sure they make lots of people smile! I smile every time I see pictures of them on your blog!
Vicki says
April 29, 2013 at 2:05 pmBeautiful dogs! You are absolutely correct about dogs being the best kind of therapy! Thank you for your blog and the good therapy.