Put the Talk on Pause: A Photo Essay

I don’t know about you, but I’m in a definite time warp. I can’t keep up with the date or the day of the week. On the one hand, this year is flying, much like last year. On the other hand, the stifling control of pandemic and its unyielding, pervasive gloom talk of the past 6 weeks seems to have been with us for ages. There’s nothing I would love more than to wave a magic wand, making the next couple months a part of our collective past.

But until I come across that magic wand, I’ll make do with (and share) smaller mundane acts that get me from one day to the next while help keeping me sane. One of those acts is turning off the tv. Listening to ongoing bad news, from reporters, government officials, and even the overtones of recent commercials, causes feelings of impatience and anger to surface in my normally peaceful mindset. So it’s high time, as my grandmother used to say, to put the talk on pause.

So, in that pause, what can I count on to transform my troubled thoughts and feelings? Today, I’ll utilize the healing balm of animals. According to 69 scientific studies on human-animal interaction reviewed by The National Center for Biotechnology Information, (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3408111/#__sec3title) interacting with animals can be quite therapeutic. Some of the benefits shown in these studies include improved mood & behavior; reduced stress, fear & anxiety; improved heart health & immune function; and reduced aggression. Doesn’t your pet make you feel better in these dark days?

Even though we cannot interact with animals in pictures, it is my belief that simply viewing them must have positive effects as well. According to Statista (https://www.statista.com/topics/1161/hunting-and-wildlife-viewing/#dossierSummary__chapter3, viewing wildlife in its natural state (while hiking, mountain biking, diving, etc.) is extremely popular in this country, with about 20 million folks participating annually.

The animal pics included in this post are a few personal favorites, taken during my travels around the American West & California. It is my hope that you’ll enjoy them while taking a well-deserved pause from all the talk.

Blessings for Animal Healing,

Lisa

The content of this article is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a qualified health care professional before acting on any information presented herein. Any statements about the possible health benefits of any subject discussed have not been evaluated by medical professionals or the Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or illness.