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Wednesday, July 16, 2008
What’s your favorite mental escape?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My beloved greyhound Della left to meet her maker the week before I moved into my new condo. I was heartbroken, but prepared; she was old and sick and I knew her days were numbered.
At least, I tearfully reasoned, Della was spared the trauma of adjusting to a strange urban environment. And for the first time in more than 12 years, I would be spared the inconvenience of planning my days around dog walks.
I could sleep 20 minutes later in the morning if I felt like it, and stay out at night as late as I wished. If I really felt the need for a furry friend, I could get a cat.
For a while, I appreciated this extra bit of freedom. But it didn’t last long.
Even when my snazzy new furniture was in place and the pictures were hung, my new home felt unsettlingly empty. What’s more, I missed those walks. I regularly explored the neighborhood on bike and on foot, often breaking into a jog. But somehow, without a leash in my hand, it just wasn’t the same.
And so within less than two months of Della’s departure, I was riding up the elevator to my unit with my new companion, a beautiful golden-haired greyhound named Laney. On most days for the last three years, no matter how hectic my schedule is looking, we take at least two good, long walks around the neighborhood — for her to do her business, and for me to escape from mine.
While she checks — and leaves — messages in the grass, my mind wanders freely. I admire the well-tended lawns, noticing what’s currently in bloom, and catch glimpses of furniture and artwork through windows, imagining who lives there and what their lives are like.
As we approach the vicinity of a certain Tudor-style house, I predict how many seconds will pass before the head of one dachshund, and then another, pops over the window sill and a deafening chorus of barks erupts. Like clockwork.
I pass another house with a brand new For Sale sign, and try to estimate the list price — then check the flier to see how close I came.
Occasionally we’ll cross paths with a neighbor and we’ll stop for a brief chat, while Laney exchanges sniffs with Lottie, Rudy, Molly, Newt, Oliver, Dixie or her current “boyfriend” George, a handsome mixed-breed similar to her in size and temperament. It rarely gets more exciting than this on our walks, and that is the point.
As today’s cover story reminds me, not every waking minute of every day has to be scintillating or productive. Nor should it be.
Allowing ourselves down time to rejuvenate, in fact, is as essential to our good health as a balanced diet and regular exercise. But for those of us for whom multi-tasking is a way of life, this can be easier said than done.
I’m grateful that I have a canine friend who forces me into a routine that requires an easy, peaceful break from the computer, the phone and all other responsibilities at the beginning and end of each day.
For others, yoga, meditation, power naps or bubble baths offers the same benefits. What’s your favorite mental escape?
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