Exercising Care for Oneself and Others

This is Wrinkles, my basset hound. These are “Gumby” dogs; notice his head on the bottom right (with an ear even further right). My boy is relaxed; he’s comfortable (in his own way). He is sufficiently safe in his environment (the sofa) that he can be himself.

There’s a message in here for the two legged among us. In a world as difficult and stressful as ours, we need to find ways to take care of ourselves, to find places we can relax and to enable others around us to settle down and breathe. We need to work on our mental and physical wellness.

This isn’t easy.

So, here are four questions to ask oneself and if the answer to any one or more questions is “no,” consider changing one’s behavior in a concerted and very intentional effort immediately to help oneself and others. I could explain the science and psychology behind these questions but let’s save that for another day.

Question One:

Are you engaging in the outside world, spending considerable time with friends/family outside one’s home?

Question Two:

Are you helping others, whether through one’s work and/or volunteering assistance to those in need?

Question Three:

Are you engaging in creative efforts, whether that is making art or visiting art galleries, attending concerts or plays or musicals or building something concrete or engaging in problem solving in math or science?

Question Four:

Are you sleeping enough and well, walking and exercising with regularity and finding ways to eat well (avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol)?

Answers

If you answer one or more questions with a “no,” and I sadly see four “no’s” among some folks where I live, make change (or families, help your relatives make changes).

Bottom line, we will get to the “Wrinkles Zen Den” if we become active and engaged (physically and mentally regardless of age), help others with regularity (regardless of age) and sleep/eat well (regardless of age).

It sounds simple but it isn’t. That said, it is worth trying and converting even one or two or three “no’s” to “yes’s.”