Last week, something awful happened to me. Something so terribly awful that it made my body tense up and my heart race, expecting impending peril and doom. That something? I went to Target without my phone. Gone was the self-soothing ability to “plug in” to a podcast, while “unplugging” from the world around me. Thus, I was forced to look around—to observe the interactions of everyday life. After the initial symptoms of withdrawal, it became rather nice. I began to observe people going about their errands, phones in hand. Some were window shoppers, almost as if they were waiting for Valerie Harper of The Mary Tyler Moore Show to come out and dress the window like in the 70s. Others were families racing around to pick up dinner before soccer practice. I soon began to realize a large part of my world had become centered on a 6 inch screen, forcing me to miss so much beauty. Lastly, as I was coming out of Target, I noticed there were several families walking their dogs, taking them into various shops or cafes. These families, unlike many I observed, were the most relaxed and happy of all. In our health and wellness obsessed culture, could it be possible the answer to living a healthier life has been by our side all along?
While it borders on sociological cliché to talk about the health detriments of using one’s mobile device excessively, the topic of our pets as keys to our health and well-being is worth exploring further. There are many benefits to pet ownership, such as:
It’s official! Pet ownership is one of the best things you can do for your health. We also strongly encourage people to adopt from your local shelter or rescue rather than buying a dog or cat from a breeder. If after reading all of these benefits to pet ownership, you find yourself with the uncontrollable desire to race over here and adopt, feel free to check out our website! You can see all of our adoptable dogs and cats, as well as find our adoption procedures and protocols. You can also give us a call at 918-428-7722. Who knows? You might just meet your new best friend, and your health may improve at the same time. It’s a win-win!