Vet Connect: By Kim VanWagner, D.V.M.
Holiday Emotional Experiences Everyone focuses on being thankful or having gratitude during this season, but there are other common emotions we experience as we approach the upcoming holidays. Stress, fear, and anxiety are some other feelings we experience during this time. Pet owners can take advantage of having that human-animal bond to help share and calm the mix of emotions that holidays can bring. Other than the common notion of being grateful and sharing thankfulness, stress is the second most common emotion faced. The feeling that we’re going to lose control cultivates stress and fear. Most wisdom traditions tell us that nothing is within our control in the first place, so letting go of the idea that everything will be perfect is the first step. On a more practical level, be as organized as possible and tackle tasks ahead of time. Do not wait until the last minute. For example, if you know you are going to be traveling, make sure your pets are caught up on their wellness visits and vaccinations in case the need arises for boarding care. Go ahead and make that boarding reservation or get that pet sitter lined out for the holidays. The holidays can really ramp up the stress levels. The holidays and what they bring on top of our regular lives can lead us to feeling overwhelmed. Stress spins our gears wildly, wasting our much-needed energy and focus. Pets can even sense the added stress and may start showing physical symptoms of stress themselves, such as gastrointestinal, urinary, and behavioral issues. Taking the time to stop, take a few deep breaths, and bring yourself back into your body, into the present, can interrupt the cycle of stress and help you to refocus on what’s important. Make sure to take the time to walk the dog, play with your pets, or just sit and have a calming petting or cuddling session. These activities have been proven to lower blood pressure and calm our nerves. There are many ways to
support your pet during these stressful seasons with supplements, food, and medications. Contact your local vet ahead of time if you think these things might be an issue. Science tells us unpleasant experiences carve deeper neurological grooves in our brains. In other words, as humans, we’re programmed to remember the less pleasant events, so it’s especially important to also notice when we’re happy. So often we remember our failures, our mistakes, but most of the time things really work out. When pleasant things do happen, let them sink in deeply and really register them. When you’re feeling happy, pay attention! This positive feeling gives us a sense of abundance, which in turn helps us to be more generous, which then makes us feel happier. Happiness is gold. It’s the secret ingredient! Don’t let successes pass unnoticed. Finally, gratitude, true gratitude, is not something we can force or feel obligated to experience. True gratitude rises naturally when we’re confronted with the ways in which we are supported and provided for. Thanksgiving can be kind of tricky: We’re supposed to feel grateful, which can sometimes make us feel guilty, or crabby, or highlight all the ways that we aren’t feeling it. Still, recognizing what is abundant in your life and bringing that to the forefront is always worthwhile, no matter the season or circumstance. Allow the gratitude to flow forward and let it inform your thoughts and actions. Share this sense of abundance at every opportunity! If Thanksgiving isn’t such a great deal for you, if you’re not in a place to feel the gratitude, look for ways, no matter how small or ordinary, in which you’re supported and provided for. Focus on that, and let it guide you towards some sense of belonging. Happiness and blessings to your families during these holidays.
Got a Cute Grandkid?
Share with us! Go to PostcardsLive.com click on "Share Pics & More" Tab and share the cuteness! 54 Postcards Magazine: Lake Conroe Edition | November 2021
