“Can Mcduffie unlearn laying down?!” my friend said jokingly as McDuffie laid down amongst a crowded Main Street at Soda City Market. Laying down is definitely McDuffie’s favorite thing to do. It is even a running joke in his training classes that his laying down behaviors are “classic McDuffie.”
McDuffie is relatively calm for his nine months of age, and as a therapy-dog-in-training, I am thankful for this. He is my reminder to slow down and enjoy the moment.
The perfect example of this was the day before my engagement party. McDuffie and I went to Soda City Market. I had so many things to do and was rushed going from one vendor to the next. On several occasions, McDuffie would do his usual and lay down frequently. That day I was really stressed and did not have the patience. My automatic thought went to, “Come on, we have to go — you are making me late!” This led to me getting more frustrated. I then changed my thought as I looked at him. He was enjoying himself so much; relaxing and looking around while wagging his tail. Seeing this made me think, “Taking a break is exactly what I need right now,” and I felt calmer.
Our thoughts can be very powerful and influence our feelings. Changing our negative thoughts to positive thoughts leads to more positive feelings.
McDuffie is a reminder for me that self-care is a priority, not a luxury.
As I reflect on my friend’s statement about McDuffie unlearning laying down, I would not want to change who he is. I accept his calm and energy-conserving attitude. I also relate this to myself and accepting me for where I am at and continue to apply this to the people I meet.
Be sure to follow McDuffie's journey to becoming a certified therapy dog.
Request an appointment here: https://futurepsychsolutions.com or call Future Psych Solutions at (803) 335-5232 for an appointment in our Columbia office.
Counseling is a form of psychiatry treatment that focuses on one specific problem. This type of treatment can be extremely helpful to someone experiencing a behavioral, mental or emotional problem such as anxiety, depression or even addiction. Psychiatric counseling is done in a safe and controlled setting that allows patients to feel that they can be…
Although often overlooked, mental health is just as important as physical health. Whether you have a mental disorder or are going through a difficult time due to external factors, a psychiatrist can provide professional help. You can also follow several self-care tips outside of treatment to help make your mental health journey easier.Self-care is crucial…