“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.
Child psychiatry is an integral part of helping children through mental conditions, such as anxiety disorders. If you have noticed the symptoms in your child, there is no need to panic. A child psychiatrist can help young patients manage their anxiety disorders to minimize the impact on the child's daily life and overall development.It is…
Mental health conditions that negatively impact an individual’s emotional state are known as mood disorder. Through various strategies, a psychiatrist can minimize this impact. While prescription medication is a common one, it is not the only one. In most cases, a psychiatrist will recommend a strategy that combines medication and psychotherapy.There is more than one…