What are all the other mammals doing?
I risk hypocrisy by posting this, but I want to talk about the importance of rest and relaxation. I’ll admit up front that I’m a son of hardworking Midwestern parents, and I’ve taken their life lessons to heart. This means that I don’t really start relaxing on a vacation until perhaps the third or fourth day, and even then it’s hard to really let go of all the different concerns and issues that preoccupy me in my profession. But I keep working on this, and one way I do it is by meditating on the activities (or lack thereof) of other mammals.
Think about it: You don’t have to be a dog or cat companion to know that once the other (non-human) mammals on this planet have fed themselves, relieved their sexual needs, provided reasonable security, and found shelter, they just … lie around. If I surprise my dogs by coming home in the middle of the day, I find them snoozing. What is it about humans that we can’t just let it go on a regular basis?
I suggest that we post pictures around us that remind us of the restful wisdom of other mammals. This is one of the reasons I like to take pictures of my dogs at rest. It reminds me to get over myself and plan for weekly times of R&R. Ideally, we would all unplug at least one full day per week. If you’re feeling stressed and exhausted, stop for a moment and recognize that the non-human mammals around you, well, they think it’s odd that you’re not napping!
