Self care. We have all heard or read this phrase. We’ve encountered it in the layers of Facebook pop-psych click-bait, also in more clinical settings, and even casually dropped from the lips of a suit in line at the Starbucks around the corner from the office. We are all under societal pressures: we’re Americans, and we do anxiety like no other nation. Self care comes in when you need a day to yourself away from all the anxiety, or even an hour, indulging in hot cocoa, or a pedicure, or a trip to the dollar store for stupid pet costumes. Self care in America, to a certain extent, means consumerism. It means drink more artesian water. It means take a hot yoga class at the studio that just opened. It means gather ye rosebuds from Home Depot. It means spend money. Why? I don’t know.
I am not going to say I have found a new path of self care that involves spending no money, because my self care involves horses, and horses eat gold bullion and crown jewels. They sleep on platinum pharmaceutical patents. We tack them up in rare earth tax returns.
I am going to say, self care sometimes means taking care of something else because doing THAT makes you feel better. Taking care of my horse makes ME feel better, and I would rather this than have a stranger shred my feet with hot bubbling water, emery boards, and orange sticks. My me time is Eli time. He gets apples, grooming, exercise, and a good roll and I feel recharged.
What do you do for self care? Are horses or any animals a part of it?
Love this! Taking care of my animals is DEFINITELY self care for me. There is nothing like the peace and satisfaction I get from having happy, clean ponies in a clean barn with full bellies.
LikeLike
After a few hours of barn time, I feel so much better, too!
LikeLike
I went to the barn and visited my horse over my work lunch hour yesterday- I just needed it. I understand completely!
LikeLike
I do wish my work and barn were not so far apart
LikeLike
“horses eat gold bullion and crown jewels.” YUP. But definitely- when I’m burned out and exhausted and tired, I’ll sometimes forego riding and just groom Frankie for an hour. He really thrives on that kind of attention, and seeing him so content makes everything else melt away.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Eli gets the grazing treatment, since grooming is not his thing, lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
My self care always involves my animals. It also includes getting out in nature…naturally those go together better than peas and carrots.
LikeLike
So true! Just being outside in nice weather helps so much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Riding and running are for sure my self-care. I also love cleaning stalls early in the morning when no one else is around–quiet and full of all the good barn things. My boy doesn’t really like being groomed, but he does like quiet hanging out or grazing. Also walking/hiking with my pup.
LikeLike
Walking my dog falls into my self care category for sure
LikeLike
I have a full on zoo at my house (5 horses, 9 dogs, 2 cats, 16 goats, 80+ chickens, a donkey and a cockatiel) so I feel like I get mental health refreshers every morning and evening when doing chores. People think my husband and I are nuts to have so many animals, but there just isn’t anything like caring for an animal that is solely dependent on you for it’s well being. Plus they don’t judge, their love truly is unconditional and there is no better way to take out frustration than hard labor!
LikeLike
Just hearing horses munching on hay is therapeutic, right?
LikeLike
I’m not gonna lie, my self care usually involves a manicure. I can zone out for an hour and listen to other conversations going on around me.
I do also feel similarly good after a bath day for Cosmo, when he’s all shiny and munchign away on his grain as I leave.
LikeLike
I cannot wait for this weekend because it is finally warm enough for Eli to get a REAL bath!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Animals are so good for people!! In my opinion, your form of self care sounds like the very best kind.
LikeLike
It *feels* like the very best kind!
LikeLike
Running. And getting to the barn. Both make me feel so much better!
LikeLike
The running answer always surprises me because I can’t imagine feeling that way about running, but sweeping the cross ties and other barn chores are totally pick-me-ups
LikeLiked by 1 person
No matter how stressful my day has been I can feel it melt away as I do my supper time chores in the barn. The simplicity of physical action and taking care of my horses eases my soul.
LikeLike
That is exactly my experience & you put it into words!
LikeLike
Hand grazing is so therapeutic for me. I’d totally be down to be a working student at a fancy barn and hand graze all the horses
LikeLiked by 1 person
The grass munching sounds are hypnotic to me 🙂
LikeLike