August 2026 Musing on Self-care
Is self-care an act or an attitude?
My cat picks a random spot and melts into deep sleep. My horse naps in the grass, most afternoons around 2 pm. The dog uses an enthusiastic approach to let me know when it is time for a walk. Our animal friends model an ideal situation. They are safe and cared for and have the freedom to choose a preference for what feels good whenever the urge arises.
We have obligations. We have to schedule time for self-care items like a massage, a weekend away, or even 30 minutes of solitude without interruption. When something presses our responsibility buttons, self-care is often the most likely time frame to be overwritten.
What if self-care can be expanded to include an attitude or an energy, rather than an event? Are you open to the idea that little bits of time you spend interacting with animal friends, crafting with your hands and creating in your kitchen are valuable acts of self-care?
Maybe it is about mindset. I can experience the beneficial energy of self-care by choosing to fully engage (be present) with whatever I’m doing. It’s a practice. I decide that self-care happens when I stop performing and start paying attention. It is feeling curious, and being engaged enough to notice what sensory cues I’m experiencing. It can become an ordinary thing to be more present by simply choosing to pay attention without spinning out and being swallowed by analysis and performance evaluation.
Self-care happens when you choose to fully engage and be curious just for yourself. Let go of performing to meet the expectations of others. How do you actually feel about the ordinary thing you are doing when you experience it from the inside out? This is especially simple to experience in exchange with our animal friends.
There is still a paradox of freedom and obligation. There will always be obligations that take away your energy and drain your reserves. What if you consider completion of those draining tasks as freedom, and then get creative with your celebration? Do not skip the celebration! Notice how your animals respond when you celebrate. It’s magnetic.
Our animal friends pay attention to our breath, energy and body language and give us real-time feedback. They are drawn in when we celebrate. They also notice when we are stressed. The interrupt with an invitation to engage in joyful minute from time to time. It doesn’t have to be a big thing. Maybe it is as simple as a comment or a scratch behind the ears. Whatever the case, it has disrupted the drain for a minute.
Fully participating (being present) is a meaningful act of self-care. Interacting with animals lowers cortisol, slows the heart rate and shifts you into a calmer and more regulated state. Remind yourself you don’t have to make a grand gesture or schedule a weekend away. Of course, those bits are always good. Be fully present with whatever you are doing in the ordinary moments too.
Maybe self-care doesn’t require more time, just more presence in the time you already have. It’s not an escape; it’s a return to ordinary pleasures from the inside out. You can choose it.
Hit reply and let me know about the sparkly bits of self-care you are sharing with your animal friends. I’m always excited to hear your thoughts and stories!
Spirit animal: Zebra
Zebras represent individuality in community. Every individual has unique stripes. When they move together in a herd, the stipes merge together and make it difficult for predators to discern a single animal to target as prey.
If you are seeking expansion and recognition for your uniqueness, call on zebra. They carry powerful expression of individuality while keeping a strong connection with community. There is balance in having both.