Miraculous Health Benefits of doing the right things, together.
Walking is, simply put, too much to do for those of us under the spell of adrenal fatigue. Not only is our get-up-and-go gone, other companion side affects keep us couch bound. Fatigue aside, feelings of overwhelm, anxiety and depression make it easy to cancel outings with friends and exercise dates with anyone, especially ourselves. I am speaking from experience.
What jumpstarted my walking program? Two unstoppable reasons — my local shelter needed volunteers to walk dogs and I knew I had to get out of the house, make new friends, smell the roses and all that jazz.
The results were nothing short of miraculous.
To make a long story short – my volunteer dog walking stint consisted of showing up every Wednesday afternoon for two to three hours. The pups put me through their paces, each and everyone a perfect partner. I’d stroll with a senior and run/walk with a young hound. Some dogs had to be carried in and out just to use the potty. Sometimes I would just sit in the shade and massage or perform Reiki on a particularly fearful dog. Some were so nervous I had to carry them in and out just to use the potty!
Bending, lifting, caressing, walking, smelling puppy breath, running, playing, visiting with other dog walkers, smelling the change of seasons … all of this added up to an adrenal gland boosting “Helper’s High” that helped cure my mental and physical distress.
Many an afternoon I’d head in feeling exhausted, sometimes with a migraine, feeling lost in a work project or simply “not in the mood.” I’d always bip out with a smile, feelings of gratitude and a clear mind full of solutions and fresh ideas. Oh, and I’d smell good – doggone good.
Finally, this feel-good outing inspired more walks with my own pooch and increased my enjoyment and endurance in golf. This made my husband’s day! And – and – and within the first month or so of beginning my volunteer service I dropped seven pounds and got rid of that stubborn, unhealthy belly fat bulge.
Dr. Post, author of Why Good Things Happen to Good People, says “Do something small with a big heart and stick with it.” One of his sources, Dr. Oman stated “Volunteering had a larger effect than physical mobility, exercising four times a week, and weekly attendance at religious services.”
So what do you get when you combine volunteering + dogs + walking? Miraculous health benefits and … results.
Your turn.
Four years later and I’m still walking the dogs and still going strong. Are you ready to join the club? To find your local shelter go to PetFinder.com and click on the “Animal Shelter Tab” at the top of the page. For more information and fatigue recovery solutions check out the Fatigue Be Gone Jumpstart e-Guide.
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