Meet Lola: a loving rescue pup who knew something was wrong when it mattered most.
Back in 2025, team members at National Mill Dog Rescue saved Lola from a commercial breeding facility where she’d spent eight years confined to a small space with very little enrichment.
NATIONAL MILL DOG RESCUE
Given her difficult past, rescuers feared Lola might have a hard time adapting to rescue life. But Lola quickly proved them wrong.
“Despite everything she had experienced, Lola emerged as a happy, friendly little dog with so much love still to give,” a rescue representative told The Dodo.
A few months later, Lola met the Mullane family, and they instantly connected.
NATIONAL MILL DOG RESCUE
“From the moment they met her, Lola delighted them with her adorable little butt wiggle and radiant grin,” the representative said. “Choosing to bring her home was an easy decision for them. We were so happy to watch Lola head off to begin this next chapter of her life.”
About a year later, rescuers received an incredible update from Lola’s parents. According to a family member, Lola had been acting “funny,” lying on top of her grandpa and repeatedly nudging him, as if trying to signal that something was wrong.
Lola’s grandpa, who suffers from colon cancer, wasn’t feeling well, and he took Lola’s persistent nudges as a sign that he should go to the emergency room.
NATIONAL MILL DOG RESCUE
A few hours later, doctors confirmed that Lola’s grandpa was in kidney failure. Had he waited any longer, things could have been much worse.
“Lola may have saved his life that day,” National Mill Dog Rescue wrote in a Facebook post.
Rescuers are so proud of Lola, a dog who loves boldly, despite her years spent in solitude.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the role she has played — and continues to play — in the lives of the Mullane family,” the representative said. “They gave Lola a second chance, and in an extraordinary way, Lola was there when her family needed her most.”
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It has been said countless times before – dogs are beyond special. The bond they make with us humans is so beautiful, and this true story about Lola and the Mullane family is wonderful.
Have you ever taken months off training – maybe due to an injury, a new baby or crushing work deadlines – and come back convinced you were starting from zero?
Research from our team has some good news: At the cellular level, you probably weren’t.
We found that muscle and liver cells store memories fromevery training session in ways that may help improve endurance, control blood sugar levels and even slow weight regain after inactivity.
Use it or lose it? Maybe not
For most of the past century, long before fad diets and fancy workout trends took off, exercise was considered one of the most effective lifestyle changes to lower the risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, several cancers and early death for people of all ages. But people typically understood exercise as something whose beneficial effects fade away over time: You use it or lose it.
When you stop training, your maximum oxygen uptake, muscle gains and insulin sensitivity drift back to where they started, often within weeks. Physical activity guidelines are built on this fact, which is why they emphasize consistency above all else.
Consistency, however, is a luxury that roughly 3 in 4 American adults aren’t able to enjoy. People can experience injuries, illness, pregnancy or jobs that limit their time for or ability to exercise. If adaptation really resets, every time you step into the gym would be as if you’ve never been there before. But that scenario doesn’t match what coaches and returning athletes typically describe: In practice, people who have trained before can get fit again faster than those who haven’t undergone similar training.
In recent years, however, scientists have started challenging the concept of “use it or lose it.” New research hints that your cells might keep a record of your training history so all of your gains are not completely lost.
More than muscle
We areexercise physiologists who study how cells remember exercise. Our lab and others have shown that the body is able to store a form of exercise memory across different organs.
To study how this exercise memory works, our team of researchers use an ON-OFF-ON exercise training protocol in mice, which involves an initial four- to eight-week training period, followed by detraining – a period of no exercise – and a second training bout. This method allows us to examine how cells form a memory of exercise, maintain a record of exercise through detraining, and recall memories of prior training when exposed again to exercise.
Using this strategy, our team found that skeletal muscle memory accelerates muscle growth. Compared to mice with no training history, mice who retrained grew bigger muscles, and the individual muscle fibers inside those muscles grew too. Larger muscle fibers meant that the working cells were themselves getting bigger, rather than the surrounding tissue.
Looking more closely at these muscle cells, we found that retrained muscle is better at matching energy production to demand – meaning, the muscles were better at drawing from energy stores when it’s needed most – and this ability persists without further exercise. This memory held even when the mice ate a high-fat diet, suggesting that prior training can still offer benefits even when diet is working against those gains.
Muscle isn’t the only body part that learns from exercise. Working muscle needs fuel, and the liver supplies it during and after training sessions.
My colleagues and I found that liver cells also store exercise memory and uses it to feed muscle more efficiently. In both mice and people who trained, stopped, then trained again, their livers released higher levels of a family of enzymes called carboxylesterases. These enzymes chop up lipids circulating in the blood, delivering fat in a form that muscle can take up and burn as it grows.
A record that outlives you
Recorded cellular memories of exercise may even be passed down to future generations.
In mice, we found that three to four weeks of maternal and paternal endurance exercise can have a lasting effect on their offspring. Compared to offspring born to sedentary parents, parental exercise granted protection against poor blood sugar levels and excess weight gain for an entire year after birth.
But there remains much to be discovered on how parents influence the health of their children and whether their lifestyle could provide a fitness advantage across generations.
Every cell remembers
Biology has traditionally granted memory to a short list of cells. Neurons store memory in the connections between them. Immune cells store memory so they can recognize pathogens faster and more strongly the next time they encounter them.
Researchers previously considered all other cells to be memoryless; a cell responds to a signal, then returns to baseline without keeping a record of that interaction. But that assumption is now coming apart.
Skin stem cells can keep a record of inflammation, allowing them to heal a new wound faster months later. Human fat cells keep a record of obesity that persists even after substantial weight loss, which may account for why you gain weight faster when switching back to a high-calorie diet – the so-called yo-yo effect.
We propose that every cell in the body remembers exercise, regardless of how little or how much someone trains. The question is how long these records are stored and whether researchers could prolong or expand each cell’s storage capacity. Better understanding of how cells learn and remember exercise, where they store memories and how those memories are preserved could help improve exercise guidelines for those who cannot exercise for prolonged or consistent periods of time.
To be clear, none of these findings are evidence for skipping the gym; nothing in our data suggests the effects of past training can substitute for present training. But there is hope that the work you put into getting in shape isn’t completely lost over time.
Somewhere, deep in your cells, there is a record waiting to be replayed the next time you lace up your running shoes, pick up a pair of dumbbells or want to fulfill a New Year’s resolution.
There were many aspects of this applied health science that surprised me, and I suspect will surprise others. It is another supporting reason why I go cycling three or four times a week.
This is such a beautiful account of a young boy rescuing a dog.
I said this many times before. That is when I first met my wife, Jean, she was living in Mexico with twenty-three ex-rescue dogs (and quite a few cats).
So this tale from The Dodo is a must to republish,
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Little Boy Can’t Stop Crying When He Meets An Abandoned Dog At A Gas Station
“He was like, ‘We can’t just leave this animal here.’”
This past Labor Day weekend, Alexandra and Rollins Luckey went on a road trip from Florida back home to Atlanta. Along the way, they made a stop at a gas station in Columbus, Georgia, and were immediately greeted by a pit bull.
“There was just this dog chilling in front, and the people inside were like, ‘Yeah, he’s been here for forever. We don’t know who owns him,’” Alexandra told The Dodo.
ALEXANDRA LUCKEY
The Luckeys were shocked by how affectionate the big dog was. He had the demeanor of someone’s beloved pet but was clearly all by himself.
“He came right up to us and was so friendly,” Alexandra said.
The couple’s 6-year-old son, Reese, became very attached to the dog right away. Reese fell in love with the pup’s sweet personality and didn’t understand how anyone could abandon him outside a gas station. He was so heartbroken by the dog’s situation that he was even moved to tears.
“Our son’s a really good kid. He knows right from wrong, and not just that, he knows what’s good and bad,” Rollins told The Dodo. “He was like, ‘We can’t just leave this animal here.'”
Between Reese’s tears and the pup’s sweet face, Alexandra and Rollins started to wonder: What if they actually didn’t leave the dog? On paper, taking a dog from a random Georgia gas station home with them seemed crazy. But as they thought about it more, they realized nothing was stopping them.
“I’m a dog lover, so I was like, ‘Let’s just take him,’” Alexandra said.
Reese couldn’t believe it. As his parents brought the dog into the car, he couldn’t stop smiling.
“He was so excited,” Alexandra said.
ALEXANDRA LUCKEY
The couple posted a photo of the dog to a local lost pets Facebook page, where they learned from a community member that the dog’s owner had been neglecting him for quite some time and didn’t want him anymore. That settled it — Reese named the dog Clark, and the Luckeys officially welcomed him into their home.
“Pit bulls have such a bad rap, but they’re truly the sweetest dogs,” Alexandra said. “If you treat them well, they’ll love you back.”
ALEXANDRA LUCKEY
Over the past week and a half, Clark has quickly settled into his new home. He’s obsessed with sitting in Rollins’ lap and covering him with licks, and he’s already enjoying running around with the family’s other dog, Bunny. Reese, of course, has been thrilled to cuddle up with his new best friend.
“I feel like our family’s complete with him,” Alexandra said.
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Fabulous!
The story brings to mind the last dog that we took from the local dog rescue centre. Namely, Cloudy. He is a part Chihuahua and very intelligent. He adores Jeannie.
I do not drive. I haven’t driven for quite a few years. I had a biking accident that caused the DVLC to recall my license. (I had two sub-dural bleedings that required urgent surgery)
Ouch!
Thus, ironically, I am removed from having car-driving accidents.
That leads me on to republish a recent George Monbiot article.
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Driven to the Brink
Posted on 23rd September 2026
Petromasculinity not only kills people on the road. It spills into our politics, fuelling far-right individualism.
By George Monbiot, published in the Guardian 17th September 2026
Where is lawbreaking not just visible, but designed to be seen? Where is antisocial behaviour worn as a badge of honour? Where is pleasure gained directly from causing distress? And where is reckless endangerment often ignored by the police or treated with the mildest of punishments? The answer is on the roads.
Last month, three men in the West Midlands were convicted of street racing. Two were driving at over 80mph in a 40mph zone. The third clocked over 90mph in a 30mph zone. The West Midlands has long been blighted by organised racing, sometimes involving 200 cars or more and hundreds of spectators. The result is a long catalogue of deaths and life-changing injuries, including some caused when racers have left the road and ploughed into onlookers or pedestrians. And there are plenty more accidents where the police have little idea whether racing is to blame, for as soon as they happen, the drivers disperse.
The West Midlands is one of the few places in the UK where the police are actively trying to stop antisocial driving. An injunction bans street racing and dangerous tricks such as “drifting” (long sideways skids) and “doughnutting” (making the car spin on the spot). The local police commissioner has warned that reckless drivers “will face the full force of the law … including seizure of your vehicle and imprisonment”. But are the courts listening?
Of the three men convicted at Birmingham magistrates court, one received a suspended sentence, a £272 fine, 150 hours of community work and a two-year driving ban. Another was handed a £1,275 fine and seven penalty points: in other words, he could step out of the court and back into his car. The man who did over 90mph in a 30mph zone got a £253 fine and a 56-day driving ban. He’ll be back on the roads in November. All appear to have kept their cars.
If these men had caused the same level of endangerment by any other means, it’s hard to believe they would have got off so lightly. But in dozens of ways, driving gets special treatment.
There’s a similar racing culture in mid-Wales, where I lived until 2012. Night after night, a convoy of cars with exhausts modified to be as loud as possible would race past, at 50mph or more in a 30mph zone. They would start at around 10pm and continue some nights until 2am, going round the nearby roads in a loop. As soon as I’d got my infant daughter to sleep, they’d roar past and wake her up again.
Calls to the police were useless: they told me to take down the number plates and “report the incident”. When I did so, they explained, in effect, that I was wasting my time, as I couldn’t prove the drivers were breaking the speed limit. In fact, their advice was counterproductive: when I went outside to take the plates, the young men jeered, gave me the finger and accelerated. It seemed that shock and disgust was what they craved. And this was before TikTok, where drivers can achieve much wider notoriety.
The first young man to “do a ton” (100mph) down my high street in Wales on his motorbike became a local hero. Soon afterwards, he rode into a wall and died. Other drivers killed their passengers, hit pedestrians or forced other cars off the road. When people were killed or injured, the drivers were prosecuted and lightly punished, but there was little effort to address the underlying culture. Some men went straight back into the convoys when they regained their licences. I’m told that nothing has changed, despite the default 20mph speed limit now applied to residential areas across Wales. Every year a new cohort of young men joins the local urban racetrack.
Now I live in Devon, where there’s a different culture of antisocial driving. Here it’s mostly middle-aged men in “lifted” pickup trucks, which have been modified to be as loud and smoky as possible. Two local SUVs have been refitted to “roll coal” from twin exhaust towers mounted behind the cab, releasing a dense black cloud of soot when the driver hits the “smoke switch”. Adapting your truck for this purpose means buying a “delete kit” to bypass the vehicle’s emissions control system, retuning the engine and fitting bigger injectors. The practice emerged in the US, both as an anti-environmental protest and as a form of amusement. It is largely deployed against cyclists, pedestrians and electric vehicles. I’ve seen these two trucks doing it, blinding the drivers behind and choking everyone around. Of course it’s illegal. But it doesn’t seem to be a priority for the police in my area.
What we see here are manifestations of petro-masculinity: a violent, misogynistic, climate-denying version of manhood, expressed through an antisocial driving culture. Some of the modified trucks have decals saying “Stop the Boats” or “Save Our Children” (who are apparently being brainwashed by LGBTQ+ cultural Marxists). This is the Magafication of transport – a vehicle that carries some of the worst aspects of US culture and politics into the UK.
It’s the extreme end of a much wider trend. In the UK last year, 52% of the new cars on sale were SUVs. Not only do the ever-rising bonnets of these trucks make it harder for drivers to see pedestrians and cyclists, especially children, but higher and heavier cars are also more likely to cause deaths or serious injuries when they hit people: children under nine are three times more likely to be killed if they’re hit by an SUV than by a regular car.
And what are they for? On narrow country lanes round here, tourists in these “off-road” vehicles won’t back up if it means touching a hedge, in case the high-gloss finish on their Wankpanzer Childkiller gets scratched. In one of the poshest parts of London, the Chelsea Truck Company advertises “iconic urban 4x4s”. “Iconic” appears to mean huge. But what the hell is an “urban 4×4”? And why is it legal?
Isn’t it obvious that selfishness on the road changes us as a society? The belief that drivers should be allowed to do whatever they please, regardless of the impact on others, mounts the pavement and travels deep into our lives. If this is to be a decent, inclusive country that values human life, then the law and its enforcement should match that aspiration. But when the roads are used to amplify and celebrate a dangerous, antisocial culture, we are driven towards a very dark place.
Now this is in England but I have very little doubt that it occurs here in America. Especially since a far greater proportion of vehicles are SUV’s. Well that’s the case here in Oregon.
We love living in Southern Oregon. This rural part of the countryside is a delight, and feeding the wild deer is a bonus.
However, we also have to take note of the changing climate and the potential risks that extremes of weather can bring.
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As cities prepare for 2026’s super El Niño, some crucial blind spots can’t be ignored
An affordable-housing crisis and a growing homeless population led Los Angeles to declared a shelter crisis during the 2015-16 El Niño. David McNew/Getty Images
Community planning for El Niño often starts by identifying infrastructure that’s vulnerable to extreme weather. What can be harder to address are the needs of the populations most at risk, including low-income communities and older adults who may need help preparing their homes and themselves for extreme conditions.
As communities prepare for the rising risk of extreme weather, they need to be aware of the blind spots.
What is El Niño and what’s at risk?
El Niño is part of a natural climate pattern that appears every few years when temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean rise.
Its effects can shift weather patterns away from what is considered normal. Typically wet regions can get unusually dry, while dry areas can experience extreme rainfall that causes flooding. Global average temperatures also tend to rise during El Niño conditions, leaving people facing dangerous heat, both indoorsand outdoors.
In winter, El Niño typically shifts weather patterns across the U.S. However, every El Nino is different – conditions during one El Niño may be very different from the next. NOAA
Preparing for the strong El Niño expected in late 2026 and early 2027 means ensuring that critical infrastructure is able to withstand flooding, temperature extremes and other severe weather conditions.
That means inspecting flood control and drainage systems, trimming trees that could knock down power lines during high winds, and reinforcing or maintaining infrastructure such as dams, stormwater channels, roads and bridges.
Aging infrastructure, in particular, can be a problem.
Old levees and dams, for example, can leave a community vulnerable to catastrophic flooding, as the Seattle area saw in December 2025 when flooding from heavy rainfall broke levees in multiple communities. Repairing and replacing large-scale infrastructure like this is expensive and time-consuming. Too often, by the time it fails, repairs had been discussed for years but not completed.
Where we’re finding gaps in disaster planning
Infrastructure is only part of the challenge. Preparing a community for El Niño also means preparing people for what could be unprecedented conditions.
A study I worked on with researchers at Tufts University reviewed climate adaptation and disaster preparedness in several high-risk communities in the United States. We identified gaps in the policies, resources and institutional capacity available to help communities adapt to rising risks.
Crews inspect damage to a Green River levee in the Seattle suburbs on Dec. 15, 2025. Thousands of people were urged to evacuate during a series of atmospheric river storms, and the National Guard was sent to monitor and reinforce several levees considered at risk. AP Photo/Manuel Valdes
In particular, we found that governments often focus heavily on physical risks while giving too little attention to social vulnerability.
In the Los Angeles area, homeless people often set up camp in normally dry riverbeds. But those areas are at high risk of flooding during El Niño. Heavy rains during the 2015-16 El Niño swept away this camp’s mattresses. Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
It is often easier for governments to identify and invest in physical infrastructure than to invest in policies that address complex social vulnerabilities like these. For example, building a seawall can be tied to a specific project or funding stream. Reducing social vulnerability, on the other hand, may require coordination across housing, healthcare, emergency management and social services. And it typically requires sustained investments over time.
Yet, preparing successfully for extreme weather often requires considering housing and shelter needs, healthcare access and support services.
A community’s preparedness often improves after an event, when the gaps become obvious. The challenge is identifying those gaps before a disaster occurs.
In Los Angeles, emergency managers are using a good method to meet that challenge in 2026: They are carrying out scenario exercises that bring together county departments and community disaster management coordinators to practice how they would respond to an El-Niño-driven extreme weather event.
These exercises are designed to identify gaps in existing plans and figure out what might be needed if severe storms, flooding or mudslides occur. Scenario exercises allow people involved in disaster response to work through a hypothetical event before it happens.
Heavy downpours in October 2015 caused mudslides that trapped vehicles on Interstate 5 north of Los Angeles. The storm was early in the season for El Niño damage and served as a warning of the risks to come. Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images
In both the San Francisco Bay Area and in Durham County, North Carolina, officials are talking publicly about the risks to encourage residents to prepare. Bay Area officials are stressing the importance of following emergency management notifications and weather forecasts, particularly for individuals living close to the water or on hillsides that could face flash flooding and landslides.
In Oceanside, California, city officials convened an El Niño working group that included representatives from their public works, engineering, fire and police departments to coordinate planning, communications strategies and the monitoring of the San Luis Rey River.
Broader lessons
The challenge of preparing for El Niño in the face of uncertainty reflects some of the broader issues humanity faces when preparing for future climate changes.
Keeping up with infrastructure maintenance, scenario planning ahead of heat or storm seasons, understanding the needs of vulnerable populations and having plans in place to meet them can help prevent a severe storm from becoming a major disaster for the community.
Some of the trees that we have are, potentially, too close to the house. I hate cutting down trees but then even worse than that would be that the house is badly damaged and we have to move out.
It is nicely summarised in that last chapter of the article, and I quote: “The challenge of preparing for El Niño in the face of uncertainty reflects some of the broader issues humanity faces when preparing for future climate changes.”
Penny is a generous person. I say that because she sends me on a regular basis posts that I can publish. So today’s post will be well-received by pet owners and that, potentially, is many people. When I did the research, AI responded by writing that 71 million U.S. households in America own a dog.
Thus Penny’s post is highly relevant.
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Simple Daily Wellness Tips Every Pet Owner Can Easily Follow
For busy pet owners balancing work, errands, and the steady rhythm of walks, feeding, and cleanup, personal health often slips to the bottom of the list. The challenge isn’t a lack of caring, it’s the pressure to “do wellness right” while already managing a full day and a pet’s needs. That all-or-nothing mindset can leave both body and brain running on fumes, even when life looks fine from the outside. Simple, holistic well-being strategies and realistic daily wellness routines can support energy, mood, and focus in ways that fit real pet-owner lifestyle considerations.
Build a Pet-Owner-Friendly Wellness Rhythm
This quick routine helps you care for your body and mind without competing with walks, feeding, and playtime. You’ll stack tiny actions at the same times each day so wellness feels automatic, not like another chore.
Anchor a 3-minute morning stretch to your first pet task Start with gentle neck rolls, shoulder circles, and a slow forward fold right after you let your pet out or set down breakfast. Keep it easy and pain-free, aiming for “looser” not “sweaty.” This wakes up stiff joints and sets a calm tone before the day speeds up.
Add a short walk upgrade you can repeat During your usual walk, choose one tiny change: walk for a few more minutes or take one extra lap around the block. Keeping the change small makes it far more likely you will stick with it, and your pet still gets their normal routine.
Use a 60-second mindfulness reset at pet “pause points” Pick two moments you already stop, like waiting for the kettle, brushing your pet, or standing by the door before a walk. Breathe in for four counts, out for six, and relax your jaw and shoulders. This tiny pattern interrupts stress spirals without needing a quiet room or extra time.
Set a realistic bedtime “shut-down” that protects sleep Choose a consistent lights-out window, then build a 10-minute wind-down: dim lights, silence notifications, and do one calm activity (stretch, shower, or light reading). Treat it as non-negotiable because making sleep a priority supports your mood, focus, and patience for tomorrow’s pet care.
Review once a week and adjust, not restart On the same day each week, ask: What felt easy, what felt hard, and what can I shrink by half? Keep the parts that work and tweak one thing, like shifting your stretch to right after feeding. Small adjustments beat starting over.
Build Career Satisfaction That Supports Your Health—and Your Pet’s
When your days have a steadier rhythm, it’s easier to notice whether work is supporting your well-being or quietly draining it. Career fulfillment matters because it shapes your stress levels, energy, and sense of purpose, things that spill over into how present and patient you feel at home with your pet. If you’re feeling stuck, going back to school can be a meaningful way to strengthen your career trajectory, open new doors, and build longer-term stability that supports the life you want.
You can choose from an array of accredited online programs; for example, if you’re drawn to a behind-the-scenes role in care, a health administration master’s can help you move toward healthcare administration. Whatever path you choose, online programs are ideal for working professionals because they let you keep earning and keep up with your current responsibilities.
Daily Wellness Habits That Fit Pet-Owner Life
When you repeat a few basics, wellness stops feeling like another task and starts feeling automatic. These habits build a simple baseline you can stick with even on busy, pet-centered days.
Why it helps: Steadier hydration supports energy, digestion, and clearer hunger cues.
Brush and Floss Pairing
What it is: Brush for two minutes, then floss before you start evening pet routines.
How often: Daily
Why it helps: It reduces plaque buildup and keeps gums less irritated.
Dental Calendar Anchor
What it is: Put your next dental cleaning on the calendar when you book it.
How often: Every 6 months
Why it helps: It prevents small issues from becoming painful, expensive surprises.
Sunscreen Before the Leash
What it is: Apply broad-spectrum SPF 30+ to face, ears, neck, and hands.
How often: Daily, before outdoor time
Why it helps: It protects skin from UV damage during walks and yard breaks.
Moisturize After Washing
What it is: Apply moisturizer within two minutes of bathing or face washing.
How often: Daily
Why it helps: It seals in moisture and supports your skin barrier.
Wellness With Pets: Common Questions Answered
Q: What if my pet wakes me up and I miss sleep again? A: Keep your goal tiny: one steady habit the next morning, like a full glass of water or sunscreen before the first outing. If nights are chaotic, try a short wind-down cue you can repeat even at 2 a.m., like two slow breaths while your pet settles. Consistency beats perfection when sleep is choppy.
Q: How can I calm a stress spike without losing my whole day? A: Use your pet as a reset, not a distraction. Many pet parents rely on their pet for stress relief, so take 60 seconds to pet them slowly and unclench your jaw. Then do one next right thing, like brushing your teeth or refilling your water.
Q: When I’m rushed, what’s the minimum routine that still counts? A: Pick a two-minute combo: drink water while your pet eats, then wash your face and moisturize. Tie it to something that already happens every day, like the first leash grab or filling the bowl. If you do only that, you still reinforce the habit loop.
Q: How do I stop being inconsistent with self-care? A: Make it automatic by choosing one anchor time and one location, like floss at the sink before evening feeding. Lower friction by keeping essentials where you use them, such as sunscreen by the door. Track streaks weekly, not daily, so one off day does not derail you.
Q: Can I fit planning in when pet care takes over my evenings? A: Yes, keep it to 90 seconds. Plan out the next day by writing down three must-dos, then stop. Waking up with a simple plan makes follow-through easier, even with surprise messes.
Start One Small Pet-and-You Routine for Lasting Wellness
It’s easy for pet care to crowd out personal care, especially when sleep slips, stress flares, and the day fills up fast. The steady way forward is the mindset of small, repeatable routines, sustainable self-care habits that support both of you and build long-term health maintenance without relying on perfect days. Over time, that approach brings more motivation for wellness routines, fewer restarts, and a calmer path toward achieving balanced well-being. Small daily habits keep both ends of the leash healthy.
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Like all things that are important, developing a routine is crucial. Making it a habit is vital.
Penny has offered a grand analysis of what one needs to do to keep your pets healthy and happy.
My current writing project is a book that will be called Better Than Before, about the most fascinating subject ever, the subject of habits. How do we make and break habits—really?
It was my interest in happiness that led me to the subject of habits, and of course, the study of habits is really the study of happiness. Habits are the invisible architecture of everyday life, and a significant element of happiness. If we have habits that work for us, we’re much more likely to be happy, healthy, productive, and creative. Or not.
When I talk to people about their happiness challenges, they often point to hurdles related to a habit they want to make or break.
I asked for reader advice about two questions: had I overlooked any areas, and was there a better name than “Big Five”?
Thank you, readers! I got very helpful answers to both questions.
First: yes, indeed, I’d missed some important areas. Now I have seven areas.
Second: given the new number, a reader had a great idea for a snappy name: the Essential Seven.
Voila! The Essential Seven include…
1. Eat and drink more healthfully (give up sugar, eat more vegetables, drink less alcohol)
2. Exercise regularly
3. Save and spend wisely (save regularly, pay down debt, donate to worthy causes, make purchases that contribute to happiness or habits, pay taxes, stay current with expense reports)
4. Rest, relax, and enjoy (pursue a hobby instead of cruising the internet, enjoy the moment, stop checking email, get enough sleep, spend less time in the car, take time for myself)
5. Stop procrastinating, make consistent progress (practice an instrument, set aside two hours daily for uninterrupted work, learn a language, maintain a blog, keep a gratitude journal)
6. Simplify, clear, and organize (make the bed every day, file regularly, put keys away in the same place, recycle, give away unused clothing)
7. Engage more deeply—with other people, with God, with yourself, with the world (call family members, read the Bible every day, volunteer, spend time with friends, observe the Sabbath, spend time alone in nature)
Of course, the same habit might satisfy different needs for different people. For one person, yoga might be a form of exercise (#2), for someone else, a way to find mental rest (#4); for someone else, a spiritual practice (#7). And people value different habits. For one person, organized files might be a crucial tool for creativity; another person finds inspiration in random juxtapositions.
The argument I’ll make in Better Than Before is that when we change our habits, we change our lives. We can use decision-making to choose the habits we want to form, use willpower to get the habit started, then—and this is the best part—we can allow the extraordinary power of habit to take over. At that point, we’re free from the need to decide and the need to use willpower. We take our hands off the wheel of decision, and our foot off the gas of willpower, and rely on the cruise-control of habits. Mindfully, then mindlessly.
Before and after! It’s what we all crave.
So readers, what do you think of the Essential Seven—the name and the concepts themselves? I very much appreciate all the thoughtful comments that people posted. Very, very helpful.
I must say, it pleases me to have seven. I hate to quote Voldemort, but he was right when he observed, in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, “Isn’t seven the most powerfully magic number?”
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So there we are.
Always room for improvement, no matter the age or the circumstances.
How us dog owners can tell if a dog is stressed and what to do about it.
This is another delightful article, prepared for me and the readers of this blog, by Penny Martin.
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How Dog Owners Can Spot Stress and Find Simple Ways to Feel Better
Busy dog parents balancing work, home, and a living creature’s needs often feel stressed without knowing what’s actually causing it. The core tension is that dog owner stressors can stack up quietly, pet care challenges, the emotional impact of dog ownership, and the daily responsibilities of dog owners, until even small issues feel heavy. Many people try to fix the feeling first, but the real relief starts with spotting the common stress triggers that keep showing up. Naming what’s draining the most makes it easier to feel steadier and more in control.
Calm Your Nervous System: 6 Everyday Stress Fixes
Once you’ve spotted your biggest dog-owner stress triggers (time crunch, money worry, behavior challenges, guilt, etc.), the goal is simple: lower the daily “background stress” with small moves you can actually repeat.
Turn walks into stress-reduction exercise (without adding time): Keep your usual route, but add two “reset moments.” For 60 seconds, walk a little slower and drop your shoulders; then for 60 seconds, brisk-walk like you’re late. That quick contrast helps your body burn off stress chemistry and reminds your brain you’re safe and in control, especially helpful if your trigger is feeling rushed.
Build one work-life boundary around dog care: Pick a single non-negotiable block that protects both you and your dog, like “no work messages during the first 15 minutes after the evening walk” or “lunch break happens outside with the dog.” This works because boundaries reduce the constant decision-making that keeps stress simmering. If you identified “always on” work as a trigger, start with the smallest boundary you can defend most days.
Upgrade one meal for a steadier mood: Stress and diet can create a loop, when you’re frazzled, it’s easy to skip real food, then your energy crashes and everything feels harder. Choose one “anchor” meal (often breakfast) and add protein + fiber, like eggs and whole-grain toast, or yogurt with nuts and berries. Keep a simple backup for chaotic pet-care mornings so you don’t default to caffeine-only.
Use a 2-minute deep breathing technique after a trigger event: When something spikes your stress, barking at the door, a messy accident, a tense email, try slow breathing: inhale through your nose for 4 seconds, exhale for 6 seconds, repeat for 10 rounds. Evidence linking slow-paced breathing with calmer “rest-and-digest” activity helps explain why this can feel like a volume knob for your nervous system. Pair it with a cue you’ll remember, like washing your hands after cleaning up.
Practice a positive mindset that’s realistic (not forced): Do a quick “reframe + next step” script: name what’s hard, then name one controllable action. Example: “My dog’s reactivity is stressful… I can text my trainer and do a 3-minute pattern game before the next walk.” This is especially powerful if your trigger is guilt, because it shifts you from self-blame to problem-solving.
Protect sleep hygiene with a dog-friendly bedtime plan: Decide on a consistent “dog last call” routine 30–45 minutes before lights out: water refresh, quick potty break, dim lights, then a calm settle. If your dog wakes you, keep the response boring and brief (no bright lights, no scrolling), so both of your brains learn nighttime isn’t playtime. Better sleep won’t erase stress, but it raises your capacity to handle it.
Explore 4 Alternative Stress-Relief Avenues You May Hear About
Once you’ve covered the basics, sleep, movement, breathing, and better daily boundaries, you might get curious about other stress-support options people talk about. Four alternative avenues you may hear about are:
Small habits matter because stress signals can be subtle in both people and dogs, and consistency makes them easier to notice and respond to. When you repeat a few simple routines, you build confidence, reduce guesswork, and create calmer days for the whole household.
Two-Minute Leash Check-In
What it is: Pause before walks and note posture, panting, and your own jaw tension.
How often: Daily
Why it helps: You spot stress early and choose a gentler pace.
What it is: Replace one high-energy game with sniffing, licking, or a puzzle.
How often: 3 times weekly
Why it helps: Calmer activities help both of you downshift.
Weekly Recovery Plan
What it is: Pick one low-key outing and one true rest block.
How often: Weekly
Why it helps: Planning recovery prevents stress from stacking up.
Common Stress Questions Dog Owners Ask
Q: What if I’m too tired to do anything “extra” for stress? A: Keep it tiny and tied to something you already do, like pausing before you clip the leash. Aim for one calming breath and one quick body scan of your dog’s face and posture. When you do less but do it consistently, it still counts.
Q: How can I tell if my dog is stressed or just excited? A: Excitement usually looks loose and bouncy, and it settles once the fun starts. Stress often shows up as stiffness, tucked posture, lip licking, yawning, or scanning the environment. If you’re unsure, choose the gentler option: slow down, add distance, and reward calm.
Q: Can my dog’s behavior really affect my mental health? A: Yes, it can, and you are not alone. Research links dog behavioural, health-related issues with poorer owner well-being, so feeling stretched makes sense. A practical next step is to pick one trigger to reduce this week, like avoiding crowded routes.
Q: What should I do when I miss a day and feel like I failed? A: Treat it like brushing your teeth: you just restart at the next opportunity. Choose one “reset cue,” such as filling the water bowl, and do a 20-second calm check when you do it. Progress is built on returns, not perfection.
Q: Why doesn’t cuddling my dog always calm me down? A: Comfort helps, but it is not a magic switch, especially if you are already overloaded. Many people rely on their pets, yet your body may still need sleep, food, or a quick movement break. Try pairing petting with slower breathing, then reassess what you need next.
Build Calm, Healthy Habits That Help You and Your Dog
Life with a dog can be joyful and still stressful, especially when the days are busy and emotions run high. The most reliable path isn’t doing everything perfectly, it’s using a steady, small-steps mindset to notice stress early and respond with simple, repeatable choices. Over time, that kind of stress management brings real benefits: a steadier mood for the owner, a more settled dog, and wellbeing reinforcement through small wins that keep stacking. Small, consistent care builds the calm both of you can feel.
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Penny has done brilliantly with the ablove article.
Here we have our small chihuahua-cross, Cloudy, and he is a very loveable dog. But he can be a rascal and Jean has more patience with Cloudy than I have.
But I recognise that Cloudy came from a nearby dog rescue centre and Cloudy is so delighted at being loved by Jean and me, and by Oliver.
