Sometimes, taking care of ourselves can be as simple as picking up a box of crayons.
Each year on October 10, World Mental Health Day encourages people around the world to raise awareness of mental health and recognize the importance of emotional well-being. It is also a good reminder that caring for our mental health does not always have to involve a grand gesture. Sometimes, it can mean giving ourselves permission to slow down, step away from our responsibilities for a few minutes and simply enjoy doing something we like.
That is where Morris comes in.
This October, Morris and the team at Dancy Funeral Home are inviting our neighbors to Take a Paws and spend a little time coloring with us.
Submitted photo
Coloring may seem like something reserved for children, but adults have rediscovered it in recent years as an easy way to unwind. When we focus on choosing colors, filling in a picture and watching it slowly come to life, our attention is drawn toward what we are doing in that moment. Mayo Clinic notes that coloring can encourage mindfulness and provide an opportunity to disconnect from stressful thoughts. And perhaps best of all, there is no right or wrong way to do it.
That last part is important.
At Dancy Funeral Home, we meet people during some of life’s most stressful and emotionally demanding moments. Grief certainly takes a toll, but so can caregiving, work, parenting, family responsibilities and simply trying to keep up with everyday life. We are often very good at taking care of everyone and everything around us while forgetting that we occasionally need a little care ourselves.
Morris seems to understand that better than most.
As our certified therapy dog, Morris cannot change the circumstances that bring someone through our doors. What he can do is offer a quiet moment of comfort. A wagging tail, a furry head resting beside you or a few minutes spent scratching behind his ears can provide a small break from everything else happening around you.
Our October coloring project is meant in much the same spirit.
Take a Paws with Morris
We’ve turned one of our favorite photographs of Morris at Dancy Funeral Home into a coloring page, and throughout the month of October, we would love to see what our neighbors do with it.
Visit dancyfuneralhome.com for more information.
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