Spending time with animals can change your mood!

The dark, wet and chilly days of winter can put a damper on anyone's mood and such was the case the other day.  I was feeling tired and not interested in my work and sitting in front of the computer was giving me a headache.

Bundling up in coat, scarf, gloves and boots, I forced myself to go outside and visit the donkeys and then decided to head out for a walk along the road with Siog.  She was keen to go, so after settling Deenah and Dorica in the barn paddock area with some hay, Siog and I headed down the driveway.

We were gone for about an hour and the experience was such a powerful mood and energy changer that I felt I had to write about it.  I came back enlivened and uplifted.  What had appeared gray and dull from inside the house looking out, became sparkling, crisp and fresh when outside. 

Taken July, 2011 by Mitsue Nagase

Siog and I wandered down a dirt road, jogged a bit together, headed up a trail through moss and ferns and checked the mailbox before coming home.  She was a terrific companion.