Behind the Bluff
Uncover best practices to participate in life on your terms. Every week, hosts Jeff Ford and Kendra Till guide listeners with short conversations on trending wellness topics and share interviews with passionate wellness professionals, our private club leaders, and additional subject matter experts offering valuable tips. Each episode conclusion includes Healthy Momentum, five minutes of inspiration to help you reflect and live differently. Subscribe now and discover the keys to living your greatest active lifestyle.
Behind the Bluff
The Unexpected Ways Dogs Transform Our Lives | Donna Litten
Dogs provide profound physical, mental, and community benefits that extend far beyond simple companionship. Through consistent walks, emotional support, and social connections, our furry friends create healthier, happier lives while teaching valuable lessons about living in the present moment.
• Morning walks establish a healthy daily routine and improve cardiovascular health
• Dogs provide structure and accountability for consistent physical activity
• Scientific evidence shows dog owners have lower risk of heart disease
• Unconditional love from dogs reduces stress and improves mental health
• Dogs teach mindfulness through their present-moment awareness
• During health challenges, dogs intuitively provide gentle, healing companionship
• Animal rescue volunteering creates meaningful community connections
• Fostering helps reveal a shelter dog's true personality in a home environment
• Matching your lifestyle with the right dog type ensures successful adoption
• Events like "Pups and Pilates" and "Cocktails for a Cause" support animal welfare
Join us on October 22nd at Moreland Landing from 6-8pm for Cocktails for a Cause benefiting multiple animal rescues in the Lowcountry. And don't miss Pups and Pilates on October 13th at 9:30am on the Village Green!
Are you ready to live an active lifestyle? Welcome to Behind the Bluff, where we believe every moment of your life is an opportunity to pursue wellness on your terms. Today, we're talking about a subject that combines joy, health and community, and the incredible benefits of caring for dogs. My guest, donna Litton, is a passionate dog owner and Palmetto Bluff resident, who also volunteers her time at a local dog shelter. Donna has seen firsthand how our furry friends don't just brighten our days. They can actually improve our physical health, mental well-being and even bring communities closer together. Donna, I'm so excited we made this happen. Welcome to the show.
Speaker 2:Thanks, jeff. This is awesome, super excited. It's a topic that I love.
Speaker 1:Yeah, when you first proposed this topic, I was like this is perfect for the show, because we haven't made the link between our furry friends and health. And as a dog owner myself, I know the level of impact that my dogs have made in my life. So I'm excited to hear from you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely, and Palmetto Bluff did a whole article on the dogs of Palmetto Bluff not too long ago too, where we featured our furry friends.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, you were on there. I love those pictures. So let's dive into the physical health benefits. How has caring for your dogs changed your daily routine?
Speaker 2:Well, you know, they've really put me to having a schedule, which I like. So during the week I follow a very consistent schedule. I wake up at least an hour before my workout classes plug for you, jeff walk the dogs, come back in the house, feed them, make the bed and then off I go to my class. When I return I can shower breakfast and I start my day without feeling rushed. And I love those morning walks. It just kind of wakes me up slowly, gets my day started and gives me a few minutes to myself. So I really think you know that's one of the biggest changes is just getting out there and walking.
Speaker 1:Yeah, gets you outside right away the names of your two dogs.
Speaker 2:Yes, we have. Luca is the first one, he's the older one and Finley.
Speaker 1:Very cool. I remember when I first started here at Palmetto Bluff, I would always see you out right before the classes with your dogs, and it's something that my wife Lindsay does every single morning as well. Kind of starts that day Totally get it every single morning as well. Kind of starts that day. Totally get it. Now. Do you notice a difference in your energy or overall health thanks to the walks and the playtime, the caretaking of your two pups?
Speaker 2:I do actually, for one of the things I've learned by actually speaking to a doctor and a nutritionist is that walk as much as you can. I have a slower metabolism. That's something that he really suggests, so I usually try to get in two or three walks a day. It gives me a chance again to step away from my desk and enjoy nature Every time I walk out the door. There's something different that I'm seeing in this very special place where we live. I really enjoy our after-dinner walks walks too. So it's a good time you've eaten kind of de-stress, let the food digest, and then you know when you come back in maybe you're reading or watching a little TV before bed, but it's a great way to just kind of unwind and let your brain kind of slow down too. So definitely getting in all the as many walks as possible is great for them and for me.
Speaker 1:Yeah, mental break, especially when you're dialed into a computer and your eyes are on that computer for so long. Getting outside and getting moving is extremely helpful.
Speaker 2:Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 1:What's the most creative or fun way you've built exercise into your life with your dogs? Well, I don't know if this is creative or fun way you've built exercise into your life with your dogs.
Speaker 2:Well, I don't know if this is creative or fun, but on the weekends we for some reason they actually sleep in a little bit. But when everyone kind of starts to wake up, that's the time Brian and I go for our morning walk. So we take them for a mile or mile and a half walk. It's quiet outside and it just kind of slowly gets our day started. So not creative, but I love building exercise in that way with the dogs. The other piece that's not maybe so exciting but it's great for them is going to the dog park. So that does get us moving, because we're usually walking to the dog park and when we're there, keeping track, you know where are they, what are they doing, but that's something that is a great release for them. So, yeah, not super creative, because managing two dogs sometimes isn't the easiest going places. We've tried taking them, you know, to Savannah to get a little exercise, but there's horses and Luca does not like horses on TV.
Speaker 1:No, does he bark like crazy Crazy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so that's not an option. So we find kind of doing more things within the bluff with them, and they do love their golf carts, but I wouldn't call that much exercise, just fun.
Speaker 1:Well, it sounds like on the weekends, you and Brian, your husband, you guys get out and about and spend time with the dogs as well, so it's almost like there's this inherent culture of dog walking as part of your world.
Speaker 2:Yes, absolutely. And again, you know, keeping us moving. And one of the things kind of as you know, I was preparing to come on this, jeff was looking at some different like quotes, so I'm just saying this from my perspective. So I'm just saying this from my perspective. But one of the things that I read about was, again, according to the American Heart Association, dog owners are more likely to meet daily physical activity requirements and have lower risks of cardiovascular disease. So I mean, that's definitely very important, something we're all trying to avoid too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, I love backing it up with the evidence, because we sometimes think it's all about going to an exercise class and dogs are the perfect way to build movement snacks into your life and non exercise activity, which is the most important physical component of a balanced plan.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I think you know just talking about that is people sometimes think, oh a dog, I can't handle a dog. But there's so many different types of dogs there's small dogs, big dogs, low energy, high energy so you still can find a dog that suits kind of your lifestyle to be able to reap those benefits.
Speaker 1:That's a great point. Yeah, If you haven't been a dog owner, there's a lot of options out there for you. Now let's get into mental and emotional benefits For me, when I've had a hard day sometimes cuddling with my.
Speaker 1:Greta. Picking her up and snuggling with her is the best thing. Carl or Jack Russell doesn't like to be picked up at this point in his career, his life. Russell doesn't like to be picked up at this point in his career, his life, but it definitely is one of those aspects as a dog owner that is comforting for me, and so I want to hear from you. Dogs are known to reduce stress.
Speaker 2:Yep.
Speaker 1:How have you felt that firsthand?
Speaker 2:And do you have any examples? Well, they just. They bring me so much joy, for us also. Our dogs are busku's, so I always feel like they're giving us back so much and they're so thankful, but we're so thankful in return, so which is wonderful. But they all have their own personality too and they all do silly things, so laughing, which really helps, you know, mentally you're going through a rough day and they do something silly and all of a sudden it's like okay, like stop taking things so seriously. They give me purpose and structure, which I think also is really helpful Mentally and kind of emotionally too. I do like to live a little bit of a more structured life, although put some whimsy in there and they get us out in the fresh air, clearing our head, moments of mindfulness and also their unconditional love. I mean, you can be gone for five minutes, you can be gone for an hour.
Speaker 2:They think you've been gone for, you know, days and they're so happy to see you and I feel like they just help me manage stress and stay positive. So really like and of course, those snuggles too, I mean. At the end of the day, it's around seven o'clock, everyone unwinds on the couch and everyone's looking for pets and we just all relax together.
Speaker 1:So, finley, luca, they're up there with you, and Brian, you guys are hanging out.
Speaker 2:Finley's usually swatting Brian because he wants Brian to. It's time for Brian to give him his belly rubs or his arm pickups.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. Now, I always find that with dogs they have their person. Is that the same experience for you?
Speaker 2:I think it's different times of the day with ours. Okay, I'm usually the feeder, so they kind of circle me when they know it's dinner time. I would say, at the end of the day, everyone wants Brian's attention. Brian's, you know, in his office working. I'm kind of moving a little bit around the house, my desk moves depending on meetings and things that I have, but at the end of the day definitely everybody wants to see Brian and they also sleep with us. So we-.
Speaker 1:I was going to ask you about that. Yeah, we're the same way we caved.
Speaker 2:We caved. Finley, who's about 58 pounds, is more of a challenge sometimes because he has like racehorse legs. So there are nights that we tiptoe into the bedroom and hope he doesn't come in, and sometimes we're lucky so that we have more space. Luca just finds a spot, but usually at night Luca presses against Brian's legs. So I guess nighttime they really love Brian Late. In the evening they're more his person. During the day, like walks and also feeding, are kind of my thing.
Speaker 1:Your domain.
Speaker 2:Obviously, we share responsibilities, but yeah, they kind of know who their people are for certain things. But I think we both I know we both love them equally and they love us both equally too. So yeah, Outstanding they're such great boys.
Speaker 1:Now let's go even deeper here. What do you think dogs teach us about presence, patience or unconditional love?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I really think they're the best teachers of all of those things. Again, I kind of talked a little bit about you know, when you're gone for five minutes or five hours, but they also tell you what they need right now. So they kind of are always living in the presence and we talked a little about that. Whether they need food or belly rubs or they need to go out, we're all very clear about that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the clarity with dogs is something that we don't always get in our relationships with humans. That's true.
Speaker 2:That is really true. If they're hungry, they're circling me. If they want belly rubs, they're on the couch next to us. If they have to go out, they bark. Or we installed like a little bell on the door so if they're not getting attention they might like hit the bell or. Luca's very like stealth. I'll be sitting on the couch and we'll be watching a TV show and all of a sudden I'll feel someone staring at me and it's Luca at the front door just sitting there. I'm like why?
Speaker 1:are you barking? Turning his head, looking at you?
Speaker 2:Exactly Just staring and I'm like, okay, it's time to take Luca out now. But they definitely live in the present with that. And I feel like you know, when we watch them on their walks too, again they say that sniffing it's like it's so good for their brains and it really when they come home they're tired and it's like so many hours per sniff I can't remember what the ratio is that they're out walking but that they need that mental stimulation. So again, they're living in the moment. So just I'm watching them as we're walking and like what are they going to smell? Or you know what's happening. So I feel like walking and like what are they going to smell? Or you know what's happening.
Speaker 2:So I feel like, by watching them, that kind of reminds me to live in the moment too. So, and their love is consistent and pure. They don't care what kind of day you have, you know, they just love you the same. So the unconditional love, that's a given. The patience, again, if I'm putting my shoes on and someone's barking, not so much patience, but I'm running trying to get them out the door. But again, the presence is what they live in every day. So what's happening now?
Speaker 1:What a parallel with when you're out on those walks and they're sniffing. It's so often us, as humans, living in this very fast paced world, we aren't taking time to smell the roses, we aren't slowing down and, I think, looking to dogs and their behavior is extremely beneficial for our mental health to see how they operate.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Now um, have your dogs helped you through a challenging season in life.
Speaker 2:They have. I mean current dogs. So I've had dogs ever since I was in fourth grade, so I've always had a dog in my life. And with these two they surprised me because about two and a half years ago I was diagnosed with stage one lung cancer Completely shocking. Luckily it was found at stage one, but I was nervous I had to go into surgery. So obviously, leading up to that, they were always there for me. I think they sensed something was going on.
Speaker 2:But the most surprising part was when I came home. I was so afraid that they were going to jump on me when I was on the couch, because that's kind of what they were used to They'd jump, they'd snuggle. And when I came home and I was in pain and I needed to recover, they were the most gentle creatures ever. They just wanted to lay next to me, push against me, but you could tell they were concerned and worried and just wanted to be there so I could pet them. And they helped me personally through that experience, which was amazing. And then the other part kind of how they almost gave to me too, was this community is so incredibly amazing those people that knew our friends close to us, that knew what I was going through, had reached out and said what can we do? How can we help? And I was there with my mom, like the first day Brian had had a business meeting that was impossible for him to get out of and I was quite fine to be home alone.
Speaker 2:But people offered what can we do, can we come help walk your dogs? And the doctor said to me you need to be home alone. But people offered what can we do, can we come help walk your dogs? And the doctor said told me, you need to be up and walking every single day. And a friend who I've been told by his wife he's not a morning person. He was there every morning at 7am. My mom took one dog, he took another dog and I had a walking stick and I just like walked behind them and that was really a big part of my recovery and thanks to them I've met so many amazing friends. Um, because fellow dog owners, um, and also the community just came together, because they knew us a lot from the workout classes, but also from the dog park too. So it was really amazing how the dogs and the community helped.
Speaker 1:Well, thank you for sharing that challenging situation I know how hard of a season that was in your life and to understand the companionship of your dogs. They almost had this sixth sense, this intuitiveness that you were recovering. You were in a rough patch and they didn't jump. And then to see people come alongside of you. That is the number one reason Palmetto Bluff is an amazing place to live is that people come alongside you when you're in need, and for you to experience that firsthand. I can just see what an impact it is for moving forward.
Speaker 2:It makes me want to be a better person too, based on the community. Again, now, when I see someone in need because sometimes you're like, oh, we don't know what they're going through, I don't want to say anything, but you can still reach out to let them know you're thinking about them and it means a lot.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, that's great advice. So let's keep moving in that direction the community and social impact in relationship to dogs and the impact that we can make. You volunteer at JARM regularly. Yes, I'm interested. What inspired you to become a volunteer in the first place? To become a volunteer in the first place?
Speaker 2:So we lived in Philadelphia before moving to Palmetto Bluff and I don't even know how I you know, I think back. I'm like I'm not sure how I got involved with the Pennsylvania SPCA, but I started going there and volunteering and then I was on their board where they did their big annual fundraiser. I went to their shelter. It was beautiful it's always very sad to see all of these dogs that need homes in a shelter but it was clean and it was big and it was sunlit. So when we moved here I reached out to someone in the community and said, okay, I need to find the rescues I want to help. I'm here now, I want to help the dogs in this area, and she gave me a list of about four I think it was three or four different rescues most in need and I really needed kind of that guidance because that's where I wanted to help.
Speaker 2:So we moved here in July and by December I had our first annual animal drive going holiday drive, and the community was unbelievable. I could not believe how many people reached out and filled those boxes and we donated to three different rescues and one of them was JARM. Jarm really held a special place in my heart because all of the kennels are outside. It was one of the poorest areas at the time, um, and it just needed so much help.
Speaker 1:Yeah, then, so that spoke to you.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:This. This is where I need to be. It needs my attention and charm for listeners. It's Jasper animal rescue mission and, in preparation for today, I just love their mission focused on focused on foster programs to help local animal rescues, and they're a team of passionate animal lovers dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals in need. So there's a lot of steps that JARM seems to take in assisting with dogs who need help.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, and they also, in addition to dogs, they do a whole cat program there and they're going through a little bit of a transformation, with Beaufort County kind of taking over the facility, but JARM still continues to be very involved in their foster program. I actually help them. Do don't do a great job of it, I need to learn more. But on Instagram I do their social media um, pulling it kind of from their Facebook page too to help these dogs um get rescued and go into foster. So right now I've been seeing so many of these animals getting adopted.
Speaker 1:So oh, that's gotta feel rewarding Kudos to them. And so you post a lot of the pictures of dogs that come in and you know, share their story and kind of what they're all about.
Speaker 2:Exactly, yeah, so, um, so we're also going to be so I do. That's kind of been. Jarma has been like the main rescue that I've worked with, but there are some other ones out there too.
Speaker 1:Nice. How does volunteering, fostering and adoption make a difference in not only like our community, palmetto Bluff, but Beaufort County, jasper County, when folks are willing to foster? That's what I'm most unfamiliar with. I'm interested what level of impact is there when we get involved?
Speaker 2:Well, I mean, it's kind of twofold. So every adoption is life-changing for both the animal and the family. When we adopt or foster, we reduce overcrowding in shelters, we give animals a second chance and strengthen the community. So adoptions not only save lives, they also bring the companionship to families. The beautiful thing about fostering is it frees up a kennel in a shelter and it also gives that animal a chance to be its true self. So rescues can be loud, noisy, scary.
Speaker 2:Some of these dogs have been just dumped by a human. Some of them have gotten lost. Some of them have been dropped off for you know, unforeseen circumstances from a family, but they're scared, they don't know what's going on. So to be able to pull a dog and put it in a real home can be life-changing. And it's just amazing what that foster program does, because some dogs will be overlooked, because they might be cowering in a corner or there could be you know, another issue that just because where they are, yeah, there might be some misinterpretations of those dogs and when they get into a home we we start to be able to see their true behavior and and kind of how they naturally would act.
Speaker 2:Exactly, exactly, and then usually at that point there's a lot of um, again, photos this dog is in foster. You really get to understand the dog and then you know, a lot of times they get adopted quite quickly.
Speaker 1:So Now are there a lot of foster parents, if you will that keep going back to animal shelters and and getting new dogs. Is that like relationships that you've seen in your work?
Speaker 2:I have. So sometimes there's foster fails, so it ends there. So that means the foster came in and they are keeping it.
Speaker 1:So it's. Even though it's a fail, it's a good fail, exactly.
Speaker 2:But we do like those fosters because, again, it can keep the animals moving through the system until they find their home. So finding more and more fosters is so incredibly important, and it could be a two-week foster, it could be a month there's been some instances where it can be much longer but that foster, fostering opportunity is there for all animal rescues so I'm hoping many people will seek out that opportunity because it really does make a change in an animal's life.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, as you explained, like the overcrowding and helping free up room, even a month, makes an impact on these shelters.
Speaker 2:Absolutely Allows them to take in more animals, because there are so many out there right now.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah. Can you share a memorable adoption story that still sticks with you today?
Speaker 2:It's funny, as I was preparing for this, I was thinking about, really, some of the older dogs that I've seen, or animals with disabilities, and how it's taken them so long to get adopted. But when they get adopted, you know I mean, you see people in the rescues cheering and everyone's so happy that these dogs have finally found homes. But there's one that's, as I thought about it just now that's very close to close to me because it's close to the community, too close to me, because it's close to the community too.
Speaker 2:So during the hurricane that we had, jarm was working with the community to get dogs out because the facility that Jarm was on floods very easily and with the storm coming there was a lot of concerns for these animals obviously being outside. Some of a member here pulled, hopped in her car right away and ran to Jarm and got a dog. She brought the dog to her home. She already has two other dogs.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And and she's like, okay, dog's got along great. But she was going out of town and she at the time was like, okay, I can foster this dog for a little bit. It went to another Palmetto Bluff member's home and then that member had their kids down older kids with younger children for the weekend. They fell in love with the dog and the dog went off with the family.
Speaker 1:That is an epic story.
Speaker 2:Like to me. That was so amazing. Her name Shania was her name I'm trying to think what they called her now but she was one of those dogs that was in the shelter, in a corner, quiet. So many people had passed her and never even thought about adopting her. And by this person going to Jarm, just grabbing that dog, it's changed her life, the dog's life, the family's life. I mean, it's such an amazing story.
Speaker 1:That's profound the layers to it, to where the dog found its home. Naturally, it's like it was meant to be.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I still get a chance every now and then to see the dog. Still a little shy, but the like just the perfect fit. It was just meant to be, and it's so wonderful.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I feel like with rescues as both my dogs are rescues as well there is are these moments where you're like that is my dog, I have to do this.
Speaker 1:My wife, lindsay, did not want a second dog, but this story behind our Greta was a deep one, where the previous owner had actually passed away from suicide. Oh, and it just felt like from a faith perspective, we were being called to adopt this dog because the mom of the of the gentleman um, had three dogs already and it was so much and she was a close client actually to us and I was like we we not only want to make an impact in her life, but this this dog has been through so much and the family had gone through so much that it was like this moment of like we are called to have this dog in our home and I think, if we can think like that in in all situations right, not even just in adoption and fostering, but when it feels right to take that step and help someone as we've described here today, that brings light into this world.
Speaker 2:Absolutely yeah.
Speaker 1:We've seen that both personally with with some of these reflections so absolutely. We're at that time in the episode. I'd like to get a little more tactical. We've got some fun events coming up. You're hosting one, and then our, our team is collaborating with you to host one as well, and, um, I know we're both super excited about them. So tell us about Cocktails for a Cause.
Speaker 2:So last year we did Palmetto Bluff Cocktails for a Cause which supported Jasper Animal Rescue. Huge success raised over $40,000, which was amazing, and everyone came out had a great time. So this year we've changed it up a little bit. We've actually formed a group called Positive Rescuers. This is comprised of 13 committee members this year I think we had the same amount last year that are all passionate about helping animals. So we created this fund through the Foundation of the Low Country, similar to what Women of Palmetto Bluff how they run their organization too. And this year we're hosting our event. It will be again at Moreland, but we're tenting it. It'll have Deez Guys. Everyone loves to dance to Deez Guys. Southern Peel Pizza.
Speaker 1:They're popular here at the Bluff.
Speaker 2:We'll have. You know I'm sure we'll have some adoptable dogs, but again we're looking to raise money for multiple animal rescues in the low country. This year we feel that we can help even more, as they are as help is needed. So we're already at like 175 tickets and we've got sponsorships and silent auction and a wine pool. So we only have a few more tickets left. So I'm hoping people will come on out and join us and it'll be a really, really fun, fun time. Whether you love animals or not, it's going to be an amazing time.
Speaker 1:So yeah, this is. This is going to be at Moreland Landing October 22nd, 6 to 8.
Speaker 2:Correct. Thank you yeah.
Speaker 1:And Pups and Pilates. So I'm quite sure it was Kendra who came up with this concept. We love doing events on the Village Green and, as you know, we've done goat yoga for a long period of time. It's always a hit, it's super fun and we must have been in a brainstorming session where it's like everyone loves puppies. What rhymes with puppies? Oh, pilates. So this will be the first year we're executing and I'd like for you to explain kind of how we're going about, what dogs we're bringing over, kind of our thought process for the event.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so love the idea. When you came to me and I definitely thought, well, if people were okay with goats. Puppies are an easy thing, they're adorable. So I've reached out to multiple rescues and we're looking to bring in obviously adoptable puppies that can work with people as they're doing Pilates Not sure how much Pilates they're going to be doing- I did goat yoga.
Speaker 2:I'm not sure I did much yoga. I spent most of the time petting the animals and then also look at bringing in adoptable dogs that can kind of be around the perimeter. So again, looking at you know, beaufort County, jarm, palmetto, animal League, hilton Head, humane. So working with them on making sure you know everybody usually has puppies, but making sure we can get and it's 9.30 am, yes, yeah.
Speaker 1:That was all from memory, I'm glad I didn't mess it up, Donna. Let's get into some advice giving here. For someone considering adoption or fostering for the first time, what advice would you give them?
Speaker 2:first time. What advice would you give them? Well, you really need to count on your local animal rescue to help guide you through that process. You need to know what is your lifestyle, what is your family life, what kind of dog are you looking for? You want to be set up for success so they can really help guide you. Do you need a smaller dog? Do you want a bigger dog? Do you want to be able to run with a dog? Do you have children? Do you have cats? So, really talking to them.
Speaker 2:But the other piece is give that animal a chance too. When they come into your home, it will take a little bit of time for adjustment and that's normal. So again, look at your lifestyle and determine whether you think adoption is best or fostering is best. But again, I would just think about your lifestyle how much you travel different things and then find that animal that fits your needs and maybe it's not a dog, maybe it is a cat and then find that animal that fits your needs and maybe it's not a dog, maybe it is a cat. So really look to them. But come with the information when you're talking to them and they can really help guide you to the right animal.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it sounds like a lot of self-awareness with how you're currently living, how this precious animal would fit into your life. And then, even if I could see fostering being that first step, maybe there would be a foster fail.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:You could kind of take that route.
Speaker 2:Yes, that would make me very happy.
Speaker 1:Now, if you had to sum it up in one sentence how have dogs made your life healthier and happier?
Speaker 2:This was a hard one when you said it had to be one sentence. I had to go back and forth quite a few times because there are so many different ways, but I'm going to try to sum it up they make me get outside moving, so they make me laugh daily. They bring joy, companionship and love into my life, so obviously in a different way from my husband, our kids, all of that, but they're another very important part and dimensions of both of our lives.
Speaker 1:Movement, laugh, joy, love, all things I think we all want.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, and my supporting quote because I wanted to add another quote is the Mayo Clinic, and that's important because that's where I spent some time. The Mayo Clinic notes that laughter releases endorphins, stimulates circulation and helps muscles relax, promoting stress relief and overall well-being. So another reason.
Speaker 1:There's the evidence. Donna, you're a first-time guest, so I would love to close out and ask you what does wellness mean to you?
Speaker 2:Wellness is everything. I don't feel that you can live your life without wellness. Obviously, it can be debilitating without. So for me, it's trying different things it's swimming, it's taking workout classes, it's biking, it's walking, but it's then also doing the things that I enjoy, whether it's flower arranging, or my husband and I love to go to restaurants. It's really getting that full circle of all different types of activities and keeping my brain functioning. So, you know, eating good food too. I'm vegan, so again, it's, you know, nutrition, it's health, it's mind and body getting those yoga classes in, so just all types of varied experiences to stay mentally well also.
Speaker 1:Thanks, donna. I've enjoyed this conversation thoroughly. I'm excited for the upcoming events, and thanks for all your help on Pups and Pilates. I don't think we'd be able to get across the finish line without you.
Speaker 2:Awesome Thanks. This was really fun. Thank you so much.
Speaker 1:You're very welcome and continue the great work with Jarm and listeners. Feel free to hang out with me for a few more minutes and get some healthy momentum for the rest of your week. How do you feel about big decisions? Do you get energized by them or do they weigh you down? Personally, I look forward to them and this episode for me, triggered the fact that when you bring a dog into your family whether it's through adoption, whether it is fostering that is a big decision, and over the last couple of months I've been involved in some more decision-making for our fitness program here at Palmetto Bluff. We've been mapping out the future of our operations, our spaces, and I've been looking into everything from equipment selection to layout design in our new facility. It's exciting work, but it also carries a lot of weight because we want to get it right. We want the best equipment for our members, you, most of our listeners, and a space that's set up perfectly for how we want to operate the program. And I think there's a parallel here. When you bring a dog into your family or a cat, you want the best for them.
Speaker 1:The good news in my case is that just the other day, we crossed what I like to call the decision line. Have you ever heard that before? The decision line have you ever heard that before? It's a concept I recently came across and it really stuck with me. The decision line is that moment when, after all the brainstorming, debating, collaborating, you finally commit In my case, the exercise equipment. Maybe, in your case, equipment. Maybe in your case, it's a new dog.
Speaker 1:But here's the catch how often in life have you crossed that decision line only to backtrack and second guess yourself? I know I've been there. It can, frankly, be a vicious cycle and none of us are immune to it. The message today is that even bad decisions that are clear have value. The worst place to be is a lack of clarity, and clarity is everything. Ambiguity blocks progress. When you make a decision, communicate that you have crossed the decision line. There's no going back Aggressively. Execute and move forward. As Peter Drucker once said, whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision. So here's your challenge this week Find one decision you've been putting off, big or small, and cross the line. Claim clarity, commit to it and take bold action. Momentum always favors those who move. That's a wrap on this week's episode. I want to thank you for taking the time to join the conversation today and remember to actively participate in life on your terms.
