The 2-minute mood boost my dog taught me

Mishka the Husky knows a thing or two about chilling.

A couple of weeks ago hubby and I caught him lying on the sofa, blissed out. We like to “voice” the pets, putting words in their mouths. 

Spook usually does Mishka - and he nailed this one.

“Mom and Dad, there’s a sunbeam on me.” (but said like a Husky version of a surfer dude)

He looked so happy and relaxed.

A couple of days later, I copied him. Saw a sunbeam streaming through the window and just spent a few minutes sitting in it. 

Closed my eyes. Felt happy and relaxed. 

It caught on, and now any morning I see a sunbeam coming through the window, I take a few minutes to go sit in it.

Ever notice that when you sit in a sunbeam and close your eyes, you still see spots? 

It’s a thing. 

These spots are called phosphenes. That’s the sensation of seeing light without light actually entering the eyeball. When you close your eyes in a bright environment, the light-sensitive cells in your retina continue to send signals to the brain, creating the perception of spots or patterns of light.

So, science.

When it happened again today, I made a design decision about Idyllwild Woods.

It may take some doing, what with the slopes and trees on the property, but I want to make sure each of our guest houses has at least one sunbeam zone. 

You may never even see yours, if you sleep in. Totally expected outcome, by the way - you’ll be sleeping in one of the most comfortable beds you’ve ever had. Add the effects of plenty of fresh air and playing outside, and you could easily sleep right through your sunbeam minutes.

But if you like mornings as much as I do, you’ll treasure this lovely, magical moment on every visit.

Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from trying it at home now.

And once you try this 2-minute ‘ritual,’ it’ll stick.

You can thank Mishka when you meet him. 🙂

Will you try it out? Let me know.

xoxo

Sue

P.S. We’re watching the weather forecast, eagerly waiting for a weekend when the night time temps are at least 50. We’ll take a trip - and a load of construction materials - up to Idyllwild Woods.

It’ll be the first time we’ll see the barn in person! 

We’ll sleep in it, because we also plan to bring all four dogs. They need to start learning the land. It’ll do them as much good as it does us to be on the property!

But since the barn has no power or water, and thus, no heat… we need to wait a couple more weeks.

P.P.S. We’ve had 1-3 house showings most days for the past week or so. That’s great progress! I know the right buyer is out there… eagerly waiting for them to show up and make a great offer.