Sign up to receive Going Upward, a weekly newsletter where clarity and action meet what matters most.
Dopamine, anyone?
|
A client of mine referred to their new dog as a “dopamine dispenser,” and I couldn’t agree more. 😍 It’s like, “Move over phone, Instagram, all the apps and devices that vie for my attention. I’ve got something REAL here.” This reminded me of a visit to my cousin after she got a new kitten. We were on the floor playing with it when, inevitably, a phone came out to show a funny cat video. Apparently, at some point I broke from my haze and said, “Wait, why are we watching videos of cats when we have an actual kitten right in front of us.” OMG. 🤦♀️ The difference between the phone and an animal (or a human) is how they feel. Instead of a flat screen, living beings have texture, movement, and response. This is part of why so many animals were adopted during the pandemic. We were touch deprived from isolation, whether we named it that way or not. Our skin is designed to come into contact with a wide variety of surfaces. In the digital age, we have to be more intentional about finding connection beyond our devices. That’s why this week’s episode hit home for me. Real-life connection, with animals, with people, with texture, isn’t just nice. It’s regulating for our over-stimulated nervous systems. 🥰 In Episode 7, of Bring Different Together, Kelly and I explore the power of touch. We talk about:
And I drop one of the best jokes of my freaking life 🐷. Listen for that alone.😂 🎙️LISTEN HERE: How Touch Shapes Our Relationships I hope this email inspires you to share a hug, pet a dog, or touch something beyond a screen today. It really is good medicine. In Joy, P.S. Papi is our ABT mascot: Always Be Touching. P.P.S. If you have a partner, close friend, or family member you want to feel more connected to, my upcoming Thai Massage workshop is a beautiful way to explore that together. You’ll learn a nourishing, nervous-system-friendly way to connect through touch—with someone you already trust. Learn more here or click the button below.
|
Nyssa Hanger
Sign up to receive Going Upward, a weekly newsletter where clarity and action meet what matters most.
It's not revolutionary to say, "Healing isn't linear," but what does that actually mean? It means thinking that the case is closed when ... it's not. But you only realize this much much later. It means going back to your PT exercises when you feel the back pain creep in. It means finding yourself reacting emotionally to a problem that you used to think would be no big deal. It means finding yourself in the emotional abyss you used to know so well and thought you'd said goodbye to years ago....
A few weeks ago we went to our vacation spot -- Cocoa Beach -- for our biannual trip. (I've written about that more here.) I feel like Kelly and I have gotten into a nice groove with this place. We always stay at the same resort and at this point we've got our favorite places to visit. This trip we got big into doing jigsaw puzzles, check out this beautiful one we completed: Yes, that tested both my botanical and geographical knowledge! But then two days before leaving I started to realize...
Hey Reader, It's been a minute. If you're new here, I usually send this newsletter once a week. But apparently I've taken an accidental sabbatical. I shared a few months ago that we're renovating our house ... while still living in it. At this point I'd say I don't recommend it. 😫 So we've spent the past few months shuffling our belongings from room to room, trying to make space for the work while also going to work, taking care of ourselves and our animals, and generally keeping life moving....