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Dopamine, anyone?
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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.
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Nyssa Hanger
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When I first encountered the Buddhist teaching of emptiness, it honestly kind of bothered me. 🙈 I didn’t like the idea that there wasn’t an essential nature inherent in the things I loved. My spirituality resonated more with feeling like there’s something out there – some being, some ultimate reality, some personified divinity that I could have a relationship with. Over time, I found other Buddhist teachings that did resonate. The practice of loving kindness, or metta, is one I lean into...
If there is one thing that helps us to keep pressing publish on our weekly podcast it's this: Done is better than perfect. (Believe me, that's also easier said than done!) I can't tell you how many different versions of our cover art we went through before deciding it's "good enough." Or how listening back made me realize I didn't get the sound levels right. Or how many times we've been interrupted by Papi, our dog, barking or chewing things he's not supposed to. But it's all okay. We just...
There have been two reigning topics that have appeared in my treatment room the past few weeks. No matter the client, I felt like I kept having the same conversations. I'd usually get asked one and then both of these questions (though not always in the same order): How were your holidays? Can you believe what is happening in this country? (a.k.a. How are we supposed to be with all this??) I see what I do as my small part of holding space for all of this, holding space for you. While at the...