I told my husband about thinking about feeling my spirit extending past my own body. He expanded on the idea and told me that was why he loved being in nature. He told me that when he went outside, felt the breeze, listened to the sounds of nature, and saw the sunshine, trees, grass, and all of God’s creation around him, he felt like he was only a small part of something much greater than himself. I loved his idea.
Then he took it even further. We had our dogs between us, and he told me that was also why he loved our pets so much. A dog isn’t so self-involved to be worried about bills, past trauma, or future worries. A dog is simply living in the moment, enjoying everything life has to give right here and right now. I guess that’s why I love my dogs, too. They help to keep me grounded. When I have been having the worst panic attack, my dogs have helped me to get out of my head and focus on something other than the anxiety.
I guess the best way to say it is getting trapped inside my head is a horrible place to be. It is dark, lonely, and claustrophobic. When it happens, I’m not surprised that I feel anxious. Maybe the anxiety cure isn’t so much about not getting trapped inside my head, but realizing that it’s all an illusion; a horrible destructive lie. I’m never alone. I am always connected to God, the love, and the light in the universe, I just have to believe it.
My faith saved me. May God’s peace reside in all of our hearts.
