Can Pets improve our mental health?

by gentlelifehacks | Aug 30, 2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 comments

A loyal friend

Basil Brush was my beloved friend.

He was a hairy, stocky, short little dog with bucked teeth, an underbite, and a tummy that scraped the steps if he could manage them.

He had a deep bark for such a little dog and a very weak bladder, which unfortunately only appeared if he noticed that a visitor did not enjoy his welcome wag over their feet.

He lived unitl he was nearly 17 years old, and it broke my heart when he died.

Although I know that I will never be able to replace what he meant to me, I often search online for a puppy, as I hope to get another dog one day soon.

Looking at all of the puppies actually has a calming effect on me too.

The difference a pet can make

Pets are important and can make a huge difference to a person’s life.

It is well known that they provide a great source of comfort and support.

Nothing compares to the joy of coming home to such a loyal companion.

Pets often offer such unconditional love and will keep you company , so that any loneliness is minimised, and can boost your mood while decreasing levels of cortisol which is a stress related hormone.

So for decreasing stress levels, lowering blood pressure and improving our heart health, we are encouraged to take them for walks.

They also help children with their emotional and social skills and give them a sense of personal responsibility when caring for a pet.

There are many other benefits to owning a pet – Read more here

Not everybody should own a pet

Of course, sadly, not everyone should own a pet, as there will be many that are given up because their humans cannot care for them.

So before you rush out and buy a pet, why not consider re-homing one in need of a good home. Read more here

Often, when I think about Basil Brush, I think about how supportive that dear little dog was during some of our darkest days, when my late husband was fighting cancer.

Basil was always there. Ready to snuggle on my lap ( all 12 kg of him!)

In fact, I often chuckle at some of my precious memories of his spirited character.

The images of him racing down the beach with ears flapping, or sitting looking up at me, with his overbite and hair in his eyes, or of him just giving me a gentle nudge, while sitting expectantly under the dinner table, to remind me to offer him a tasty morsel or too!

“Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them, and filling an emptiness we didn’t even know we had.”

In Memory of Basil Brush (X Shih Tzu /Dachshund )

©2021 gentlelifehacks.com|e-propertymatters.com| Author| Kathryn

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Smart gadgets

by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Technology | 0 Comments

Renovating a home is not for the faint hearted Take it from one who knows! Smart wiring, or smart homes are often talked about and the digital natives amongst us know all the tricks. Just listening to some of the things required in our new smart home made my head...

Messy house or hoarder?

by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Handy hints, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Sometimes it is hard to differentiate between hoarding and extreme clutter. Many times in my real estate career, I have come across people who do not see the clutter when they come to sell their homes. It is rude to point it out to them, and sometimes difficult to be...

Houses built from hemp

by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Some interesting ways of building homes over the years have included products such as Hemp. It has apparently been used globally as a natural building product for thousands of years. Recently a Western Australian couple hand built their three-bedroom home on a...

10 Simple Life Hacks to Stay Healthy and Active

by gentlelifehacks | 25/09/2024 | Health and Wellness | 0 Comments

Introduction to Healthy LivingIn today's fast-paced world, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can often feel overwhelming. However, implementing a few simple life hacks can significantly improve your well-being and help you stay active. This blog post explores effective...

10 warning signs to look out for when buying a house

by gentlelifehacks | 30/11/2021 | Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Renovating is not always easy. Even the the tasks that look like they could be simple can turn out to me a mission to finish! Have you ever found a few cracked tiles in the kitchen and thought about replacing them? It is okay if you have spare matching tiles, but what...

A wise old donkey

by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He...

Are you a hoarder?

by gentlelifehacks | 20/01/2023 | caregiving, Coping skills, Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Are you a hoarder? They say you should always "declutter" when selling your home? When I was selling my own home after the death of my husband, I wondered if I was a hoarder! They say that hoarding is often a coping mechanism. Apparently if we are bereaved , or...