Hi again, it’s Maria!
This semester, I have been paying more attention to the animals around campus. Not just the therapy dogs (although they are definitely a highlight), but the everyday creatures that are just… here. Squirrels digging up their breakfast, geese waddling in their messy little groups, chipmunks darting across sidewalks, turtles sunning themselves on rocks, even the occasional garden snake if you are walking by the water or through the trails.
When you are busy and stressed, it is easy to tune all of that out. But lately I have been trying to slow down and really notice them. And something about that has helped me feel a bit more grounded. The campus is full of life if you slow down enough to see it.
Animals live in the present. They are not thinking about assignments or group projects or whether they are doing enough. They are just being. Watching them has reminded me that I can do the same, even for a few moments.
Therapy dogs are another gentle reminder of this. If you have ever stopped by to see them during Wellness Week or at a pop-up event, you know what I mean. They do not need you to say anything clever. They just want to sit with you, be close, and maybe ask for a belly rub. Those short interactions have pulled me out of anxious spirals more than once. I walk away feeling calmer, lighter, and more connected.
There is something healing about paying attention to life outside of ourselves. Even just sitting under a tree and watching a squirrel completely fail to hide a peanut can be surprisingly soothing. These animals are part of the campus too. They remind us to pause, to breathe, and to notice what is around us instead of only what is ahead.
It is also worth remembering that our campus is on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe Peoples. Among the Haudenosaunee, one guiding value is the Seventh-Generation principle, which encourages decision making that considers the well-being of those not yet born and treats the earth as something borrowed from future generations (Yale Center for Faith & Culture, n.d.). In Anishinaabe thought, the concept of Mino-Bimaadiziwin, often translated as “the good life” or “walking the good path,” emphasizes living in respectful relationship with all of Creation, including animals, land, community, and spirit (Turtle Mountain College, n.d.). When we pause to listen to the trees, observe the wildlife, and reflect on the land beneath our feet, we are doing more than taking a break. We are engaging with worldviews that teach awareness, respect, harmony, and responsibility to both present and future beings.
If you are interested in connecting more deeply with the land and with ideas such as respect, awareness, and balance, consider spending time on one of the many local nature trails or visiting a nearby conservation area. Joining an outdoor recreation club can also be a meaningful way to explore the region while developing a stronger relationship with the natural world. You do not need any special background or knowledge. All it takes is curiosity, presence, and a willingness to pay attention.
Whether it is therapy dogs, squirrels, or a family of geese blocking your way to class, the animals on campus offer something we often forget to give ourselves: permission to slow down. To look around. To be here.
So, this week, I hope you get a chance to notice the small things. A tail flick. A bird call. The way animals move through space without rushing. Let those little moments of connection pull you out of your head and back into your body.
Wishing you some peace and presence this week. I’ll see you around.
-Maria
References:
Yale Center for Faith & Culture (n.d.).