A year ago my family and I moved to Del Ray after 10 years abroad. Where do new arrivals go to find their people? The dog park of course! Our first day in the US we dragged our jet lagged bodies (and our English Setter, Milo) to the park on E. Monroe to find some comfort in our local canines. Nowhere provides the easy, joyful sense of instant community quite like a dog park. When the world feels intimidating or lonely, observing a raucous game of canine tag can be just the medicine you need.
When the kids were young, before each trip I’d Google pin all the local playgrounds. Nothing saves a parent from an impending meltdown quite like a quick stop at the local park. Now that our girls are older, we pin dog parks instead of playgrounds. When everyone is tired and in need of a pick-me-up, we pull up a bench and watch the locals and their pups. Paris, London, Croatia – dog parks the world over are all different but provide the same benefits – a sense of community, instant joy, and easy laughter —the exact elements that can sometimes seem elusive in our daily lives.
As a health coach, my favorite topic to explore with clients is what brings them joy and how they might find more space for it in their lives. More often than not, measurable health factors (hello smart watches) such as nutrition, sleep, and exercise are prioritized over the subjective, immeasurable pursuit of fun. My heartfelt (and heart healthy) recommendation is to intentionally schedule time for joy. Having fun (even if it’s a quick laugh) has serious health benefits.
For more info about the health benefits of goofing around, my favorite book on the subject is “Play” by Dr. Stuart Brown.
Laura Miller is a Health Coach and Pilates Instructor. When she’s not sipping coffee at the dog park, she is training for the Army 10 Miler, camping, hiking, or participating in the amazing Buy Nothing Del Ray group.
