Counselor’s Corner - February 26 Issue

Dear Cup-Fillers,

This last week it popped up on my newsfeed. At first I was intrigued. Being a touchy-feely person myself, I thought it was a novel idea. Cow-hugging. That's right. Cow-hugging as a form of therapy. Sure, I subscribe to emotional support dogs and equestrian therapy, but cow-hugging? I watched the video, intrigued at 1-hour sessions in "The Gentle Barn" strictly for the purposes of snuggling a rescue cow to bring a sense of being grounded, present, and nurtured. Progressive or pathetic?

And then it struck me. How anxiety-ridden, emptied-out, and hurt-filled must we be as people that we need bovine-Band-Aids?

And my guess is, that you periodically have a deep sense of anxiety, emptiness, and hurt, too. Sure, you may not go to a barn to seek renewal, but where do you go?

In Intellectual Self-Care for Teachers, Spirit of Prophecy shows Jesus retreating, not to a cow in a barn, but to a boat on a lake. He sought reprieve from teaching and lunch duty. He needed a brain-break from the criticism and critics. He sought safety in self-care.

As you work to take care of yourself, inventory your self-care strengths and weaknesses to consider how you can find your true self-care in Him.

Hoping to fill your cup,
Mindy