It resonates well with my own experience in the UK. It seems like we are having a bit allergy to a totally new environment. I am now in the US, the diversity here gives me a relax and gradually stable environment. I am looking for a psychiatric support dog as companion. I am not sure how you familiar with this? The local shelter suggest me finding home2home dogs since they said shelter is like a jail for them. However at shelter there is also dogs that seems calm and confident. For a first time dog raiser, if I am looking for a dog that may accompany me and requires maximum 2 hours activities (games and runs), if a “high energy” medium-large dog recommended? It seems greyhound and English Coonhound is fit. At the beginning I was tend to Border Collie since they are smart, but shelter’s worker suggests they are too difficult to handle. Any ideas?
Also I am curious about how you find Momo and Qiuqiu help you with your mental situation. And why you said a reactive state is there even though you are at home. We shall call sometimes!
To be brutally honest, we love our dogs so much but they actually added a lot of stress to our lives. We don’t recommend adopting a dog in another country if you want to travel home, like we did. It’s very stressful for the dogs and us, and super expensive. It’s taken a year of training to get them ready for the trip, and it’s still not perfect. I think it’s a bit like having children: a great experience but a huge responsibility, and sometimes this can affect mental health negatively, as it is overwhelming. Spending time with animals is great for mental health though, it’s good that you are in touch with an animal shelter. Perhaps you can volunteer there, or work as a dog walker or dog sitter?
Hello my activist friend! 😝 great to hear you’re enjoying the US, how’s it going out there?? Good questions about dogs, is your plan to adopt one fully? I don’t know what home2home means, is that like fostering?
Bon voyage. It'll be a shock coming back. Lockdown was a trauma for the world look forward to seeing you and your story will last a lifetime . You've certainly been the change.
Hi Tamzin and Joe, a little late but I watched your film about Daoism and environmentalism yesterday. Strangely, I was wondering the same thing a few months ago so I found it really interesting. I studied ancient Chinese history when I was 19, on an exchange at University in the US and that's when I 'discovered' Daoism - or as it was called, Taoism - and I still have the copy of Tao Te Ching I bought at the time. Needing to change our relationship with nature is at the core of my book about the ocean, because unless we do, we're stuffed. I wondered if you know about Lynn White and his essay about the roots of the ecological crisis? https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.155.3767.1203
I can understand you feeling conflicted about leaving China, it'll be a massive change. I guess you'll be able to go back and visit though. I saw Jamie and Charlotte recently and they can't wait - as you will probably know! Safe trip back - must be fairly soon now. Deb x
Hi Deb, thanks for your comment! That’s fascinating I didn’t know you studied ancient Chinese history. The experience must have always stayed with you.
It was great taking a deep dive on daoism haha. Not sure if you saw it already but I went into a bit more detail in the written piece on daoist ecology. The bibliography might be useful if you ever feel like revisiting those themes.
Future Sea is a great book and I couldn’t agree more, we need to make radical changes. I’m looking forward to having the free time and freedom to get involved in activism when back in the uk. I hope we reach one of those ‘societal tipping points’ George Monbiot’s always talking about when enough people start kicking off!
Thanks for the essay link, I’ve downloaded it and will check it out. Sounds great!
It resonates well with my own experience in the UK. It seems like we are having a bit allergy to a totally new environment. I am now in the US, the diversity here gives me a relax and gradually stable environment. I am looking for a psychiatric support dog as companion. I am not sure how you familiar with this? The local shelter suggest me finding home2home dogs since they said shelter is like a jail for them. However at shelter there is also dogs that seems calm and confident. For a first time dog raiser, if I am looking for a dog that may accompany me and requires maximum 2 hours activities (games and runs), if a “high energy” medium-large dog recommended? It seems greyhound and English Coonhound is fit. At the beginning I was tend to Border Collie since they are smart, but shelter’s worker suggests they are too difficult to handle. Any ideas?
From your “activist” friend
Also I am curious about how you find Momo and Qiuqiu help you with your mental situation. And why you said a reactive state is there even though you are at home. We shall call sometimes!
To be brutally honest, we love our dogs so much but they actually added a lot of stress to our lives. We don’t recommend adopting a dog in another country if you want to travel home, like we did. It’s very stressful for the dogs and us, and super expensive. It’s taken a year of training to get them ready for the trip, and it’s still not perfect. I think it’s a bit like having children: a great experience but a huge responsibility, and sometimes this can affect mental health negatively, as it is overwhelming. Spending time with animals is great for mental health though, it’s good that you are in touch with an animal shelter. Perhaps you can volunteer there, or work as a dog walker or dog sitter?
We are still in China! We will leave in June 😎
Hey Sky, Joe here. Would love to know how you are lately. Send me an email if you see this, thehumancycles@gmail.com
Hello my activist friend! 😝 great to hear you’re enjoying the US, how’s it going out there?? Good questions about dogs, is your plan to adopt one fully? I don’t know what home2home means, is that like fostering?
Bon voyage. It'll be a shock coming back. Lockdown was a trauma for the world look forward to seeing you and your story will last a lifetime . You've certainly been the change.
Hi Cathy, thanks so much for reading. It’s been great to have your comments and encouragement throughout this process. See you soon! J
So nice to put a face to my comment for a change. My life on the web converges with reality for a change !
See yah 🏖️
Hi Tamzin and Joe, a little late but I watched your film about Daoism and environmentalism yesterday. Strangely, I was wondering the same thing a few months ago so I found it really interesting. I studied ancient Chinese history when I was 19, on an exchange at University in the US and that's when I 'discovered' Daoism - or as it was called, Taoism - and I still have the copy of Tao Te Ching I bought at the time. Needing to change our relationship with nature is at the core of my book about the ocean, because unless we do, we're stuffed. I wondered if you know about Lynn White and his essay about the roots of the ecological crisis? https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.155.3767.1203
I can understand you feeling conflicted about leaving China, it'll be a massive change. I guess you'll be able to go back and visit though. I saw Jamie and Charlotte recently and they can't wait - as you will probably know! Safe trip back - must be fairly soon now. Deb x
Hi Deb, thanks for your comment! That’s fascinating I didn’t know you studied ancient Chinese history. The experience must have always stayed with you.
It was great taking a deep dive on daoism haha. Not sure if you saw it already but I went into a bit more detail in the written piece on daoist ecology. The bibliography might be useful if you ever feel like revisiting those themes.
https://dogmatic.substack.com/p/chinas-green-religion
Future Sea is a great book and I couldn’t agree more, we need to make radical changes. I’m looking forward to having the free time and freedom to get involved in activism when back in the uk. I hope we reach one of those ‘societal tipping points’ George Monbiot’s always talking about when enough people start kicking off!
Thanks for the essay link, I’ve downloaded it and will check it out. Sounds great!
All the best,
Joe x