Hi Myzen,

Great post.....I can relate to you observation about being effected by those around us & us effecting those we are around....animals or people. I have seen people around horses who have completely ruined their horse by the way they treated it.....up tight, demanding, rough, unforgiving....& they just couldn't figure out why they were having problems....duh. I have been around people who really seem to stress me out & there is no way I could ever relax around them...maybe I was trying so hard to find a way to escape????lol

I think the concept of being open to our animals & like you said, a relaxed person & becoming one with the natural peace & rythm that is there rather than fighting....is when we achieve peace within ourselves & can feel relaxed. I think nature is basically peaceful (unless you take into consideration the hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, etc).

Part of my relaxation is laughing too....I know there is a correlation there too. The laughing comes around my dogs & horses too.....when I am leaning over & cleaning his hoofs....all of a sudden, my rear end gets shoved by his nose & I go flying. Humor seems to get rid of the tense feelings that build up & oh yes, the all time important thing.....BREATHE.....how can something so necessary for life be so hard to remember to do?

I have been told so many ways to relax & never got them to work. It seem like the tools are all the same (focusing, breathing, laughing, etc) but what we apply them to that creates the relaxation for us is personal. What works for one doesn't work for someone else.

Debbie