Have you ever asked your dog to do something only to receive a perplexed head-tilt? …or worse yet, a sideways glance that appears defiant based on what you actually requested? What is it that our canine companions truly understand? A study published last year in Current Biology provided the first neural evidence that dogs understand …
As a young child, I recall the joy of pushing a yellow triangle through the blue half of a Shape-O ball, twisting it until the three sides aligned with the corresponding hole. My parents smiled and enthusiastically said, “Good job!” This first success with a shape sorter began developing my brain’s ability to categorize, sort, …
After a long day away from home, I sat down to answer emails and respond to text messages, entirely absorbed in my phone’s screen. Suddenly, I felt a warm nudge on my hand as Oreo, my two-year-old pup, pressed his snout against my arm, pushing my phone away. His eyes met mine, as if to …
The world seems to have regained its pre-pandemic pace—or at least the people in it have. Driving from place to place, I notice cars speeding past as if I’m standing still—even when I’m going 5 miles over the posted speed limit. In the grocery store, people rush through the checkout line as if aiming for …
This summer, I’ve been helping out at a dog camp for children. The other day, we were discussing the ways that dogs are similar to humans. Typically, the campers, ages 8-13, start generating ideas like they eat and sleep, and they have eyes and ears, etc. As our camp director and coaches press further, we …
This past week, I witnessed an incident in a retail store that caused me to pause and reflect for a few moments. A hurried worker dropped a box of paper and gift cards that she was carrying. One of her co-workers stopped to help her pick up the spilled contents of the box and I …
As the clock struck 5:00 PM on a pleasant spring evening, Sam rummaged through his backpack for his ringing cell phone. He saw his mom calling and sighed, expecting her to remind him about his band concert. “Hey mom, what’s up?” he answered. “Sam, I’m so sorry, but I won’t be able to make it …
Setting boundaries in my caregiving role led to a profound realization—many struggle to establish boundaries both at home and at work. Most often, we engage in boundary discussions only after feeling that someone has ignored or violated our own boundaries. However, it’s crucial to understand that this isn’t necessarily because the other person is selfish …
As we reach the end of June, a month dedicated to proudly celebrating my friends who identify as LBGTQIA+ and also Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, I have thought at length about this blog post. I see the value in bringing awareness to all the causes and experiences that we observe throughout the year, yet …
To be human is to have emotional experiences. That many of us prefer that these emotional experiences be positive is not surprising. As this is Mental Health Awareness Month, I would like to start by stating that it is okay to not be okay. Pretending to be okay when you aren’t is not good for …
