LetB次元官网网址檚 be honest about something here. This planet can be incredibly discouraging sometimes. Especially now, in this fraught age, itB次元官网网址檚 difficult to be a kid in a world that seems only to be filled with war, devastation and ruin.
I mean, take a peek at the headlines of any major news organization and hopelessness wonB次元官网网址檛 be far behind. Sometimes it can be difficult to imagine any sort of prosperous future with all this grim uncertainty nowadays.
Usually, IB次元官网网址檓 a proponent of action. Getting out there, making a difference, changing the world, IB次元官网网址檓 all for that! But sometimes it can be too much, and too overwhelming to feel as though you can do anything at all.
Anxiety rates are spiking in young people, and itB次元官网网址檚 no secret why. The world is a stressful place. Declining mental health in youth is something that needs to be addressed on a larger scale.
But what if youB次元官网网址檙e not a psychologist or policymaker? What if youB次元官网网址檙e not even a responsible adult? What if youB次元官网网址檙e just a kid trying to cope with the stresses of the world?
Well, IB次元官网网址檝e got a solution: spend more time with your pet!
Yes, I must confess that I recently adopted a new puppy from the Victoria Humane Society.
If youB次元官网网址檒l indulge me for a minute B次元官网网址� her name is Delilah, sheB次元官网网址檚 a 12-week-old (mostly) German shepherd, and she is the most delightful little ball of fur IB次元官网网址檝e ever laid eyes on.
Taking care of this little darling is a daunting task. SheB次元官网网址檚 troublesome, mischievous, and far too clever for her own good. She demands to be walked every hour of the night, so my typical teenage insomnia has only been exacerbated further by her tyrannical demands of walks and treats NOW NOW NOW.
This is to say, I love her with all of my heart.
And the plus side to all of this? While IB次元官网网址檝e been caring for her, I find my anxiety to be alleviated, and my focus changed. IB次元官网网址檓 no longer thinking of my existential worries, IB次元官网网址檓 just hanging out with my dog.
Now, IB次元官网网址檓 not saying that you, dear reader, absolutely must go out and get a pet right this instant. You may not have the space, the time, or even the inclination. That is all perfectly reasonable.
But if youB次元官网网址檙e a younger sort like me and somehow convince your parents to actually get you a new furry forever friend B次元官网网址� donB次元官网网址檛 wait around.
Gabriel Mackintosh is a student at Royal Bay Secondary School.
