Lemur-inspired steps to improve my mental health and wellbeing

One of the great things about having a dog is that, at least twice a day, they need to be taken outside for a walk. It doesn’t matter what the weather is doing, rain or dry, hot or cold, out for a walk Dylan and I will go. Sometimes, usually early morning, he can be reluctant to leave the house and will try and hide somewhere. He always gives himself away, as I call his name and he starts thumping his tail! I tell him that exercise is one of the five steps we can take to improve our mental health and wellbeing.

One of the other reasons I like walking with Dylan, is that we invariably meet other folk. Even on our first morning walk at 5am, there are other people out and about. Most of these people I know only by sight, but it’s always good to exchange a greeting, a smile and maybe a word or two. Although we have various routes we tend to take, we always walk through streets and across fields. It never ceases to amaze me how much wildlife there is to be seen, so close to the houses. I often see foxes, and this Spring we have enjoyed watching and listening to a little woodpecker.

On Friday, I had a rather different animal experience, however. I got to hand feed a troop of ring-tailed lemurs at our local zoo. It was a birthday present from Jane and it was a wonderful experience. I had a bucket full of kebab sticks threaded through with fruit, raw vegetables and boiled potatoes. Crouching down, these lovely little creatures came and held onto the sticks I was holding, while eating the fruit and veg off them. Boiled potatoes and grapes were the favourite choices. These were wild animals and they were both bold and also suspicious. Knowing how to ‘be’ with them was a new one for me. Although perhaps not in the same league as the David Attenborough mountain gorilla moment, I can now add ‘ability to commune with lemurs’ to my CV.

When we got to their enclosure, a huge space which allows them to run free, climb trees and so on, they were collectively all sunbathing. It was a most amusing sight, they sat upright facing the early morning sunshine, looking like a Bank Holiday crowd on a sunny Blackpool beach. Visitors can walk through their enclosure and get up close to the lemurs. I was very fortunate to meet Shelley, a 30 year old, red-ruffed lemur, seldom seen by the public. She just appeared from the undergrowth, and I was able to stroke her as she took food from my hand.  

Strangely, just being with Shelley made me feel somehow humble. In lemur terms, she was an old lady. They don’t usually live past 20 years. Her calmness and simple presence elicited a wonderful mindfulness moment in me. It was a moment to add to my resilience store. Last week, also gave me another moment to reflect upon. I was out with Dylan, and it was a mid-morning walk. The sun was shining, the birds were singing and I felt at peace with the world.

As we were walking across the fields, a man came into view, also walking with his dog. As we passed, I said, ‘it’s a gorgeous summer’s day’, he responded with ‘I think you think every day is a summer’s day. Now I don’t know him, although we often see each other, as we walk our dogs. I think his observation was a reference to the fact that I habitually wear shorts, whatever the weather. However, it made me think just how different we might feel, if we treated every day, as if it was a gorgeous summer’s day. Of course, it’s not always possible to feel like that all of the time. I know there have been times in my life where whatever was going on has felt overwhelming and even depressing. In such times, it is being connected to others, however tenuous that relationship might be, which can provide help and support.  

I write this blog on the last day of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week. The theme this year has been on action – awareness of mental health is one thing, but taking action ourselves, and for, and with others, is where positive change can occur. Have a look at this fabulous Mental Health Foundation website to see what you might be able to do, to improve your own mental health and wellbeing too.