The Power of Caring for Living Things

by | Apr 5, 2024 | How To | 0 comments

The post is developed in partnership with BetterHelp.

Caring for something outside of ourselves can have a positive impact on our wellness, mental health, and overall quality of life. Whether it’s tending to plants or nurturing pets, the act of caregiving fosters a sense of purpose, connection, and fulfillment. 

Learn how caring for living things can improve your well-being. It can also lead to a happier, healthier life.

Why Caretaking Can Enrich Lives

Taking care of something other than ourselves can bring joy and structure to our lives. Although responsibility requires commitment and involves several tasks, we may gain more than we expend.

Both plants and pets give something back for the care they receive. Plants grow, thrive, and some even bloom for us. They beautify our homes and make our spaces feel warmer. As they grow, we can track their progress and feel a sense of accomplishment and pride.

Pets, on the other hand, give warmth and affection that plants cannot. Many pets enjoy cuddling with their owners, appear happy to see them, and behave like they miss their family when they’re gone.

They’re often cute, fuzzy, and funny as well. They provide entertainment and joy to the lives of the people they live with.

These are some obvious benefits of living with plants and pets. But you might be surprised to learn that the act of caring itself appears to have some benefits.

Other Focused Kindness

A 2021 Dutch study found that for study participants, ‘’other-focused kindness … led to improvements in the primary outcome mental well-being.’’ This appears to suggest that doing things for others improves our own wellness.

Although this study was not about pets or plants, the care we show them is a form of kindness. It’s possible that some of the benefits of being kind apply. 

There are numerous ways to practice kindness and care for others. Bringing pets and plants into your life are just two examples. They’re fairly accessible to many people, however, which can make them a great place to start.

Cultivating Connection Through Plant Care

We may not immediately think of plants when we think about caregiving and responsibility. However, plants can be an easy way to bring something into your life that depends on you. Plants rely on us to bring them resources and they reward us in several ways.

Engaging in gardening or indoor plant care provides a therapeutic outlet for stress relief and relaxation. The act of tending to plants may boost our health.

Studies have shown that spending time in nature and tending to plants can reduce cortisol levels and promote a sense of calm and well-being. 

Caring for house or office plants can be a way to bring the outdoors inside.

Nurturing plants seems to have objective health benefits. It also fosters a sense of responsibility and accomplishment. You see their growth and development over time. This may give you a sense of pride.

The Joy of Pet Companionship

Pets are perhaps a more obvious example of care and responsibility. Unlike a plant, pets interact. They appear to share love and affection with us. That kind of connection can bring a warmth that caring for plants typically does not.

The companionship of pets has been shown to have numerous benefits for mental health and overall wellness. Whether you have a cat, dog, or another furry friend, owning a pet can form a bond. This bond can bring emotional support, reduce loneliness, and increase happiness. 

Studies have also shown that interacting with animals can lower blood pressure and reduce stress levels.

When it comes to dog ownership, some evidence shows that dog owners spend more time outside and may even get more physical activity than people without dogs.

Service Animals and Mental Health Support

Having any kind of pet can boost your well-being. If you have physical or mental health challenges, a service pet offers a unique type of support.

For people with mental health challenges can find their service pets invaluable. They provide comfort, help, and companionship like any pet. They are also a helper for the owner. This creates a special bond as well as offers practical assistance in the owner’s life.

Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks that help their owners navigate daily life with greater ease and independence. They may have the ability to sense when a health episode is oncoming or be trained to protect or comfort owners during the acute onset of their condition.

From providing emotional support during panic attacks to guiding individuals with visual impairments, service animals shine.

Learn everything you need to know about service dogs for anxiety and other conditions here: www.betterhelp.com/advice/anxiety/everything-you-need-to-know-about-getting-an-anxiety-service-dog/ 

Fostering Responsibility and Routine

Caring for living things, whether plants or pets, instills a sense of responsibility and routine in our lives. 

The daily tasks involved in feeding, watering, and grooming create a structured routine. Routines can promote feelings of stability and purpose. 

Additionally, the act of caring for others encourages empathy, compassion, and a sense of interconnectedness with the world around us.

Caregiving Can Cultivate Mindfulness and Presence

Engaging in caregiving activities encourages us to slow down, be present in the moment, and practice mindfulness. 

Watering plants, walking our pets, and spending time with pets are common caretaking activities. These actions invite us to connect with the here and now. They require some presence in the moment. Overall, slowing down and appreciating simple things can foster a sense of gratitude and appreciation.

Find Greater Wellness Through Care

Caring for living things is a powerful tool. It enhances wellness, mental health, and life quality. You may be tending to plants, enjoying pets, or benefiting from service animals. However you care for something, there are benefits available.

Caregiving fosters connection, purpose, and fulfillment. It brings joy, can foster pride, and establishes a routine.

Are you keen to embrace the joy of nurturing living things? If you’re able to bring a pet or plant into your home, the experience can have a profound impact on your well-being. 

In Columbia, Maryland, there’s a former grocery store that has been transformed into a department store for mythical creatures, time travelers, and intergalactic tourists.

It’s called DoodleHATCH.

You can groom a unicorn, visit an intergalactic space station, climb onto a giant’s bed, meet guinea pigs, explore an artist’s studio, and discover approximately a million other things that somebody actually sat down and made.

It’s a nonprofit interactive art museum, a community project, an educational resource, and one of my favorite places I’ve ever discovered.

And it could be demolished as part of a proposed redevelopment of the Long Reach Village Center.

But there’s still an opportunity to help.

You don’t need to donate money. You don’t need to live in Maryland. And you don’t need to know anything about zoning laws.

You can start by writing an email.

🚨 Here's what's happening

Developer Columbia Concepts has proposed redeveloping the Long Reach Village Center in Columbia, Maryland.

The proposal would replace existing buildings with new housing, recreational facilities, and other development.

Unfortunately, that puts a whole collection of existing community resources at risk of being demolished, including:

  • DoodleHATCH Interactive Art Museum
  • Maryland Fashion Institute
  • A makerspace used for community education
  • Local restaurants, shops, and service businesses
  • Early childhood education and community programs
  • A 140-foot-long mural created by approximately 100 community members

This isn’t just about losing a fabulous museum. It’s about losing an entire collection of places that people have built, supported, and relied on.

And there’s another possibility!

🌈 Meet The REALM

Lee Andersen, the founder of DoodleHATCH, and her nonprofit ManneqART want to preserve the existing community resources and transform the village center into an arts and culture destination called The REALM.

Imagine a place where artists have studios, children have room to explore, students can learn creative skills, people can attend performances, and local businesses continue serving their neighbors.

There are plans for a performing arts space, more opportunities for artists, and a Witches Kitchen that might serve you a horrible-disgusting breakfast.

Which, personally, I think sounds promising.

The people behind DoodleHATCH are gathering support to oppose the developer’s zoning proposal and advocate for The REALM.

And they’d love your help.

💌 How to help in about two minutes

If you live in Howard County, Maryland

If you’re 18 or older, DoodleHATCH is asking eligible county residents to visit the museum and sign their petition in person.

📍DoodleHATCH Interactive Art Museum

8775 Cloudleap Court, Unit 101
Columbia, MD 21045

⏱️ Museum hours: Friday–Sunday, 10 AM–5 PM.

And while you’re there, I highly recommend exploring the museum. Bring someone who needs a reminder that being an adult doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying ridiculous things.

If you don't live in Howard County

You can still help!

DoodleHATCH is collecting emails from people who oppose the proposed Columbia Concepts redevelopment and support preserving the existing arts and community resources through The REALM.

Send your email to: Lilou@DoodleHATCH.com

Suggested subject: Support The REALM | Oppose Columbia Concepts Zoning Proposal ZB 1132M

You can write your own message or use one of the templates below.

You don’t need to write an essay. A short, genuine message explaining what you support and why is enough to participate in this email campaign.

✍️ What should your email say?

To make your position clear, include these three things:

1. Say what you’re opposing.

State that you oppose the proposed Columbia Concepts redevelopment and zoning amendment for the Long Reach Village Center, case ZB 1132M.

2. Say what you’re supporting.

Express your support for preserving DoodleHATCH, the Maryland Fashion Institute, existing community resources, and the proposed arts and culture center called The REALM.

3. Explain why you care.

This is the part that makes your email yours.

Maybe you’ve visited DoodleHATCH. Maybe you’re a parent who wants more creative places for children. Maybe you’re an artist, an educator, or someone who thinks it’s important to protect the few spaces where people can explore and make things without needing to buy something.

Maybe you live across the country and just learned that there’s a department store for mythical creatures in Maryland, and you think the world would be a little less interesting without it.

That’s a perfectly good reason to care.

Automatically Build Your Email!

💌 Email templates you can copy

Option 1: Short, simple, and effective

Subject: Support The REALM | Oppose ZB 1132M

Hello,

I’m writing to express my opposition to the proposed Columbia Concepts zoning amendment and redevelopment of the Long Reach Village Center (ZB 1132M).

I support preserving DoodleHATCH, the Maryland Fashion Institute, and the existing community services and small businesses, as well as the proposal to create The REALM arts and culture center.

Creative and educational spaces like these provide valuable opportunities for families, artists, students, and the wider community. I believe they deserve to be protected.

Please include my email with the messages of support being collected for DoodleHATCH and The REALM.

Thank you,

[Your Name]
[Your City/State]

Option 2: For artists, creatives, and fellow merriment makers

Subject: Please Protect DoodleHATCH and Support The REALM

Hello,

I’m writing in opposition to Columbia Concepts’ proposed redevelopment and zoning amendment for the Long Reach Village Center (ZB 1132M), and in support of The REALM.

I believe communities need places where creativity, imagination, and play are actively encouraged.

DoodleHATCH is an extraordinary example of what can happen when artists and community members are given room to create something that doesn’t fit into an ordinary commercial space.

Places like this are rare. They encourage people of all ages to experiment, learn, explore, and connect with one another.

I support preserving DoodleHATCH, the Maryland Fashion Institute, the existing community resources, and the vision for The REALM.

Thank you for collecting these messages and advocating for the creative community.

[Your Name]
[Your City/State]

Option 3: For people who've visited DoodleHATCH

Subject: Please Save DoodleHATCH | Oppose ZB 1132M

Hello,

I’m writing to express my opposition to the proposed Columbia Concepts redevelopment and zoning amendment for the Long Reach Village Center (ZB 1132M), and my support for The REALM.

I’ve personally visited DoodleHATCH, and I want to share why I believe it’s worth preserving.

[Write two or three sentences about your experience. What did you see? Who did you bring? What surprised you? What made you want to return?]

DoodleHATCH is more than a collection of exhibits. It’s a place where creativity is something people can actively participate in, and I believe losing it would be a tremendous loss to the community.

I support preserving the museum, the Maryland Fashion Institute, and the other existing community resources through the proposed arts and culture center, The REALM.

Please include my email with the messages of support you’re collecting.

Thank you,

[Your Name]
[Your City/State]

A few tips before you hit send

Automatically Build Your Email!

DO:

  • Use your real name.

  • Include your city and state so organizers can understand where support is coming from.

  • Clearly identify the redevelopment proposal you’re opposing.

  • Specifically mention your support for The REALM.

  • Add a personal sentence or two if you can.

  • Be respectful, even if you’re frustrated.

  • Share this page with other people who might want to help.

DON’T:

  • Pretend to be a Howard County resident if you’re not.

  • Claim to have visited DoodleHATCH if you haven’t.

  • Make up experiences or information.

  • Send threatening, insulting, or harassing messages.

  • Assume your email is the same thing as signing the official petition.

  • Worry about making your message sound impressive. Clear and genuine is better than elaborate.

💌 The Save DoodleHATCH Email Machine

A few clicks, a little personality, and an email that helps support DoodleHATCH and The REALM. No account or signup required.

What's your connection to DoodleHATCH?
Why does protecting places like this matter to you?
✨ Your email preview
To: Lilou@DoodleHATCH.com
Subject: 


✉️ Open in My Email App




Your information stays in your browser until you choose to copy or open the message. The email does not send automatically. Emails support DoodleHATCH's advocacy campaign; they are not the same as official petition signatures or zoning testimony. Please review the message before sending.
 





			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
🐹 Wait. What exactly is DoodleHATCH?

			

				
				
				
				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
I’m so glad you asked.


DoodleHATCH is an interactive art museum in Columbia, Maryland, created by artist, designer, and professional generator of wildly ambitious ideas, Lee Andersen.


The museum is designed as a pretend department store for mythological creatures, time travelers, and galactic tourists.


There are dozens of installations, and unlike most museums, you’re encouraged to touch things, explore, and participate.


There’s also an artist’s studio full of fabric and handmade garments, workshops, special events, birthday parties, free books, and opportunities for local artists to share their work.


The museum welcomes families and children, but adults are absolutely allowed to enjoy themselves, too.


And the woman behind it has spent decades bringing creativity into the community through fashion, festivals, education, and public art.


I discovered DoodleHATCH in 2020 and loved it so much that I started volunteering.


I’ve been back multiple times, and there are still things I haven’t seen.


That’s part of what makes it special. You can keep discovering things because people keep creating them.

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
You don't have to live near DoodleHATCH to care about it.

			

				
				
				
				
				
There are Merriment Makers everywhere.


People turning empty buildings into art spaces. People organizing parades. People teaching kids how to sew, paint, dance, or build things. People putting enormous amounts of time into projects that make their communities more interesting.


Sometimes they’re running nonprofits. Sometimes they’re working out of their garages. Sometimes they’re making something weird in a strip mall that you might drive past a hundred times without realizing what’s inside.


I hope you’ll help protect DoodleHATCH.


And I hope you’ll look around your own community, too. Visit the strange little museum. Go to the local art show. Find the person who makes giant puppets or organizes an absurd annual festival. Spend your money at the independent shop with the handmade things.


There are people everywhere creating reasons for us to be curious about being alive.


I’d like them to be able to keep doing that.

			

				
				
				
				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
Help save DoodleHATCH. Help protect The REALM. Help keep the world interesting.

			

				
				
				
				
				
💌 Email: Lilou@DoodleHATCH.com


🌈 Visit: DoodleHATCH.com


🦄 Share: Uncustomary.org/Doodle