In September of 2019, my wife and I rescued a 12-week-old puppy. Bringing home this little dog, which we named Darcy, into our new apartment was a stressful, exciting, and overall chaotic experience. We had no idea how our lives would be forever changed. Little would we know then that the experiences life would throw at us over the next seven-plus years pale in comparison to the early mornings, late nights, and long weekends spent caring for our Darcy.
Hello everyone! My name is Andrew Ferrante, and for the past three years, I have been a member of the 1N5 Emerging Leaders Board.
Seven years ago, I would never have imagined that I would be talking about mental health and self-care. Since moving to Cincinnati in 2019, I’ve experienced moving away from my childhood home, getting engaged, marriage, buying my first car, work promotions, car accidents, COVID, buying a house, and so many other stressful ‘firsts’. The list goes on and on. Nothing too unique that other young professionals have not experienced before. But still, a long list of exciting firsts and stressful nights. A constant state of evolution and change occurs each and every week. Whether at work or home, I am constantly reminded that ‘the only constant in life is change.’ There are some weeks when I feel that ‘the only constant in life is stress.’
Stress can be a unique and challenging animal to tame. It can eat at you, and sometimes you won’t even know it’s there. Dealing with stress can be just as difficult as admitting or recognizing the different forms of stress in your life. Long days can lead to long nights, which can, in turn, get you out of rhythm. Once you’re out of rhythm, it can be tough to relax and stay relaxed. Darcy is one way I am able to reset and get back into rhythm. It is hard to put my excitement into words when I see Darcy’s face smile, body curl, and tail wag every morning when I wake up, every evening when I get home from work, and every time we go on a walk—a dog can truly be a man’s best friend.
When I moved to Cincinnati, I started a new job, moved to a new apartment, and welcomed a new puppy all within three months. There were many long and stressful days, but one bright spot was always being able to spend time outside with Darcy. We spent many hours a week tiring out our puppy by going on long walks and scenic hikes, from Hueston Woods to the Wasson Way Trail and Hocking Hills. Hiking through Mother Nature with Darcy has always brought a smile to my face and has been a way for me to relax after a long day. Navigating stress is a constant state of evolution. Some days are better than others, and there are days I can let stress win. But with a good support system and a dog like Darcy, I’ve been able to take steps to manage the stress in my life and work on my overall self-care!