Life on the pond

Research indicates that water has an impact on all five senses at the same time, immersing our psyche in a rest and digest response. It triggers a parasympathetic nervous response that lowers your heart rate and your blood pressure, stimulates your digestion and makes your body relax. If that all sounds too high falutin, just remember slowly wading into the pond and feeling that cool water sink into your pores.

Not far to the south of my house is an irrigation pond that calls to the locals when the temperature goes above 70 degrees. A rope hangs from a giant cottonwood on the north bank and screams and laughter can be heard at all hours when those brave souls jump into the water from high above.

Over the past 25 years this pond has been my refuge when life begins to drag on me. Sitting on the muddy margins, vegetation surrounds me, buzzing with life. The pond is home to all kinds of little critters including tadpoles, frogs, an occasional dragonfly, muskrats and fish.

Fisherman come and go, catching pan fry trout and enjoying the peace found at the pond.

In the still of the evening, if you sit quietly, you can witness the mama deer with her fawns coming to drink at the pond, sometimes even taking a quick dip to wash the dust of summer from her fur.

Buddy, that old dog of mine, will go in up to his tummy, but he isn't much on swimming. He wades around, drinks as much as possible and then wanders into the tall grasses to munch on sweet blades of timothy or clover.

I like the sound of water as it gently laps against the shore, which is why those sleep apps use the sound of water. It reduces brain activity.

Like stopping to smell the roses, stop and put your toe in the water once in awhile. It doesn't have to be a pond, there are several lovely streams and lakes in the area that will refresh your soul and take the wrinkles out of your forehead, at least for a time.