Since my horse has had health issues, I haven't been riding him much the past 3 years. Just here or there. But my vet said I should. It would be good for him and he is the picture of health even with everything he's been through and the fact that he's 21. He still acts the 4 year old that I got off the racetrack.

Today, I rode with the one kid I teach lessons to. Driving home I realized how good for my soul it is to horseback ride. I've been doing it all my life but the past few years, not so much anymore. It makes me feel good, physically and mentally.

There is a saying "The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a person". There has been studies done that horses stimulate serotonin in your brain and they are often prescribed for depressed people. Therapeutic riding programs are big.

So, what's good for your soul?

Creating art really puts me at ease. Also meditation helps me, and just standing outside at night. The night really calms me down. I love it.

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A rested Soul for the night

For me, it's meditation, fresh air and drawing. Not necessarily all at the same time, though.

Drive without destination. Walk in the beach while I watch the ocean.

Things like running, yoga, and ballroom dancing calm me right down. Another thing I found that makes me happy on the inside that I didn't realize made me so happy even though I have been doing it for three years is therapy swimming with students with special needs. It took me until this year to realize how good I feel after I get out of the pool.
Reading, drawing, and a good snuggle with my pug and/or kitties also put me in a better spot.

You, sir, are a masochist... I truly hope that is not your backside. >.<

For my soul:

Bicycling
Drawing/Painting (although I have not done much of that, lately)
Yoga
My mother's spinach soup with lime
Video games
Petting my cat (koshka)
A Destination-less drive

The beach

Mine is the same as yours Horsefeathers, although I don't get to do it much as I don't have horses anymore.

I used to trail ride with a girl a few houses down who had a huge paint that she showed all over in reining. (She placed 7th in the nation a few yrs ago)

We would ride thru our woods and to a flat pasture and me and my horse, Shema, would watch her and Gun go thru their routine.

I remember coming back when it was dark, moonlit night, thru the woods, stars out and remembering how cool it was to be out there, just me and my horse, on a crisp fall nite.

Now, my bullies are my salvation. They all pile on me each morning and cover me with kisses. I do therapy work with my oldest, she is a certified Therapy dog.

I do miss the smell of my horses, breathing into their noses, and them smelling my hair and doing that grooming thing with their noses on me....(Their noses are funny, aren't they?) I loved to scratch their itchy spots and watch their nose get wrinkly and moving side to side.

Animals in general are very theraputic for me, anyways.

Haved you seen this?

<a href='http://www.plime.com/redir.p?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-7v8Ck1crg' class='plime' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'><b>flash video</b></a>

Music.

I absolutley live off of music

*my favorite way to releave stress is to walk home from school and just listen to my Ipod. (It takes ten minutes longer than the bus ride but its worth it)

*I listen to music everynight before I go to sleep

*Some nights when I have alot of homework and feel overwhelmed I take a break to play my guitar.

*driving while blaring music is amazing

Other things that make me feel good.

Cotton candy.

Looking at the stars in places with no lights.

I'm with dork and orion. Driving (without destination) and music. Preferably together.

Laughing so hard it makes your throat hurt.
Loud music.
Laying in the middle of the road, looking at the stars.
Muscles sore, dirt all over.
Jumping on a trampoline.
Helping someone who doesn't ask for it.
Hiking.

...Running. It's like you are in your own little world.
No problems to worry about. They can't catch up.
It's a break from it all.

Playing music, my two sons (also better musicians than me), humor, driving fast, alcohol, heavy medication, making love. (not necessarily in that order)

Those rare times when you have the golf course to yourself around twilight. The deer tend to wander on the course, the sound is crisp and carries long distances.

Sometimes at the range, I find the repetition relaxing, when my swing is on, and I'm not fighting my own body.

Being on stage at times is very zen, but it's usally in a very chaotic environment.

Where did you find that great avatar?

I was googling something totally unrelated and saw it.

Quiet
Reading
A nap
talking on the phone
laughing til you cry
baking
hugs from Lark
hugs from my kids
taking a great photo
sitting by a fire

But where?

You forgot slipping Bornbad food when lark isn't home.

MidgetDonkeyPorn.com.

Seriously, I don't remember- I saw it, snagged it and held on to it for a few weeks.

Ugh. Don't get him started on Donkeys. I believe he posted one on Donkey sex that was a thing in Brazil. I wish I could erase that from my mind.

It is NOT good for the soul. Trust me, I watched video #4, the last in the series.