Mooooving to Local Activities
Wednesday morning on Channel Eight’s 6 AM news, I heard a survey that really moooved me with stats that one could have a cow over.
Great Outdoors Magazine conducted a study on 3500 11 to 24-year-olds and found 42% of participants had never left the U.S., while 15% had never left the state in which they were born. But 88% wanted and planned to travel to Europe or abroad in the next few years. However, the editors of the magazine felt that, due to the impact on international travel by Covid-19, young Americans should place more attainable goals - like visiting a farm or petting zoo - on their bucket lists. This assertion was due in part to the finding that a whole third of the participants admitted to never seeing a live cow in person!
Why is this such a sad statistic, especially during this significantly stressful year for our young people, you may ask? The answer originates from Netherlands where the practice of “cuddling and or hugging” cows has been shown to reduce stress in humans by releasing the bonding hormone oxytocin. When Netherlands farmers were asked “Why cows?”, they remarked that cows are very non-combative, congenial, and have calming dispositions. So would you look at that?! My directing all of you out to the country, especially Amish Country, was actually spot-on to homeopathically helping you with your stress this year. I just wasn’t aware of this new wellness trend (which also happens to give us milk!).
But if tip-toeing around a field trying to avoid ‘cow pies’ on a Sunday afternoon just to sneak a hug from a Guernsey isn’t your proverbial cup of tea, do what I do to unwind - take several young people to the zoo and watch them relate to nature at a deeper unconscious level than adults (with all our nuances and psychological walls).
Watching youth observe and engage with animals truly drives home the innate fact that we are all connected. A greater being created us and each of the biospheres in which we live. Hierarchies exist, as do pecking orders, but that does not preclude the fact that we are all on earth together for a greater good! Pick your zoo, any zoo. Due to convenience of location, I alternate between Akron and Cleveland, but every other year try to make it to the Toledo or Columbus zoo. I apologize to all the Cincinnati fans; I hear the city has a super zoo, but it is still on my bucket list. You know me, I can impulsively be at the Akron zoo from Medina in 32 minutes, yes doing the speed limit.
I love the Akron Zoo. I call it a pocket zoo. They rebuilt and organized the pathways and have made it so user-friendly that one can tour the entire zoo, stopping a few minutes at each exhibit, in about two-three hours. You will be amazed at the diversity of animal life - over 1000 animals representing 90 different species - including Bamboo sharks, Komodo dragons, Sumatran tigers, snow leopards, jaguars, African lions… I could go on and on but I don’t want to spoil it for you. Their restaurant has great food options, from veggie burgers to full-sized salads to pizzas. An interesting user-friendly feature of the zoo is that you can bring in your own food and beverages to be enjoyed in their picnic area. The zoo is free on Mondays. Anyone over ten needs to wear a mask. This year their Wild Lights Exhibit is from Friday to Sunday nights from now until Christmas. Call early for tickets. Covid isn’t making this any easier, but it is truly worth it and could become a new family tradition! Visit the Akron Zoo and see what draws over 400,000 people a year to our backdoor relaxation oasis.
The Cleveland Zoo and Rainforest Biosphere is three times the size of the Akron Zoo in land mass and with its over 3000 animals representing over 600 species on its 183 acres. As with Akron, the Cleveland Zoo has an incredible diversity of animals and exhibits, but you will be hard-pressed to see it all in one day. In fact, unless you are a marathon runner or stay on the tram all day, you need to divide your time between several areas and come back another day to fully appreciate all this fine establishment has to offer. This year, again the zoo will be transforming into a winter wonderland with their annual presentation of Wild Winter Lights. This event of more than one million lights and over one hundred lighting exhibits across holiday themed areas can be viewed by drive-through or walk-through, but early ticket purchases are a must. Several years I was shut out when I needed a specific time for friends or relatives who just dropped in from out of town. Plan ahead. This year the zoo has a special holiday animal preservation program called Lights for Lions. Bring your old, worn out, tangled ball of holidays lights and the zoo will sell them to local recycling plants for their metal and polymer content and use the money for lion habitats and conservation programs. Just think - you can light up a lion’s life and really feel good about it!
So get out and visit a zoo. Stare into an animal’s eyes and just let them talk to you. You’ll be surprised at how the experience will change you and relax you.
And if you are fortunate enough to have a young person with you, take the time to fully answer their questions, even if you have to make it up a bit. Their wonderment and innocence is so precious it will melt you more than hugging a tiger (and a lot safer)! With all the Covid rules floating around… zoos fit into my relaxation formula… safe… affordable… fun… and best of all… close.
Have a great weekend Medina County,
- Dr. P