03/08/2026
When I brought my rescue dog Pippa home two weeks ago, she didn’t p*e for two whole days! My vet called it an acute stress response—basically, her body didn’t feel safe enough yet to relax. And that got me thinking about relationships. When we humans don’t feel emotionally safe, we hold back too—maybe not our bladder, but our trust, our vulnerability. John Gottman talks about how trust and emotional connection are built in small, consistent moments of attunement—feeling safe. Just like Pippa needed time and predictable care to settle in, we need that emotional safety to open up and connect. Whether it’s a dog or a person, feeling safe is where trust begins. It’s the most important gift we can give ♥️
