I grabbed a pair of socks on that chilly morning and headed into my office to begin working. My dog followed me. She follows me everywhere, but this time she had a little pep in her step as she excitedly watched me put my socks on.

She thought I was going to follow up with my shoes and then grab my headphones and walk out the door for our (somewhat) daily walk. Nope. This day was different.

I had deadlines coming out my ears, as I had piled more things on my plate than I could manage. I had a list of people who I needed to call, I had writing assignments that were due that day and with no school that afternoon, I was going to capitalize on a full day in my office – uninterrupted.

But as she sat there and looked at me and turned in circles and wiggled her docked tail, I was schmoozed into putting my shoes on, grabbing my headphones and walking out the door.

And boy, did I need it. As overwhelmed as we seem to be with life’s pressures, sometimes we need to take a deep breath and change our perspective.

As I walked down the dirt road and enjoyed the cool September air, I thought about the thousands of folks recovering from hurricanes Irma and Harvey. Waiting for the water to go down, wondering when they might get their power back on and overwhelmed by the thought of cleanup, rebuilding and paying for it all.

Then my mind went to a young woman, married just 10 days when her husband was killed in a car accident. Can you imagine waking up this morning realizing that it wasn’t a bad dream, that your spouse is gone and never coming back?

Wherever you are, pray for those folks in our southern United States. And then count your blessings, even if you don’t feel blessed today. If you’re worried, toss it. Your worry is a waste of time and energy.

If your to-do list is too long, put your head down and get to work. Inch by inch, it’s a cinch. If you’re heartbroken, give something to someone in need. If you’re on top of the world today, encourage someone today.

And if you’re a spouse or parent, hug your loved ones and tell them you love them.

And if you’re still overwhelmed – take your dog for a walk!

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Melissa Hart may write to her in care of this publication.