Sunday column: Casey and me

I'm not ashamed to admit that I love a good routine.
Chalk it up to the unpredictable nature of my profession or my desire to establish some sort of order in the chaos that is life, but I'm usually happiest when I can count on some sort of routine.
I'm proud to say that I've recently established a new daily pattern that has had unexpected positive side effects.
About three months ago, I started taking Casey the dog on a walk every day after work. I realize this may not sound like anything worth mentioning, much less dedicating precious newspaper ink to, but I assure you it is.
Let's just say Casey is not a lap dog. She's 35 pounds of wiggling, tail-wagging, so-happy-to-see-you energy. And because she's confined to a relatively small house during the day, she has more than a little pent-up energy. Prior to the establishment of my new routine, when her walks were more sporadic, Casey had to come up with, shall we say, creative ways to release her doggie energy. Usually, this was in the form of methodically chewing her way through an entire drawer full of my husband's socks — which honestly was starting to get expensive, although not without being slightly amusing.
So I took pity on poor Casey and resolved to walk her every day.
It didn't take long for her to catch on to our new routine.
Now, when I arrive home from work in the evening, she greets me with a wagging tail and an expectant look. She follows me from room to room until she sees me pick up the leash, at which point she positions herself at the front door, muscles coiled to bolt out.
I hook her up to the leash and we're off, usually around the neighborhood, but sometimes at one of the city parks.
Although the effect of the daily walks on Casey was immediately noticeable, it took me a few weeks to realize the impact they were having on me.
As Casey sniffs her way through the neighborhood and arrives back at home tired but happy, I began to notice I'd walk through the door with a clearer head and higher spirits.
Taking a 30-minute walk after a long and usually stressful day at the office does more for my mood than I could have imagined.
Now, I've read all the national studies and reports that testify to the psychological as well as physical benefits of exercise, even something as simple as walking.
There have been times in my life when I hit the gym regularly, taking aerobics classes, spinning classes, lifting weights, etc. But never did that exercise impact me the way my dog-walking has.
It's got to have something to do with being outside.
You see, I spend most of my days under fluorescent lights in an office with no windows, staring at a computer screen. When I step outside for lunch, I'm usually temporarily blinded by the sunlight, even on a cloudy day.
Breathing fresh air, using my muscles and soaking in some natural light can work wonders, I've discovered.
Not to mention, seeing Casey revel in her daily walks is highly entertaining and satisfying.
She's clearly on a mission during our walks. She's got to sniff every tree and stare down every cat, squirrel or other creature smaller than herself, all the while trotting several strides ahead of me.
Casey's even acquired some neighborhood admirers thanks to our walks, with one pleasant gentleman even complimenting her on her goatee.
To other dog owners out there, even those with lap dogs, who may walk their furry friends every once in a while like I used to, why not try a new routine? Even if you don't have a dog, there's nothing stopping you from taking a walk.
There's no question our lives are becoming increasingly sedentary. After spending four years walking from class to class across Louisiana Tech's campus, then starting a "real" job after graduation where I spent nine hours a day at a desk in front of a computer screen, I remember the distinct feeling that my body was, how shall I put it … softening.
The key is to find the right type and schedule for exercise that suits you. It may take some trial and error. Heck, I'm paying for a gym membership every month that I'm not using. But that's OK, because now I've discovered that walking is what's right for me at this time.
Even better than the obvious and well-documented health benefits, it's the psychological benefits that have kept me committed to my walking routine. If all it takes to feel refreshed and centered is a little time walking outside, I'd be crazy not to.
Plus, Casey might revert to her old sock-eating antics and, after we recently invested in re-stocking the sock drawer, that just wouldn't be rational.