How a daily run – and a determined dog – help to anchor my compassion practice

If you’ve spent any time on my Instagram recently, you may have noticed a new member of the team appearing more regularly – Dora. She’s my small, determined Jack Russell, and she’s become something of a mascot for a new rhythm I’ve been building into my days: Compassion Breaks.

Dora and I run together most mornings. It’s never about speed or distance. It’s about stepping away from the noise, getting outside, and reconnecting with the simple things that steady me: movement, breath, fresh air, and the quiet joy of a dog trotting happily at your side.

These little runs have become an important part of my own self-care routine – a reminder that sustaining compassion for others begins with tending to it in ourselves. Dora seems to know this instinctively. She has a way of bringing me back into my body, into the present moment, and into a gentler rhythm. Even on the busy days, especially on the busy days, she reminds me to pause.

So from time to time you’ll see us appear under the hashtag #compassionbreaks(withDora) – small snapshots of the moments that refill the tank, reset the nervous system, and reconnect me with the things that matter.

Thanks for taking a moment to share these with us. Dora sends her love.