What Two Deer Taught Me About Nervous System Regulation

This afternoon when I came to work, I saw two deer standing right outside my car when I parked.

And what happened next surprised me.

I opened my car door. I closed my car door. Yet they didn’t run.

They weren’t startled.

They didn’t panic.

They stayed calm and simply stayed present.

And I thought…

How often do we do the exact opposite?

One unexpected thing happens and our whole body goes into overdrive.

Our heart races. Our breathing changes. Our muscles tighten. Our thoughts start spinning.

Our nervous system is constantly taking in information from the world around us and responding to what’s happening.

Am I safe? Do I need to protect myself? Can I adapt to what’s happening?

Those deer reminded me that regulation matters.

The goal isn’t to never experience stress. Stress is part of life.

The goal is to be able to come back to regulation.

To experience something unexpected, respond appropriately, and then return to a calmer state.

And this is one of the reasons I love chiropractic so much.

Chiropractic is not simply about chasing symptoms. It is about supporting the relationship between the spine and nervous system and helping the body communicate, adapt, and regulate the way it was designed to.

Our body is constantly trying to heal, and our nervous system is constantly working to protect us. Sometimes, it needs support getting back to a place where it can do what it does best.

So today, take a second.

Breathe.

Slow down.

Notice what your body is telling you.

And ask yourself:

What am I doing to help my nervous system feel safe, supported, and regulated?

Maybe those two little deer were my reminder today.

And honestly, I think I needed it.