grounding?

I mentioned several weeks ago about some impending changes at my work. Needless to say, the past few weeks have been filled with uncertainty, frustration and a whole bunch of extra stress. I think the biggest stressor is the loss of control.  It is very easy to go home and shut yourself off from the world, go into a bubble and just wait for everything to subside or pass over.  But that doesn't usually work out so well because when you reconnect, the situation and stress are still there.  Although, I wanted to choose the bubble option, I did not. I stayed engaged.
The reason I bring this up is, I have noticed something in the past few months. There have been many times when I just wanted stay at home, stay in my bubble, not face the world, not go to regular class or the I Ho Chuan because I needed a mental rest, a break because of stress at home or at work.  But something happens when I do go. I'm not sure how to explain it, but I hear many people talking about how staying engaged and just coming to the kwoon keeps you grounded. Maybe that's it. Despite what is going on in all other parts of my life, coming to the kwoon whether  for regular class, I Ho Chuan or just to run with dragon, things look and feel different after.
Not that long ago, we came to the decision we needed to put our family dog of 17 years down.  The decision was obvious but still difficult nonetheless, and I booked the appointment for the next day. Several hours later we had an extra dragon dance practice. I'll be honest, that was the last place I wanted to be.  I wasn't in a very good mood, I really didn't want to be around anyone, but as the practice was winding down things seemed better. The situation was no different, but I seemed to be in a better place mentally. It has been the same thing the past few weeks, by the time I leave the kwoon, regardless of why I was there, I seem to have a better perspective when I leave. It may not always last long, but that's why I have to come back. Is that "grounding"? I dunno. But what I do know is something that started as merely as an opportunity to get in shape physically has provided so much more.