I am dyed in the wool cat person. It’s not that I don’t like dogs, I really do. Some of them have really won their way into my heart. At the end of the day, though, I am all about felines and can think of nothing better than a cat to curl up to. That’s why I am amazed at how much fun a little puppy love can be and how good it can be for the soul.

The other day when I was up at Columcille, I was hiking up the hill toward the circle of stones when I saw the founder Bill standing in the middle of the circle seemingly preoccupied with something on the ground. As I got closer I realized it was the cutest little puppy I ever did see. Immediately my mood shifted from contemplative and a little down to instant joy, silliness, and fun. The little guy whose name is Lochae (pronounced Lock-a with a long “ay”) is the new canine on the land. He is a white and gray Border collie mix. You see the land has always had border collies but I only knew them as adults. And, while I loved Lance and Duke, I never got to know them from their first arrival only after they already made the place and its stones their own. This little guy, however….

I can’t tell you what great medicine for the spirit and a big smile inducer hanging out with this little guy was as we walked around. He is in that 8 week old puppy stage where he runs and frolics but has issues with his rear chassis fishtailing like a sports car in a snowstorm. He digs, he nips, and everything is a glorious new world. He loved me and the smell of my 2 cats on my hiking boots for sure.

What I loved most about the experience is the knowing that as humans we can be youthful at any age. Bill recently turned 80 but he looked about ten years old as he played with the puppy and gave his new furry companion a tour of the land. I had to laugh at the irony of it all especially because he would often tease me that – “once you get to be my age even green bananas are a long-term commitment”. Of course anyone who spends time with him knows that age is only a number when you have a youthful spirit, love, and a vision.

So, if you’re in a slump or just need a little pick me up – go pet a cat, a dog or another critter of your liking. If you can’t take on the responsibility of owning one, borrow neighbors’, volunteer at a shelter, or go dog watching in your local park. I guarantee you’ll feel better and learn something new from these great furry teachers.

After a weekend of drenching rains in the Mid-Atlantic which have proceeded to flood the main floor of my house, I thought I’d use my periodic bouts of reacting (versus calm responding) to
add a humorous yet helpful post to the blog. For background – in 2003, the whole first floor flooded (we have no basement) and we ripped out everything, replaced all the carpets, and had a contractor “fix” the outside problem. Well, 3 years later, it is deja vu.

Here are my top 10 ways not to handle such a frustrating, stressful, inconvenient, and ultimately expensive unwanted act of nature. (Keep in mind that while I may have had a few moments where I lost my calm, I haven’t lost my mind completely and started actually doing all these “how-not-to” things. Although, I will admit to doing a lot of #1.)

1. Scream, yell, and curse so much that you start inventing new profanity.
2. Make your relationship an emotional litter box and take it all out on her because it is convenient.
3. Break and damage other items in the house because it is a convenient target for your anger and frustration.
4. Kick the dog/cat/parrot/rabbit or other furry friend.
5. Make the nearest wall a punching bag (walls are hard, knuckles are fragile and it does no good for the wall, the knuckles, or the problem at hand).
6. Make far-reaching, expensive decisions while in the throes of emotion and upheaval.
7. Get so pissed off that you engage in other dangerous behavior you might regret (like reckless driving, drinking too much, etc.).

While I certainly have no real answer as to why these “life-happens” things actually happen, I think the bottom line is to just keep trudging forward even when conditions are less than ideal. In the grand scheme of things, resolution will happen at some point since all things tend toward a state of balance. It’s maintaining calm and perspective in the middle of it all that is the biggest challenge.

• What are some real ways you’ve successfully navigating some of life’s challenging moments?
• What are some humorous ways that weren’t so successful in navigating these moments?

I’d love to read some of your experiences in the comments….

I just got this little funny top 10 in my e-mail. Since I write a lot about the topic, a colleague of mine thought I’d laugh. And I certainly did! A clever, sarcastic look at a much more serious and prevalent topic.

She forwarded this to me as she got it somewhere on the web or e-mail list. I am not sure who to attribute it to — so if anyone knows where it came from, let me know & I’ll be happy to acknowledge you.

Sit back, laugh…and if you recognize yourself in any of these, it is definitely time to start addressing your stress and burnout. Consider how being comfortable in your own skin can have the lovely side effect of nipping burnout in the bud as well. You can sign up for the free getting comfortable in your own skin eCourse on this site (top left) or at http://www.thepaulagcompany.com.

Top 10 Signs You’re Burnt Out

*10-* You’re so tired you now answer the phone, “Hell.”

*9-* Your friends call to ask how you’ve been, and you immediately scream, “Get off my back!”

*8-* Your garbage can /is/ your inbox.

*7-* You wake up to discover your bed is on fire, but go back to sleep because you just don’t care.

*6-* You have so much on your mind, you’ve forgotten how to pee.

*5-* Visions of the upcoming weekend help you make it through Monday.

*4-* You sleep more at work than at home.

*3-* You leave for a party and instinctively bring your ID badge.

*2-* You blasted your Daily Planner with a .357 Magnum a week ago, but still haven’t been able to miss a meeting.

*1-* You think about how relaxing it would be if you were in jail right now or even in the hospital.

I found this fabulous little inspiring resource this morning while reading Molly Gordon’s Blog. It was exactly the break I needed as I was dealing with a co-worker (internal customer) who was taking things terminally seriously. Each time I suggested she breathe, relax, and put it into perspective she yammered on more insistently about how damn important it was.

That’s when I went back to the Eight Irresistable Principles of Fun and watched the movie yet again. Amen to that!

Take five minutes from your busy schedule and watch the movie. You’ll be glad you did.

I love the cards and think I am going to have to buy some to share with others. At the very least I need a set to remind me to have more fun in every moment!

You always knew there was a reason you felt like hell after a day at the corporate office. Now scientists have evidence that cublicle living is bad for your brain (the ergonomics folks have known it is bad for your body for years).

I stumbled upon Kathy Sierra’s “Brain death by dull cubicle” post at Creating Passionate Users today and just loved the points it brought forth.

Scientists now have evidence that dull, lifeless environments (like a cubicle) cause the brain to stop building new neurons, a form of brain death. What fascinated me most about the article is that after years of study the scientists only recently got the revelation that it is not the brain’s inability to create new neurons that is the issue, it was the testing ennvironments for their studies (dull, boring, artificial lab environments for otherwise brilliant primates) were what caused the brain to shut down.

Now I’m not going to get bogged down in science – there are plenty of links in Sierra’s post you can follow if science is your thing. What I do find fascinating though is how empowering this discovery can be for anyone who has felt their creativity wane, their morale plummet, and their general disposition go in the toilet because of their surroundings. All you need to do to start seeing some improvement is change your environment – change the scenery and you will notice a decrease in stress and an enhanced mood.

One of the conclusions researcher Elizabeth Gould reached was that “learning heals the brain”. Introducing enriching and stimulating things into your environment, actively learning new things, and taking time to play all contribute to a more complex and capable brain. Not to mention an overall healthier state of mind.

The full article is definitely worth your time to read.

Apply this thinking to your own life:

• Are there any stifling environments you find yourself in on a regular basis?
• What can you do to break out of any of these “caged” enviornments?
• What changes can you make (however small) to your current environment to make it more enriching and stimulating?

I’d love to hear some of your thoughts and experiences. Please post them in the comments section by clicking on the “Add Comment” link below this post …

Here’s a funny little tale that I consider worthy of “a day in the life …” sort of story. It involves assumptions, confusion, the Pope, a tuxedo, and two lesbians. 
My partner and I are taking our first Olivia Cruise in less than two weeks.  On that cruise is a formal night. The good news is that I’m looking forward to it and it has none of that angst of the dreaded formal-anything dances from my adolescent years.  It’ll be she and I and thousands of other women being dressed up in whatever way feels good to them, having a good time out in the middle of the ocean somewhere warm.  But alas, I want to rent a tuxedo and need to be measured….so I can order the thing online to be delivered to my stateroom. Here’s where the fun begins.

Now, I have worn a tuxedo exactly once before for our commitment ceremony.  And, that fitting experience went fairly well.  If nothing else, I was young(er), bleary eyed with excitement, and living in a town a whole lot hipper than where I am now.

On the top of the list of Saturday errands was…get tuxedo measurements.  So, I first try the dry cleaner/alteration lady. She stutters in broken english — “no, you need tailor.”  Then I drive to the goofy little “downtown” near where I work and the fascinating little “bridal world” is closed.  With tempers rising, I decide to call the next place, “tuxedo world” and make sure they do complimentary fittings and are actually open.  This is where the real tale begins.

I call to ask my question and a young woman answers “Sure, we do complimentary fittings, just bring him in.” I hang up, look at my girlfriend and say, “She said to bring HIM in.”  Off we go…with my girlfriend smirking the whole way.  I say to her that she is loving this just a bit too much and that there better not be any large crucifixes hanging on the wall of this place (because frighteningly so, there are such life-size hangings in the local grocery around the Easter holidays where we live).

I get there, trudge up the steps and explain to the young lady that I had just called and that while I did not bring “him” in, I am here to get measured.  She was a little perplexed and asked, “So, we’ll just measure you then?”. I said, “That would be great since I will be the one wearing the tuxedo.”  A moment of mental processing passed and we were off to the measuring races.

While the woman was very pleasant and my partner continued to amuse her with talk of all pictures of local prom couples on the wall, I couldn’t help but be distracted by the large picture cards of the Pope and Vatican on her desk.  While I have absolutely nothing against any religion, I can definitely say that having the Pope staring at me during my tux fitting made me a little hot under the collar.

We left the place with measurements in hand and I am now all set to go for the big formal night.  But I have to say this little vignette reminded me once again of how it’s often the little things that show up in our day to day lives that can sometimes make us feel different or somehow a little “less than” or “not enough”.

What do you do to stay strong and true when you hit these little “day in the life…” moments?