They say sadness often arrives before change. For some of us it can be a welcome even comforting feeling in that the grief, the denial, the hurt we buried for so long hoping for a different outcome is finally released. With sadness we are set forth in a sea of change. Sometimes it’s change that’s causing the sadness but we have an opportunity. We can become courageous. Change is often for the better. The journey to its creation is sometimes filled with tears, misgiving, regret and then hope, clarity, insight, growth and action.
Take a Step Back to Look Forward
Do cats have memories of the past? You can teach animals new tricks through either positive reinforcement (i.e. giving them a treat when they do something right) or negative reinforcement (punishing them when they do something wrong). Study after study shows that positive reinforcement works much better and creates better memory than negative reinforcement. And this is true of humans too! If you want to really change and influence behavior reward those behaviors that you want to see and people will keep doing them. But I digress.
Very often in this new world we’ve created we don’t take the time to look back. We don’t have the time to reread old journals, look at old pictures and remember the good and bad times and how far we’ve come. I was cleaning out my email a bit and I found my stash of poetry I had from my college days. It took me back to so many memories and allowed me the perspective to see where I’ve come today.
You have to know where you come from to be able to know where you are going. It’s ok to change direction. Maybe where you came from was to the east and now you want to go west. You can change. Don’t disparage where you came from either. It allowed you to be in the position you are today. If Roxie had never been found in that bush, she wouldn’t have been in the shelter to tap me on the leg and to keep me up at night because she’s mad at me.
And It’s Good for Me Because??
Roxie was sick for a time and had several prescriptions. I or CCL would give her the medication in her food or treats but the joke was on us as she always discovered the hidden pills and ate them anyway. Now she’s better and while the vet wants her to stay on medication for a bit longer, Roxie’s not having it. Drama queen that she is she no longer willingly take the pills without force and much drama and hollering. Here for pet lovers and pill givers everywhere are instructions on “How to Give A Pill to A Cat.”
| How to Give a Pill to a Cat
1. Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if 2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in 3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away. 4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear 5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. 6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and 7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. 8. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head 9. Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink 1 beer 10. Retrieve cat from roof of neighbor’s shed. Get another pill. 11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on 12. Call fire department to retrieve the cat from tree across the 13. Tie the cat’s front paws to rear paws with twine and bind tightly 14. Consume remainder of Scotch. Get spouse to drive you to 15. Arrange for Humane Society to collect mutant cat and call local How to Give A Dog A Pill: |
Well it’s a New Year!
And there were lots of things that went on last year. Azeena has been pressuring me to blog but I keep forgetting that I can blog through email. That’s much easier for me. So recently, Roxie went to the vet. She’s a natural born trouble maker but we still love her anyway. Roxie will always get herself into trouble whether it’s running outside and down the street but all we can do is try to protect her best we can and help her get herself right when she does get into trouble. However, she will be getting health insurance ASAP!
Both of the cats are extremely different (which if you’ve been reading this blog you can tell). Jean-Claude is relaxed and chill and very smart. He can go outside and will merely knock on the door when he’s ready. He’s also a loving cat, but likes to do his own thing. Roxie on the other hand has a need to be around her people. She follows me and my mom through the house and at night must be snuggled in bed next to either CCL or Azeena (depending on whose house she’s at).
We haven’t talked about it on the blog, but recently both CCL and Azeena started new businesses. We’ve both been navigating through the ups and downs of taking on the new challenges a business creates. It’s a great experience for learning both about yourself and about other people. to make a business successful ultimately it comes down to what can you give your customers and has nothing whatsover to do with you.
Solo Act
Roxie At Rest
Roxie is at my house. Jean Claude is with his mom, CCL. Roxie got sick again and this time the veterinarian prescribed three different types of medications for her. In fact Roxie now has a profile at the CVS pharmacy and her name is on one of her prescriptions. She seems to be coming around but clearly she misses her pal J.C. She’s a little less noisy and fussy than she was when CCL brought her by the other day. Also Roxie has made it clear she wants her laser toy …and she is not a big fan of wet food. Diva.
Cats & All That ™ 