This has been a sad week. I put my dog to sleep on Saturday. He was old and it was time, but I’m still grieving. I’ve been reflecting on how much Max or as I often called him, Poochy, added to my family’s lives. For the most part, Max was my dog. He slept in my room, I walked him, and he followed me around. He was a 65 pound lab chow mix and made me feel safer in the house by myself.
Max had all the humans so well trained. Whenever I brushed my teeth, he barked until he got a treat. He was Pavlov's dog drooling at the site of my toothbrush. However, I was equally trained and produced his chicken treat each time he barked. So he learned to bark whenever the water ran in that sink. Translation: when in the master bath, if I didn't want to be barked at, I had to go down the hall and use the kids’ bathroom to wash my hands. Okay, now how ridiculous is that? To appease my dog, I went to a different bathroom to wash my hands. As I write this, I realize I don't sound too bright.
The kids and I were also trained doormen; opening and closing the back door on demand. We were “terrible” pet owners and slipped food under the table when Max begged. I would often purchase special bones at the meat counter just for Max. In theory, the dog didn't get on the furniture. That was the theory. Whenever I left, Max immediately got on the couch. I also have fond memories of him crawling on all four paws for her royal snottiness, my cat Snowball. I cat never deigned to interact with the dog, but he consistently tried. I have so many fond memories of Max. Yesterday I started down the hall to wash my hands before catching myself. Instead of wallowing in my grief, I’m choosing to count the joy and blessings Poochy provided us over the years.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Measuring Success
How we decide to measure success is a huge factor in determining if we feel good about ourselves. I had surgery on Sept 30, 2009. Once I was semi recovered, I started exercising again. My goal was to do something every other day, which I hadn’t been doing before. Not an hour every other day, just something. I wanted to establish the habit of getting up and exercising regularly. I read it can take 60 days for a habit to be ingrained. My ultimate goal is to do 30 minutes of aerobic exercise three days a week and yoga class on the weekends. I started out slow and it has been slow going ever since. Unfortunately, I have been unable to build up much speed or endurance on the treadmill. I keep getting leg cramps and am either forced to slow down or stop and stretch. It those don’t work, I spend my workout time with a massage ball working the Charlie horses out of my calves and thighs.
Last fall, just before surgery, the pharmacy informed me my thyroid medication had been discontinued. I was required to try a new medication. Last week I had a follow up blood test for the new medication. The nurse called saying my TSH level should be 4 or below and mine was above 32. The exhaustion and muscle cramps I was blaming on menopause has been caused by my thyroid levels being way off.
Even before I had that eye opening bit of news, I had been feeling successful about my exercise regiment. Not because I was doing what I’d hope, but because I was tracking and celebrating my successes. I am amazed at how often we track to feel like a failure. Since I started tracking, I was writing on my calendar how many minutes and the maximum speed I achieved on the treadmill. At the end of the month, I chose to measure success based ONLY on the number of days I did something. In October, 10 out of 31 days or 32% of the days I exercised; in November 19 of 31 days or 63%; and in December 17 of 31 days or 55% of the days I exercised. I pitched my 2009 calendar and carried over only the days I worked out. When I look back, I see success and that keeps me continuing forward.
This month I have been on the treadmill six times. Only once did I make it the 30 minutes. One day I only made it 7 minutes. If I focus on that, I would feel like a failure. Instead, I’m proud of myself for getting up 12 out of 17 days so far in January. No one wants to continue to feel like a failure. If I had been looking at my 7 minute days, I would have quit. Because I only counted the number of days I tried, I felt successful. Feeling successful makes us feel good and we continue things that make us feel good. To build your self esteem, build on your successes and that will bring you greater joy.
My book Operation Attitude is available at: http://www.authorhouse.com/Bookstore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=62520
Or check out my webpage at: www.HumorFightingCancer.com
Last fall, just before surgery, the pharmacy informed me my thyroid medication had been discontinued. I was required to try a new medication. Last week I had a follow up blood test for the new medication. The nurse called saying my TSH level should be 4 or below and mine was above 32. The exhaustion and muscle cramps I was blaming on menopause has been caused by my thyroid levels being way off.
Even before I had that eye opening bit of news, I had been feeling successful about my exercise regiment. Not because I was doing what I’d hope, but because I was tracking and celebrating my successes. I am amazed at how often we track to feel like a failure. Since I started tracking, I was writing on my calendar how many minutes and the maximum speed I achieved on the treadmill. At the end of the month, I chose to measure success based ONLY on the number of days I did something. In October, 10 out of 31 days or 32% of the days I exercised; in November 19 of 31 days or 63%; and in December 17 of 31 days or 55% of the days I exercised. I pitched my 2009 calendar and carried over only the days I worked out. When I look back, I see success and that keeps me continuing forward.
This month I have been on the treadmill six times. Only once did I make it the 30 minutes. One day I only made it 7 minutes. If I focus on that, I would feel like a failure. Instead, I’m proud of myself for getting up 12 out of 17 days so far in January. No one wants to continue to feel like a failure. If I had been looking at my 7 minute days, I would have quit. Because I only counted the number of days I tried, I felt successful. Feeling successful makes us feel good and we continue things that make us feel good. To build your self esteem, build on your successes and that will bring you greater joy.
My book Operation Attitude is available at: http://www.authorhouse.com/Bookstore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=62520
Or check out my webpage at: www.HumorFightingCancer.com
Thursday, January 14, 2010
No Daily Blogging for Me
I will not be blogging daily. I often do not have the time. I will sometimes catch up on the weekends. I don't have to blog every day. There is no reason why I need to put that stress on myself. To my knowledge there is no blog god out there ready to ZAP me if I don't write daily.
One of the secrets of being happy and positive is not putting extra pressure on ourselves. I'm amazed at how often we do this. Give yourself permission not to do everything and do lots of things less than perfectly. Good enough is often perfect if it keeps you calm and peaceful instead of pushed and stressed. I assure you, your family and friends would rather have you relaxed than everything perfect.
My book Operation Attitude is available at: http://www.authorhouse.com/Bookstore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=62520
Or check out my webpage at: www.HumorFightingCancer.com
One of the secrets of being happy and positive is not putting extra pressure on ourselves. I'm amazed at how often we do this. Give yourself permission not to do everything and do lots of things less than perfectly. Good enough is often perfect if it keeps you calm and peaceful instead of pushed and stressed. I assure you, your family and friends would rather have you relaxed than everything perfect.
My book Operation Attitude is available at: http://www.authorhouse.com/Bookstore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=62520
Or check out my webpage at: www.HumorFightingCancer.com
Monday, January 11, 2010
DMV
Ahh Mondays, you gotta love 'em. Today I woke up eager to begin blogging. Apparently fate decided I needed plenty to write about. I have a new voice recognition program. My plan was to walk on the treadmill and dictate my blog. Except the dictation program that worked perfectly on Sunday, decided not to work on Monday. I ended up with an exercise in futility, dictating nothing and doing only doing 15 minutes on the treadmill. So I started today with two choices. I could be proud of myself for doing 15 minutes of walking and give myself an E for effort or be upset that I didn't have time for thirty.
The highlight of the day was dealing with the DMV. Unbeknownst to me, my saga started in 2006. On another freezing cold day, in February of 2006, our old Windstar die a slow and painful death after years of faithful service. My car taxes were due in July of 2006. At that point, I informed the DMV I no longer owned the Windstar. In theory, I pay taxes and fees on the Concorde I did own. I put the sticker on my license plate like a good little tax-paying citizen. I drove blissfully along for another year and again renewed my tags. In 2008, I was pulled over by an officer stating he had run my plates and it appeared I had stolen my tags. I had to take a half day off work and prove I'd paid for the tags on the Concorde. At that time, I was assured there was a glitch in the computer and everything had been fixed.
Fast forward to December 2008, My son, Will, got stopped twice right before Christmas for not having current tags. Last week I called state and spent about 30 minutes having them research my problem. The clerk told me, she could see I had paid the taxes for the Concorde, but the county had issued the tags since 2006 on the old license for the Windstar. I asked if she could just mail me the corrected registration and tags. She informed me they had to be picked up in person at the DMV. I gave Will a notarized letter stating he could act as my power of attorney at the DMV. And thank goodness I did. Because then he got to spend three hours in the DMV and I only had to spend an hour on the phone. Let's face it, kid time is more expendable than adult time.
The long and short of it is Will had to give the DMV almost $300 and after more time on the phone I will get a refund for all but about $75. I think most of us can relate to bureaucratic frustrations. But this is where choice comes in. In the great scheme of things, a few hours spent dealing with the DMV isn't a big deal. And that's what I choose to focus on. When I got off the phone, I just wanted to cry. $75 is still $75 when money is tight. I spent about 10 minutes calming myself down and remembering to put the $75 in perspective. I reminded myself to be thankful that at least the gentleman at the DMV didn't charge me a penalty for my late "taxes" and was willing to issue the partial refund. I believe those are the keys to put things in perspective; focus on what went right and remember the long term. Minor frustrations only ruin my whole day if I let them.
My book Operation Attitude is available at: http://www.authorhouse.com/Bookstore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=62520
Or check out my webpage at: www.HumorFightingCancer.com
The highlight of the day was dealing with the DMV. Unbeknownst to me, my saga started in 2006. On another freezing cold day, in February of 2006, our old Windstar die a slow and painful death after years of faithful service. My car taxes were due in July of 2006. At that point, I informed the DMV I no longer owned the Windstar. In theory, I pay taxes and fees on the Concorde I did own. I put the sticker on my license plate like a good little tax-paying citizen. I drove blissfully along for another year and again renewed my tags. In 2008, I was pulled over by an officer stating he had run my plates and it appeared I had stolen my tags. I had to take a half day off work and prove I'd paid for the tags on the Concorde. At that time, I was assured there was a glitch in the computer and everything had been fixed.
Fast forward to December 2008, My son, Will, got stopped twice right before Christmas for not having current tags. Last week I called state and spent about 30 minutes having them research my problem. The clerk told me, she could see I had paid the taxes for the Concorde, but the county had issued the tags since 2006 on the old license for the Windstar. I asked if she could just mail me the corrected registration and tags. She informed me they had to be picked up in person at the DMV. I gave Will a notarized letter stating he could act as my power of attorney at the DMV. And thank goodness I did. Because then he got to spend three hours in the DMV and I only had to spend an hour on the phone. Let's face it, kid time is more expendable than adult time.
The long and short of it is Will had to give the DMV almost $300 and after more time on the phone I will get a refund for all but about $75. I think most of us can relate to bureaucratic frustrations. But this is where choice comes in. In the great scheme of things, a few hours spent dealing with the DMV isn't a big deal. And that's what I choose to focus on. When I got off the phone, I just wanted to cry. $75 is still $75 when money is tight. I spent about 10 minutes calming myself down and remembering to put the $75 in perspective. I reminded myself to be thankful that at least the gentleman at the DMV didn't charge me a penalty for my late "taxes" and was willing to issue the partial refund. I believe those are the keys to put things in perspective; focus on what went right and remember the long term. Minor frustrations only ruin my whole day if I let them.
My book Operation Attitude is available at: http://www.authorhouse.com/Bookstore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=62520
Or check out my webpage at: www.HumorFightingCancer.com
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Day 1
Today I am posting my first blog about using humor and a positive attitude to face life's ongoing challenges. I have struggled through being bald from cancer; the joys and trials of single parenting; working full-time while going back to school; financial frustrations; a messy divorce; and worst of all, the horrors of dating. I am amazed at how often minor irritations; past history; and worrying all negatively affect the quality of my life. The number one lesson I’ve learned is being positive isn't something I obtain and then have. Having a positive attitude is a day to day, moment to moment, choice. Like a pro athlete, I have to constantly train my thoughts to remain positive. And like the athlete, I have to accept that I will have bad days, injuries, and setbacks. The only way I can fail, is to quit. I am constantly reminding myself to focus on my blessings and keep perspective on my challenges. I have written a book, Operation Attitude, and speak on this topic. My goal is to help both myself and you the reader to remain upbeat and positive. I hope you can laugh with me as I slip and slide over one banana peels of life.
My book Operation Attitude is available at: http://www.authorhouse.com/Bookstore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=62520
Or check out my webpage at: www.HumorFightingCancer.com
My book Operation Attitude is available at: http://www.authorhouse.com/Bookstore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=62520
Or check out my webpage at: www.HumorFightingCancer.com
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