My Blog
The path to becoming Wagalicious
What do they do, these vet’s assistants?
They have the best job ever!
All day with kittens and puppies they play
Getting wags and kisses – so clever!
You’d almost pay to have their day
It just sounds so life-giving…
Vet technicians are almost magicians
Turning snuggles into a living!
What yo...
Do you have to deal with someone who’s difficult? Maybe angry, defensive, egotistical, greedy – whatever they are, they just suck the life out of you?
Instead of dreading your interactions with them, try this – feel compassion for them.
Can you imagine going through life knowing that people don’t ...
Self-confidence is something a lot of people struggle with – you, too, sometimes?
We are usually much harder on ourselves than on the people in our lives. That’s a habit developed in childhood and it doesn’t serve us well at all – listening to all that negative self-talk in your head guts your self...
Do you ever look at other veterinarians and think they’re so much more together than you are?
I love my veterinarian a lot and hope she doesn’t do that, and hope you don’t either.
You never know what’s going on inside another person’s head, heart and life, though humans like to think you know. You...
Did you know that a goal is just an excuse to grow and learn?
Mom’s goal for me is to compete in rally obedience by the end of this year. I like that goal because there’s cheese involved and I get to play games with her.
What’s really happening when you’re reaching for a goal is that you’re stretc...
Got a client coming in today that you dread seeing?
Maybe they’re difficult, or maybe they’re a close-talker, or maybe they just don’t know when it’s time to stop playing, like my Poodle brother. Give that boy some Ace, already!
Anyway, when you know you have to spend time with someone you don’t l...
How do you respond when someone criticizes you or wants to argue?
Sometimes that squirrel sits up on the fence and chews me out – man, that frosts my fur!!
It’s really easy to get defensive or to argue – instead, memorize these words and use them as needed – “thank you for your input – I’ll consid...
Have you ever heard of box breathing? It’s a controlled way of breathing with specific patterns, and there are a bunch of different patterns.
A study published in the International Journal of Psychophysiology suggests that two minutes of 5-2-7 breathing a day will help you make better decisions.
B...
Do you try to live up to other peoples’ ideas of who you should be?
Sometimes Mom accidentally calls me Bonnie – that was the last red-head-Siberian she had. Oops!
If there’s someone in your life who expects you to behave, believe and achieve they way they want you to that’s probably causing you a...
How do you feel when something goes wrong?
I ran into the coffee table and knocked two books and a big candle off. Oops…my bad, Mom!
When you do something like that, do you kick yourself for failing or give yourself the grace of knowing that you did the best you could do with the information you h...
Have you ever heard that saying, “go big or go home?” Humans say it about sporting events a lot, and it’s good advice in your life, too.
Many girl humans are raised to be delicate and feminine and ladylike – bah!
Be those when and if you want to be, and be other things too. Have a big, audacious g...
Nope...not a post about exotic animal practice! :D
Do you ever feel like a chameleon – you know, like you have to change yourself to fit in with those around you?
When I go to the dog show, most of the other Siberians are grey and white and some of them raise an eyebrow at my red coat. Who cares –...
Are you feeling frumpy today?
My Poodle brother likes to chew on my ears and sheesh – the hair behind them just won’t lay down right when he does that!
Maybe you’re having a bad hair day, too? Or maybe you feel like you’ve added a few pounds or like the scrub color you’re wearing washes you out.
...What do you deserve?
Really think about the things you want in life and then ask yourself, “do I deserve this?”
Now and then Mom brings home a new toy – wow! I might have a moment of “what did I do to deserve this?” and then I start playing with that toy like there’s no tomorrow.
You might feel l...
Are you looking to others for validation, love and respect? When you get it, it feels great, doesn’t it?
How about when you say something and expect a positive response, but are met with a flat or negative reply? Not so good, right? And then how do you feel? Less than? Hurt? Angry? Defensive? Maybe...
Do you eat enough food each day? I don’t think there’s any such thing as “enough food” but Mom disagrees!
Your brain needs over 300 calories a day just to run your body – more if you want it to do things like make decisions, sing and dance or spay that cat that was dropped off this morning.
If you...
Do you sometimes say something you wish you hadn’t said? Words are like arrows – once they’re out, they’re gone and you can’t take them back.
I growled at my Poodle brother the other day and he was sooooooo sad! I thought he’d sulk all day.
Whether you do it as soon as the words are out or do it l...
How do you feel when you get up in the morning?
I’m rarin’ to go – Mom is slow as a slug until the coffee kicks in.
If you’re that way too, guess what? You get to choose which way your day will go.
As you’re waiting for the coffee to get ready, spend a few minutes in meditation or journaling or b...
Are you running on empty? Not enough sleep, that is – that’s not a problem I have. Mom says I’m her professional napper!
Decades of research can’t be wrong – people who are sleep deprived make poor decisions, and you don’t want to do that, right?
Create a going-to-bed ritual. Mom stops touching he...
Are you constantly telling yourself you can’t do something or you’re not something you think you need to be, like smarter or sweeter or something-er?
Sometimes I tell myself I’m not good enough to be a Champion and that doesn’t feel good.
Maybe try what works for me – when I think I’m not good eno...
Do you “what if” yourself?
The weird thing about “what if” is that it doesn’t do anything except make you confused and regretful.
When you “what if” over something you’ve already decided and acted upon, you’re re-living the past inside your head. You have no power in the past – there’s nothing you...
Do you have a game on your phone that you like to play? Mom has Wordscapes on her phone and she won’t let me help her play…dang it!
There’s a connection to playing games where you have to move your finger and make quick decisions as you play and making better decisions in real life.
Give yourself ...
Did someone pop your balloon today?
My Poodle brother stole my favorite stuffed birdie and wouldn’t give it back – and he’s bigger than me! That made me mad and sad and sulky.
You, too? Did your day start off well and then someone did something so bad that you just can’t find your fun self?
Try t...
Do you beat yourself up when you make a mistake? I hate it when I mess up heeling and Mom won’t give me the cheese until I get it right – geez!
Anyway, when you make a mistake, are you harder on yourself than you would be on your best friend? What’s up with that?
Give yourself the same grace you’d...
When someone snaps at you, how do you react? If you snap back, seethe or sulk, that’s a sign you’re taking that snap personally. It probably wasn’t personal – it probably was that person having a bad moment or a bad day and taking it out on you.
Try not to take it personally – instead of reacting r...
Is there someone on your team you wish was different?
I wish Mom would just leave my food bowl down all day long but no matter how many hints I drop it only comes down twice. Guess I can’t change her and guess what? You probably can’t change the person you wish was different, either.
Think about h...
Is there someone in your life you admire? Someone you feel moves through their life with competence, confidence and compassion?Â
How do you feel about that person you admire? Warm fuzzies? A little bit in awe of them? And maybe, sometimes, just a little bit jealous of the ease that they move throug...
