Yesterday's News

For those people with cats, what kind of litter do you use? I've tried every brand imaginable. But the one I have found that works best is Yesterday's News made from recycled newspaper. 

Here are a few reasons it works best for me.

1. The air stays fresh when scooping (dust free)
2. The air isn't poisoned with nasty smelling perfumes
3. The area around the litter box stays free of tracking and dust left from cat's feet.
4. Easy to scoop with special scooper.
5. Most of the litter is saved when scooping because the peices don't stick like clay and fall back off into the litter box. 

There are all kinds of litters out there and some are pretty cleverly produced according to customer wants. I've tried just about every one of them but only one brand satisfies all of my cat litter concerns. 

Formulas using silicon, special odor eating compounds, clumping, perfumed and dozens of others are popular right now. But I prefer Yesterday's News and my cats don't seem to mind it one bit. 

So Thankful

Every year I find more and more to be thankful for. At the top of the list is my fantastic health. Seriously, I believe I am healthier than I was 10 years ago. I seem to have more energy and my hair doesn't fall out nearly as much as it did when I was in high school, not to mention just 5 years ago.

Sure my diet is pretty good, as I have trained myself to eat healthy since I discovered my own food/mood connection at the young age of 18. But I really don't think that is why my health is so much better. I know others who have terrible diets and they don't seem to be at the effects of what they put into their bodies. Still, I'm pretty careful since I've learned how to provide myself with tasty, pleasing foods that are good for me.

I believe that my good health has more to do with my gumption for life than my diet or the amount of water that I drink. I'm finally surrounding myself with positive, encouraging people who build up rather than tear down. And it is not because they are building ME up that has this magical effect. It is that they are teaching me to be a builder and encourager which is more in sync with the way a body is supposed to be. Positive thoughts and belief in my fellow man is the most nutritious food.

Snugglefest

It is hard to imagine what life would be like without Sparky and Miso. These wonderful cats not only keep me company but they teach me so much and have helped me become a better person in the following ways:

• I'm less self absorbed because they are an enjoyable way to connect with the world outside of myself and my problems.  
• They remind me to ask for help by example when meowing for food or attention.
• Also by example, they remind me to wash myself so I'm clean and neat when I interact with other people. 
• They forgive and forget quickly after fighting and hissing with each other. I still need to work on that one...
• They walk around confidently and don't judge me. This helps me with my own confidence and projecting acceptance onto others, as well. I get practice at feeling loved and accepted.
• They remind me when its time to play. This keeps me from getting too melancholy and reminds me that it is important to have fun, too. 
• They can have a good time batting around a wadded up piece of paper. They remind me that the simple pleasures are sometimes the most gratifying.  
• When purring, cats remind me that it is important to relax once in awhile.
• When they sprint after birds in my backyard, Sparky and Miso remind me that I must exercise and focus on my goals like they do. Just do it :)
• Sometimes Sparky will run up a tree and have trouble getting down. I get practice being his hero as he trusts me to bring him to the ground. He shows me that there is always someone who will help out in a pickle for those who trust and believe. 
• They know that one doesn't have to be especially smart or elaborate to make their way in the world. 

 I am so grateful to have these two little angels on my side. They are very much a comfort when things don't necessarily go my way :)
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Not so funny

I grew up watching The Three Stooges on television with my Dad. He was a quiet man that kept to himself most of the time, so it was fun to spend time with him on those rare occasions that he laughed. This is, in part, how I developed my silly sense of humor. I learned to act silly and laugh at others who were acting silly.

Unfortunately, not everyone who is silly, is trying to be that way! As a  youngster, I didn't think anything of "making fun" of others as long as they were not around to have their feelings hurt. So during my youth I found friends who also enjoyed joking around in this way.

I've only recently learned that this is not a good way to have fun. It really isn't much different than gossiping about someone who isn't around to defend themselves. The conclusion by those who witness this subtle ridicule, have a valid concern that they will likely be the target at a later time.

This kind of immaturity is just one example of my people skills needing a make over. So I've been delving into books like How to Win Friends and Influence People and How to Have Power and Confidence in Dealing with People to help me relate to others in a more positive fashion.

These books are invaluable. I'm realizing that the obvious art of listening to others is a much deeper and profound skill than simply hearing what is being said. And not to be terribly hard on myself, I'm also learning that many people I come into contact with are not much better at it than I am.

On my self-improvement journey, I'm enjoying a gem of a book entitled Personality Plus. The author spells out 4 very different personalities and most of us can relate to one type more than the others. It lists both helpful and not so helpful aspects of each personality.

Learning about my own predominant way of being in the world, as well as the 3 other personalities is helpful.  I now work on relating toothers and develop strengths I did not realize were available to me. It is easy to rationalize my own tendencies and I normally limit my friendships to those of my own "type". But my life has become more rich now that I am learning through these fabulous writings that I can relate to very different people by noticing their strengths above their challenges.

I'll always enjoy a good episode of The Three Stooges, but I'll fore go emulating them. Which is what I do when I don't relate to the real people I come into contact with each day and instead pay more attention to their silliness. We are all silly, but it is nice to be noticed for our positive attributes. At least, that is what I'm learning by reading this wonderful material.     

Through a Child's Eyes

Someone sent this to me via email, explaining that it was written by an 8 year old but gave no other details. I don't care who wrote it. I think it is the bee's knees :)


EXPLANATION OF GOD:

'One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.'

'God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off.'

'God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting his time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have.'



Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway.'


'You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God!

"Turning a Negative into a Positive"

Cesar Speaks

Cesar nails it again. I've linked to his latest article above "Cesar Speaks"
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How Cats Drink

Who Knew?  How cats drink