All or Nothing Thinking

All or nothing thinking. 

It's easy to get discouraged when you are attempting to reach a goal if you suffer from all or nothing thinking. Often times this stems from a need to be perfect. Except there really isn't such thing as perfect when it comes to individuals, so you look for someone to blame for your imperfections. 

The easiest one is always yourself. I used to be really bad about all or nothing thinking. Because I'm more an abstainer than a moderator I always do much better when I'm in the process of losing weight. I rarely cheat, and seem to have good results during this time period, except I'm realizing that at my age it sure does seem to be coming off much more slowly now. For me the harder part is always weight maintenance, because this usually involves more moderation. It's much easier for me to completely stay away from the chips at a Mexican restaurant, than it is to eat just a "few."

You see for me there rarely is just a few. Once I get started it's hard to stop. Kind of like the famous Lay's potato chip campaign of the 60's and the 70's, "Bet you can't eat just one." Many years ago my family went on a cruise, and I returned four pounds heavier. Now in the scheme of life what is four pounds? Actually, not much, and really a pretty small amount for a cruise. Except that I was a victim of all or nothing thinking at the time. Because I had not been able to maintain my weight, and had gained a few pounds I gave up completely. Within a year or so I was probably thirty pounds heavier. 

What I failed to understand at the time was that life is a journey, and your weight is always along for the ride. What I should have done was say, "Wow! I had a great time on my cruise, but now I'm ready to get back on track and lose these four pounds." Do you know how much quicker it is to lose four instead of thirty? Today I try not to think in such an all or nothing way. 

I'm kinder to myself. I don't beat myself up when I've had a hard week or even a hard few months. Life can get in the way, but the beauty of it is that I know I can always go back to my Weight Watcher meeting, where I'll be greeted with all the support I need to get started again. 

Not that this is an advertisement, but if you've been wanting to lose some weight you might want to give Weight Watchers a try. If possible try to attend the meetings because that's where you learn that you're not alone. You'll also learn a few tips along the way from fellow members, and be inspired by other's weight loss. Don't let all or nothing thinking get in the way of achieving your dreams. 

Ducklings

Ducklings.

One of the things that I've really enjoyed since moving to the apartments are the ducks that live on the lake. Each evening as I take Cooper out for a walk I get to watch the duck families as they paddle across the water. 

I've learned several things about ducks just by watching them. The babies grow very, very quickly. It seems in just a matter of weeks they are almost as big as their mothers. They stay close by her most of the time, unless she is off taking a little rest. Of course, she is always on guard and makes her way back to them quickly. 

I also had noticed that it appeared that the beautiful male mallards had left  for the summer, because all I was seeing were the brown females. After doing a little research I learned that the males lose their beautiful green feathers during the summer months in order to blend in as well. 

Once when we were feeding a duck and her ducklings we observed her running off the other ducks while her babies got their fill. The other ducks seemed to give her a pass when it came to her babies. The only one who didn't seem to care was the hungry fish that made its way up to the surface to get his dinner. 

The other day I was at Half-Price Books, and came across a children's book about ducklings. I couldn't resist because I knew that my grandson would probably enjoy it as well. I learned that duck eggs are often eaten by predators, as well as the ducklings so their chances of survival is limited. I also learned that they are able to fly at around eight weeks. That's probably why we aren't seeing them around the lake any more. In fact, Chuck and I were wondering if maybe they had flown back north for the warmer months?

Either way we sure have enjoyed watching them raise their babies this year.

Quiet

Quiet. 

I've discovered a really enchanting place at my apartments. It is a smaller courtyard tucked away on the other side of the building. It's focal point is a beautiful fountain surrounded by crape myrtle trees. It is flanked by several benches which call out to you to sit and stay awhile. 

Yesterday Cooper and I stopped for a few minutes to enjoy the peaceful trickling of the fountain. Although, it was warm outside the courtyard provides enough shade to make it a pleasant place to visit even in the middle of the day. 

As I sat there listening to the water I found myself uncomfortable doing nothing. I kept wishing I'd brought a book, and was tempted to check my phone. Except, I kept thinking that being able to take time out of your day for a few moments in quiet contemplation might be something to entertain. 

It's not easy for me to allow my mind to slow down and just be in the moment. I have the tendency to always want to go on to the next thing.  However, I thought I would make a point to come down and visit more frequently. There just is something about nature that is good for the soul. 

Status Quo

Status quo. 

The status quo is an interesting thing. Its definition is simply, "the existing state of affairs, especially regarding social or political issues." Maintaining the status quo seems to be important. Don't rock the boat becomes the mantra of those who like the comfort of the familiar. 

Is that really so bad?  Things that are tried and true seem to have value. Going along with what "everyone" else is doing appears to keep things running smoothly. Except that maybe sometimes it's more valuable  to shake things up a little, and question the status quo. 

Dr. Phil Johnson has written a book entitled Lead Like a Heretic: How to Challenge the Status Quo and Thrive. Usually when I think of the word heretic it is in a negative connotation regarding religion. After all didn't they burn heretics at the stake? 

Except interestingly enough, the word has its roots in Greek, and basically means, "able to choose." Johnson defines it as, " holding an opinion at odds with what is generally accepted." If we look toward history we can find many "heretics" who have become our heroes, and have helped shape the future. 

Robert Kennedy's famous words expressed this perfectly when he said, "I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" Perhaps there should be a little heretic in us all. 

Happier

Happier. 

One of my favorite things to do in the morning while I'm getting ready for the day is to listen to podcasts. The podcast app on your phone or tablet really makes this quite easy, and one of my favorites is Happier with Gretchen Rubin. 

Gretchen and her sister, screenwriter Elizabeth Craft, spend about forty-five minutes discussing topics related to happiness. They give you "Try this at home" tips, and rate their actions using gold stars and demerits. I find myself always coming away with a new idea or two. 

Gretchen has always been a favorite of mine, and I have even met her in person at one of her speaking events. If you are interested she has several books out, including The Happiness Project to motivate you to find happiness in your everyday experiences. She's getting ready to go back on tour to promote her latest book, and I plan on attending.

In addition to her books I stumbled upon a fun magazine called Live Happy that you can get at Barnes and Noble. This is the perfect coffee shop publication if you'd like to steal away a little time for yourself. The editor of the magazine has also published a book entitled, Live Happy: Ten Practices for Choosing Joy by Deborah K. Heisz. This is an easy read, and leaves you ready to embrace happiness at every turn. 

I find myself drawn to books like these, not so much because I find myself unhappy, but rather because I truly believe that what you focus your energies on in life makes a big difference. Try to find your own happiness influences, and enjoy the moment. 

Roadblocks

Roadblocks. 

How do you view a roadblock in your life? Is it an inconvenience, a nuisance, a game changer or something that rolls off your shoulder like water off a duck? 

Author and motivational speaker Sheri Riley says it's all a matter of perspective. "...if you see the situation as an opportunity, a blessing, or a chance to elevate your game, you are halfway to a positive resolution." 

When I think about an actual roadblock that you might experience while  driving it generally involves a detour. The other evening Chuck and I were returning home, and discovered that our route had been shut down due to construction. My quick thinking husband took the next exit, and drove us home using an alternate route. 

As it turned out we were home in about the same time so the roadblock didn't set us back much. Of course, the story could have had a completely different ending if we had been unable to change lanes in a timely fashion. Sometimes when a roadblock in life comes along we need to change our perspective in order to change our course. 

We've all experienced those times in life when our best made plans seem to change through no fault of our own. It's easy to get discouraged, but at the same time just like Riley says, if you face the situation with a more positive spin you might find yourself headed in a new direction that you hadn't considered before. 

Roadblocks can't always be avoided, but they don't have to stop you completely from accomplishing your goals. Look for the opportunities they may bring. 

New Things

New things.

Diffuser- One of my birthday gifts was a diffuser and a lavender essential oil blend. It really does seem to be contributing to a better night's sleep. 

Nighty Night Tea- This organic tea is a relaxation tea by Traditional Medicinals. Brittany recommended this to me to help me sleep, and between it and the diffuser I'm sleeping like a baby most nights. 

Flatout Flatbread- I recently picked up the light Italian Herb and have been making a wrap with roasted red pepper hummus, grated red cabbage, grated carrots, red onion, cucumber and spinach. It's been really tasty and for those of you who count points it's only four. 

Almond milk- I'd never tried it before, but I've been having it with original Cheerios and blueberries for breakfast. The milk is actually quite good, and I'm enjoying it. 

Coconut Creamer- I tried the So Delicious brand of dairy-free creamer, and my honest opinion is that it does seem to be lacking. I've tried the Coffee-mate Natural Bliss, and if you are interested in a chemical-free creamer that might be the way to go. 

Coyote Creek Farm- These are pasture-raised eggs that I found at Whole Foods. You do pay a little more for them, but you might enjoy checking out their website to see how their chickens are raised. 

Spin Neapolitan Pizza- We took Brittany and our grandson there last night for pizza, and it really is quite good. They even have gelato for dessert. 

Steal Like An Artist- I found this book at Fed Ex of all places, and have really enjoyed reading it. It's written by Austin Kleon, and is a simple, easy read about being creative. 

Grandson- The cutest kid ever, who keeps me thoroughly intrigued as I watch him figure out his world. I'm definitely blessed. 

Weekend- I'm excited to see a few friends from high school that I haven't seen in a while. I hope you enjoy your weekend as well, and I'll talk with you Monday. 

Just Wondering?

Just wondering? 

 In my attempts to research healthy eating options I really don't know who to believe. It seems everyone has their own take on what's healthy.

Is dairy healthy or not? Is plant-based eating enough or should you eliminate oil 
as well? Cage free, free range or pasture raised eggs? Is soy actually a healthy alternative or does it contribute to dementia? 

Low fat, full fat, olive oil or coconut oil? Beef, chicken, pork or fish? How in the world are you supposed to know what to eat? Can we trust the food industry to be giving us the truth? GMO's, organic, gluten-free, dairy-free? 

As I try to make heads or tails of it all it just seems to get more and more confusing. All I'm wanting to do is eat healthy, but all that so called information out there seems to be getting in the way. Who do you trust?

Animal Trapped

Animal trapped. 

Have you ever been animal trapped? Let me explain. As I'm writhing this I'm sprawled out on the couch, i pad in hand with a dog on my shoulder, and a purring cat on my chest no more than two inches from my face. 

Now besides worrying a little about the close proximity of the cat to my face, as she has been known to bite, I'm pretty comfortable. Of course, my comfort pales in comparison to the animals surrounding me. Both of them seem pretty darn content, and knowing the cat would be happy to remain in this position for most of the day is a given. 

I did not grow up with pets, but my love and desire for one pretty much was constant throughout my childhood. Each birthday as I blew out my my candles I would always wish for a puppy. In my teenaged years that wish changed to a boyfriend, but just like the puppy I never received either. Besides Susie my tiny red-eared slider, my first furry pet was our calico cat Taffy who joined our household when I was thirteen. I think we had finally worn our mother down, and when the neighbor's cat had kittens our Mom surprised us with one. I was happy to provide Taffy with a retirement home for the last six months of her life almost seventeen years later. 

My first dog was a beautiful Siberian Husky that Chuck and I got a year after we were married when I was thirty. That childhood wish had finally materialized as well as that whole boyfriend thing which resulted in a husband. I remember being so unfamiliar with dogs that I really felt a little uncomfortable around the little hair producing machine. It didn't take me long, though, to be completely smitten. 

Today I couldn't imagine a life without a dog or cat. To be completely honest, but don't tell the cat, if given the choice of only having one my heart does lean more toward canine. However, there really is nothing more relaxing then a purring feline, eyes barely open sitting contentedly inches from your face. Being animal trapped isn't so bad after all. 

Checking the Ingredients

Checking the ingredients. 

The other morning I was reading the ingredient list on my favorite Hazelnut creamer. Let me first tell you how much I love this creamer. It's from HEB, and I always make a point to pick some up in College Station when I'm visiting my daughter. I've even been known to stop at the store in Waco when traveling 
through to pick up a supply, and I've had my daughter bring some with her when she comes for a visit. 

Oh, I've tried other creamers, but none of the others ever seemed as good. One time it appeared that the store was out of creamer for a period of weeks, and both my daughter and I were getting close to panic mode. What were we going to do? Come to find out, they had completely changed the packaging, and it had been there all along. Crisis averted. 

Except, now that I'm starting to get more serious about what I'm actually injesting, I couldn't believe what I was reading in checking out the label. Let's just say that a degree in chemistry sure would have come in handy. My beloved creamer is basically just a bunch of chemicals. Chemicals that according to research are pretty much sending a message to my brain saying that I need more. 

Julia Child was known to have said, "You don't have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces-just good food from fresh ingredients." I'm not even sure my creamer even counts as a food. As much as I hate to do it I think we are going to have to break-up. 

Ideas

Ideas.

Ideas are interesting things. Sometimes they come so quickly and prolifically that you struggle to get them written down before they escape into the universe. 

Sometimes you can't even come up with one. It doesn't matter how hard you try, how long you take, you just come up dry. Austin Kleon says that, "You are the sum of your influences." I find this to be true when it comes to ideas. 

They seem to flourish when you are around others with ideas. They compound when you surround yourself with creative influences. Left to your own devices you might find your own ideas lacking, and not very exciting. 

I remember one year my co-worker and I invited anyone who was interested to join us for collaborative planning. We had decided to change the way we looked at our teaching units. Rather than zero in on the specific we chose to go more broad. In our planning sessions we gathered a multitude of ideas, and found that one idea would quickly lead to another.

Our units were creative, engaging and fun for both the students and the teachers. There seemed to be a new excitement in our teaching. We were choosing to look at what we had always done with fresh eyes. Ideas seemed to abound, and we were open to new ways, and more flexible in our teaching. 

My influences were great that year, and I look back fondly at how our common vision benefited our students. I wish I could say every year was like that. Today I find I have to be intentional about looking for that kind of influence. It's easy to remain complacent, but life sure is more interesting when you make the effort to try something new. 

Small World

Small world. 

I'd  heard the quote, "When the student is ready the teacher will appear," many times before, but to be honest it never had really appeared as blatantly as it did last night. As you might remember my posting earlier this week included my interest in plant-based eating. 

In fact, on Wednesday  on my trip to downtown Grapevine I picked up some tomatoes and peaches at the farmers market, which ended up being some of the best I've ever eaten. It's definitely peach season, and those peaches were perfect. I'll probably be returning today to stock up on some more. 

Last night for dinner I made something called a grain bowl. It was a combination of brown rice and roasted sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, yellow bell pepper, red onion and chickpeas. Needless to say, it was absolutely delicious as well, and I posted the recipe on Facebook.  It wasn't long before I got a comment from my high school friend Karen. 

She recommended I like a friend of hers who ate a plant-based diet. I sent off a quick note to the friend, and started to check out her page. Within minutes, she messaged me, included me in her Facebook community, and was calling me on the phone. 

The teacher had arrived. She gave me a list of documentaries, websites, recipe 

options, and basic general knowledge of her story. But the most coincidental thing of all was that she used to be a teacher in the same district as me, and actually lived in my old neighborhood. What are the chances that our paths would cross after the fact? Between her resources, and her as a contact person I'm ready to get started learning more about my food choices. If you are interested check out her website at Mrs.Plant.

Downtown Grapevine

Downtown Grapevine. 

If you haven't been I highly recommended a trip to downtown Grapevine. My best friend and I celebrated Christmas in July along with dual birthday celebrations the other day and had a wonderful time. 

We dined at the Main Street Bistro and Bakery, and it did not disappoint. Between the charming decor, the amazing Smoked Turkey Panini and soup, and topped off with mini-tiramisu it was a dining delight. 

If you are in the market for a special gift for someone the variety of stores seems endless. My favorites, though, were the food oriented businesses. There is a permanent Farmers' Market, an olive oil shop, a tea and spice venue, and even a homemade pie shop. We were offered samples, and given a tour of each place. Perhaps the friendliest store owner  of all was at the pie shop, where after witnessing our noses pressed against the window invited us in for a sample, which of course was delicious. 

We even made connections with some of the shoppers we came across. It amazes me sometimes about what a small world we live in. Some of the places we didn't visit this time were a plethora of wineries, a great chili parlor which Chuck and I had eaten at last winter, and a little further down the road one of the best coffee shops named RE:defined Coffee House. 

Now lucky for me this treasure is only ten minutes from the apartment, but I wish I'd made the drive before when I lived in Frisco. It would have been well worth it. Sometimes we do not take advantage of what is right before us, and let things like this slip through our fingers. 

Original

Original. 

There is a burden to being original. Especially, because if the truth be known nothing really is totally original. Author Austin Kleon in his super cool book, Steal Like an Artist, reminds us that, " If we're free from the burden of trying to be completely original, we can stop trying to make something out of nothing, and we can embrace influence instead of running away from it."

I've found without influence I struggle to come up with ANY ideas let alone original ideas. Of course, my influences can come from many different directions. Being open

 and aware of them is what really counts. 

Instead of using originality as an excuse not to be creative, let it become a liberating force. Look for things that seem to grab your attention and go from there. This could include new culinary delights, fashion trends, redecorating a room, writing in a journal or any array of creative endeavors you might fancy to undertake. 

Knowing that you don't have to start at square one makes starting so much easier. I find pinning ideas and inspirations on Pinterest a way to not take up too much room in what can be an already too cluttered world. For me having a continual stream of books in my life also seems to keep my own creative juices flowing. 

What I do know is that when I'm spending time ruminating over a possible idea life just seems a little more interesting. If you are concerned that others might judge you as unoriginal consider the words of the French writer Andre Gide, "Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But since no one was listening, everything must be said again."

What's Up?

What's up?

Plant-based diets- Chuck and I did a Netflix binge over the fourth learning all about plant-based diets. It really gives you pause when you realize how many diseases seem to be avoided by eating more plants. We've already made the move away from processed foods, and many of our favorite meals do not include meat. I'm not sure I could completely make the transfer over, but it is something to consider. 

Juicing- one of the documentaries we watched was about a man named Joe Cross who went on a sixty day juice fast. After watching the show Chuck was inspired to get his juicer out again after many years and I made a run to the produce section to pick up things like beets, grapes, apples, plums, sweet potatoes and carrots. To be honest I prefer smoothies made from the Nutri-Bullet. 

Farmers' Market- We made a trip to the Dallas Farmers' Market a couple of weekends ago to check it out. The trick there is to park in the parking garage for free rather than circle around for fifteen minutes looking for street parking.  I think the next time I'd like to return to the downtown Coppell Farmers' Market. It's a really nice set-up and much closer. 

Cantaloupe- Woo Hoo! I was finally able to locate a pretty delicious cantaloupe, that wasn't too hard. Too bad Bluebell stopped making cantaloupe ice cream.  That was some of their best. Which reminds me, if you ever get a chance to tour the Bluebell Creamery in Brenham it's worth the trip. 

Local honey- we are finally almost through with the left over honey from our daughter's wedding over five years ago. What a remarkable product! So we went on the hunt for some more local made honey. Last time we bought a five gallon bucket, but this time we were looking for something I could carry out of the grocery store on my own.  We found a company out of McKinney called Nature Nate's Honey. We bought ours at Sprouts, but I discovered you can get it at Walmart as well. 

Coconut creamer and artisan bread- I'm off to Eatzi's to buy some homemade bread, and Whole Foods to locate coconut creamer, and some pasture raised eggs. Whole Foods overwhelms me like Central Market so two items should be just about right. On the other hand Eatzi's is pretty amazing, and I really enjoy shopping there. 

Family get together- We can't wait to meet up with our daughter, grandson, son-in-law and his parents visiting from out of state this weekend. We always have a great time when we get together. 

Podcasts- If you haven't given these a try you might want to consider doing so. When I'm getting ready in the morning or am doing some tasks around the house I enjoy the variety of podcasts available. Pretty much anything you are interested in is there for the picking. 

Library probation- I'm super charged that I'm getting ready to get off library probation. Apparently in Irving you have to prove yourself trustworthy in order to have unlimited library privledges. I've been keeping up with the due dates on the calendar to prevent having any over due books which could bump you right back on to probation. Life is good!

Awe

Awe.

I must admit that I don't spend much time in awe. Awe seems to be something that we outgrow during adulthood, unlike our childhood days where we experienced it quite frequently. In fact my grandson's reaction to viewing fireworks for the first time was a repeated, "Woah," each time a new one exploded. 

Although, I enjoyed watching the fireworks this year they didn't have the same effect on me. One thing that really awed me was the Grand Canyon. Now the sad part is that if it takes something as magnificent as the Grand Canyon to stop me in my tracks, then finding awe in the ordinary is probably a losing battle.  

 Interestingly enough, it has only been in recent years that psychologists have begun to study awe. Researchers Dacher Keltner and Jonathan Haidt define awe as, "the feeling of being in the presence of something vast and greater than the self, that exceeds current knowledge structures." 

What might awe do to your world if you allowed it in or recognized it? I suppose planning yearly vacations to far away places could provide opportunities for awe, but what if you could find it closer to home?  What if awe is more a mindset than a reaction?  

I found myself the other day taking great pleasure in watching the tableside guacamole being made in front of me, and was pretty awed by the twenty or so perfect avocados on the cart. Do you know how hard it is to even find one perfect avocado?

Maybe it's just a matter of being receptive to something we so often overlook as plain and ordinary. Perhaps slowing down a little, and being more present in the moment might result in greater joy and contentment. Expect awe and you just might find it.

Facebook Friends

Facebook friends. 

One of the fun things about being on Facebook on your birthday are the birthday greetings from your friends. As I was reading each one, and thanking them for their kind wishes it amazed me at how many people you meet along the way in sixty-one years. 

Childhood friends, high school and college friends, teachers I've taught with over the years, students, cousins from Europe that I've never actually met, friends of friends, daughter's friends, family, extended family, parents of former students...the list seems to go on and on. 

As bad a rap as Facebook sometimes gets I've sure enjoyed staying connected with people I have met along the way. I enjoy congratulating them on the milestones in their lives, praying for them when they are in times of need, comforting them during sadness, and just keeping up with their lives. 

Before the birth of social media it wasn't unusual for your paths to never cross again. Reunions were the only time that you might see someone from the past, and that was only if they chose to attend. So I'm grateful for this little thing that often consumes too much of my time, and once again thanks everyone for the birthday wishes.

Rebooting

Rebooting. 

I was watching a show on Netflix the other day about a man who had lost a large amount of weight. His sheer determination was inspiring, and you couldn't help but cheer him on as he went running off into the sunset. 

Five years later in part two of the documentary he had gained most of his weight back. As he turned the corner and you caught your first glimpse of him your heart sank. What had happened? Why had he gained it back?

LIFE got in the way as it sometimes does, and he had come across a few stumbling blocks which had sent him back to the familiarity of his old, unhealthy habits. 

However, he wasn't ready to give up quite yet. He started again on that long, arduous journey. In effect he began a reboot, and found himself taking those first small steps, by-passing the fast food restaurants, and stocking his refrigerator with healthy food choices. 

I think we all have the power of the reboot in front of us. It is so easy to be hard on ourselves when we haven't been able to maintain something we have worked to attain. I know for me it has often times been all or nothing, and in thinking that way I have given up completely.

I'm learning though, that life and the stresses it brings can get in the way, and you might find yourself not staying focused on what you are working towards. Except when this happens, you are not left without any recourse.  You can always start again, reboot and get back on track. 

My encouragement for you is that if there is something you have been wanting, but you've wandered off the path, rather than beating yourself up about it, start by taking action today. It's never too late to reboot.

Life According to the Cat

Life according to the cat. 

Let me take a minute to introduce myself. My name is Abby and I'm the cat of the family. When I learned that Cooper was guest posting I thought it only fair that I gave you my take on apartment life. 

Before I get started I thought I might give you a little background about what happened a few weeks prior to moving here. I began to hear my mother talking about something called a bungalow, and to be honest I had no idea what it was. What I do know is that everytime she mentioned it she acted like it was the greatest thing ever. So one day she loaded me up in the car, which I hated, and drove a short distance to this thing called the bungalow. Come to find out, I was basically having to be boarded while the carpets were being cleaned and the house was put up on the market. Whatever that means. 

Now to be fair, my mother did come to visit me almost every day, and we got to spend time hanging out in the playroom, but to be honest I was not a happy camper. So when the day came that Mom picked me up I was quite happy, indeed. In fact I didn't even complain on the ride home. Except, home wasn't home any more. It was actually much smaller, and I heard my Mom and Dad say something about an apartment. Bungalow, apartment...too many new words to learn. 

Mom had to rush off to take care of something related to the move, but Dad spent some time with me helping me get adjusted. I learned later that they had read that it could take weeks for a feline such as myself to adjust to a new place. But guess what? I loved it! It was much smaller than my old house, but I liked the fact that everything was close by. Mom and Dad gave me my own room, and my litter box was tucked discreetly in the closet nearby.  A girl has to have her privacy you know. 

I'd say it took about thirty minutes for me to decide that this place was WAY better than the bungalow, and I'd better not complain because I might get sent back. I pretty much spend my days doing what cats basically do eating, resting, and grooming myself way too much. If I can get away with it I like to eat the dog's food (notice I didn't acknowledge him by name), and I spend a lot of time trying to sneak into my Mom and Dad's room. Apparently Dad has something called allergies, and he doesn't like me sleeping on his pillow. 

I've heard the dog brag about going for walks, and riding in the car, but to be honest I've never been one to like to travel. I guess you could say that I'm a homebody. As long as my mother or father's lap is available at my command I'm pretty much content to live this apartment life. 

You know what they say, "Cat's rule and dogs drool!"

Cognitive Dissonance

Cognitive dissonance. 

The definition of cognitive dissonance is, "the inconsistency between one's actions and one's beliefs."

When you begin to examine this you may find that some of the discomfort you are feeling in life may be based on this disharmony.  You tell yourself one thing, but your actions say another. For me this occurred recently when we moved to the apartment. Chuck and I had been recycling for years at our home in Frisco, and with curbside recycling it had actually become quite convenient. In fact, we found ourselves feeling guilty if we failed to do so. 

After moving to the apartment I misinterpreted the recycling policy, and basically for two months threw all our recycling into the trash. Each time I threw away something that could be recycled I found myself feeling guilty. Recycling had become so ingrained in my belief system that to not do so was causing a huge case of cognitive dissonance. For me my beliefs AND my actions should align. This is probably why I am such a rule follower. 

A quick phone call to the front office provided clarity about the recycling policy, and a trip down to the office to claim the blue recycling bags, and I was a happy camper. All was well with the world, and I happily began recycling again. 

The act of aligning my beliefs and actions by changing my actions is one way to combat cognitive dissonance. Another would have been to change my beliefs. Perhaps I could have convinced myself that recycling wasn't really all that important, and probably wouldn't have made any difference at all in the long run.  A third alternative would have been to change my attitude. Maybe I could have justified my actions by convincing myself that it would be okay not to recycle here as long as I began recycling again when I moved to my next house.

If you are finding yourself out of sorts over something it might be a case of cognitive dissonance. Changing your beliefs, or your actions or your perception of them might help bring things back in balance for you.