Cricket 'saving marriages'

Yes, I did just have a couple tell me that their session went so much better this week because Cricket was here! You may recall my post two weeks ago when I gave her a personal day - she was missed deeply by all my clients that day (and ME!) Perhaps this says something about the value of listening and unconditional acceptance in therapy?

44 going on 5

As I'm approaching 45 there are some similarities to being 5 again. Perhaps because I am missing a tooth - I asked the dentist if he could give it to me to put under my pillow, he just laughed. (fortunately its not directly in the front as I am waiting get a new implant). I walked back to my office singing All I Want for Christmas is my toooooth. I keep running my tongue around the hole - remember that feeling?

I like to skip, do cartwheels, backbends (last night in yoga :D), and put mud (mask) on my face once a month. Makes me think of my tumbling class when I was five and my mom had to promise she wouldn't leave - she'd watch me all class. I had a cat named bend and stretch when I was five. Last night in yoga we did our salutations that were a lot of bend and stretching. Steve saw me last night at yoga and said I was bending and stretching so good :D.

At five, my teacher and mom played along with my claim that I was allergic to milk and so I brought chocolate powder to put in my milk! Still today I would prefer a nice tall hot chocolate from Starbucks over milk.

Life is pretty simple at five. In many ways, simplicity is what I enjoy at age 44. I loved people telling me good job at age 5 and still love comments and cheering on at age 44. My supervisor at the agency recently told me, it is nice to give you compliments because you accept them. Ahhhh, thank you!

Searching for

a fleece rug on one side and the other side is cloth - preferrably dark khaki that folds up with handles so it can be carried like a purse. Natalie's coat was nice for the day because the lining is fleece but one of these days she might not be living in a beautiful sunny climate and will need her coat back! Cricket is so happy when its cold to have a fleece to settle down on whether its a yoga class, a business meeting, or a movie theater.
Sorry the last two pictures I have posted of Cricket she may seem a little moody. She is still our happy girl - this picture she was ready to leave and I said, oh Cricket let's take a picture so she had to go back and lie down. Good girl, Cricket.

Let's be Real

I enjoy blogging about my day and so many days are just simply happy with much laughter in the day! A new client came in and I gave my brief explanation that I was blind - she said, oh my gosh how depressing - I am so glad I don't have your life! I laughed and said really my life is good and then we proceeded on to the issues at hand.

Of course, every day isn't just zip-a-dee-do-dah my-oh-my-what-a-wonderful day (love that song). We have difficult days, days where we feel overwhelmed, and even days when we feel inadequate and need extra love and attention!

Cricket had one of these days recently. Upon leaving my office for a minute with client and cane in tow, I returned to my desk and realized someone wasn't under my desk Instead I found this:

I had to giggle and take a quick picture with my camera (I know rewarding bad behavior is not good), then in my firmest voice I told her no and got her down. I'm not sure what was going on in her mind but she seemed to need extra hugs on this day.

Kids Say the Cutest Things ...

My friend, Courtnie and her two cute boys drove me around to work, errands, etc for 3 years. I miss them. I watched her boys grow up from babies to little boys. Today, while visiting her dad we saw them. As Courtnie and her boys were going out to their car - Jack saw our car and asked his mom - whose car is that? Courtnie said, (Steve) & Beckys - to which Jack said oh that's good she has a car now so we won't have to drive her around anymore.

Embracing Fear

Our family refers to Jamaica as one of our favorite vacations: great time together, beautiful all-inclusive resort, Steve & Natalie dancing contest winners, participating in many fun activities one of which was the zipline through the jungle. I was SO scared, almost backed out, didn't and then had SO much fun. It is one of many of my reference points of the rewards of doing something that scares you.

I'm looking for something new to 'scare' me or challenge me. Any ideas? (No interest in sky diving)

do one thing every day that scares you. eleanor roosevelt

Service

We all need someone that is 'watching out for us' -- helping to keep us out of the holes in life. Cricket does it literally for me each day. As I've mentioned previously, Davina spent a couple days following us around and taking fun pictures. In the picture below Cricket has stopped to let me know there is a hold in the walk, as I use my foot to probe to gain an understanding of why she has stopped, she looks up at me to make sure I am aware of the hole so we can proceed around it.
Thank you Cricket for your great service. This time of year (I know it should be always) we are reminded and encouraged to reach out and serve others. Natalie's post today reminded me of the joy of service. I remember the last time we were asked to help clean the church - we did it and Pantera (first guide) was lying in the corner. The sister that had asked us to come help came up and apologized and said ... oh I didn't realize you were blind, I'm sorry I asked you. I said, Thank you so much for asking us to help.