Life Should Be All About Ringing Your Bell

Dori loves her pink bell

This week I bought my 7 month-old kitten a collar. It's pink with black polka dots and has a pink bell. Dori loves it! That surprised me because my boy cats hate bells. They barely tolerate wearing a collar.

 

Herman has worn collars since he arrived on my doorstep 12 years ago. To this day he still slips his jaw under his collar in an attempt to pop it off. When he can't (because I test his collars before I buy to make sure they won't break apart easily) Herm will walk around the house with the collar in his mouth, whimpering. Turkish Van's are highly intelligent, so he's well aware that his whimpering drives me crazy. He will even walk right up to me, look me straight in the eye and whimper. Only when I tell him to "forget it" will he slip his jaw out and get on with his life. But wearing a bell brings out Herm's sincere distress. He's a quiet kind of guy that prefers not to jingle, and I honor his wishes.

 

Dori, however, struck me as a jingle cat and I was right. From the moment I put the collar on her, she has bounced and pranced everywhere she goes to make her bell ring. In fact...it rings all the damn time! Even at 3 a.m. when she's pouncing on my feet.

But it's soooo cute!

I wasn't really all that on board with adopting this kitten. I am still recovering from the kitten hijinks that Opie put me through 5 years ago. But Dori is a doll! She has a lovely feminine face, and an intelligent, sweet temperament that makes her a joy to live with (even with the 3 am foot pouncing).

 

And best of all, Peaches and Opie and Jack act as Dori's parental disciplinarians. All I have to do is pull her out of closets, or help her out from behind bathroom drawers, or down from the top of kitchen cupboards, or off the fireplace mantle, or... *gads, she's a busy girl!*

In-purr-ruption #2: Ahem!

Grateful for Paper Toweling

Do you embrace your inner Eeyore by starting your day with a cloud over your head, woefully pessimistic about what is in store for you?

Or are you a Tigger type and happily bounce out of bed, determined to celebrate the day and all its glorious surprises?

I'm a Tigger at heart, at least when it comes to being optimistic. And yes, that also makes me a Morning Person, although not quite the caliber of my sis, Carolyn, who is a

I keep a journal by my bedside for the specific purpose of recording 5 positive things I am grateful for, or happy about, each day.

I try to maintain a positive outlook no matter what drama or chaos surrounds me. For a time I had people in my life who habitually drained me with their negativity and anger. When I left their company I felt like kicking one of my cats, which is so not like me. Then I realized that I didn't have to let them control our conversations. I learned to combat the sour emotions they caused me by literally volleying each negative remark with a positive. Unfortunately it didn't change them, but when I realized they weren't getting satisfaction from my end of the conversation, it changed me.

By keeping a journal of what you are happy about, or grateful for, I believe you attract those types of vibrations into your life. When you read what you have recorded in the past, you refresh your memory, and unconsciously emphasize your positive attitude.

Of course, I have days when Life unravels around me and the Universe seems determined to kick me while I'm down. And yes, sometimes I do give Eeyore control over my mood. But I usually snap out of it when I remember how good I feel when I annoy people with my Little Merry Sunshine impersonation.

In-purr-ruption #1: Don't Taz Me!

There are days when producing my daily page quota is not only a struggle, but a hurdle of epic proportions. My forthcoming In-purr-ruption photo series will give you a peek at what's going on behind me while I'm trying to work.

This went on today between Herman and Dori.

Motivation or... Ohhh! Now I Get It

My hubby has been complaining about his sore back. So for his birthday I bought him a back stretcher.

His birthday is in March, but I gave him the gift on Valentine's Day with the idea being, by the time his birthday arrived, my true gift to him would be No Back Pain!

No where on the box did it say ASSEMBLY REQUIRED.

When it comes to assembling things, motivation isn't one of our strong points . We have artwork purchased on vacations from ten years ago that are still without frames.

The box ended up in the kitchen closet until the end of March... at which time the unassembled back stretcher ended up in the living room, right smack in front of the TV.

I felt sure, looking at it night after night, we would find

 

We did not.

I pulled the odds and ends out of the box, left them scattered on the floor, and tossed the box.

 

Instead, Dori played with her toys on top of the pieces.

Gidget lounged on the seat.

"Someone" put tooth marks in the plastic.

This morning after Ray vacuumed around it... I decided that perhaps instead of leaving it in front of the TV, I should maybe...I don't know...lay it on top of our bed.

Just to see if                                                                                                       

would strike.

.

 

As I reached down to pick up the pieces, it hit me!

Not MOTIVATION, but... Understanding.

My back actually

and I felt better.

A-Ha from the 80s

Motivation comes in all shapes and sizes.

Exercise = Fit Body.

 

Elbow Grease = Clean Home.

 

Butt in Chair = Published Novel.

So, what motivates you?

Is it Achievement of Job Well Done?

 

Lure of Success?

 

Expensive chocolate or a super sized bag of Cheetos?

Please share your secrets with me. And thanks for being MOTIVATED to stop by!