I have a theory about the human mind. A brain is a lot like a computer. It will only take
so many facts, and then it will go on overload and blow up. – Erma Bombeck

This past week, I’ve been feeling a little overloaded. The manuscripts for my two new books, Tortitude: The Little Book of Cats With a Big Attitude (due out February 2016) and  Purrs of Wisdom: Enlightenment, Feline Style (due out spring 2016) are both due to Mango Media the end of this month. I’m in the final stages of revising, editing and polishing, and I know I’ll make the deadline, but I’ve been working much longer hours than I normally do. Continue Reading

I do believe in simplicity. It is astonishing as well as sad, how many trivial affairs even the
wisest thinks he must attend to in a day; how singular an affair he thinks he must omit.
Henry David Thoreau

For most of us, life these days is anything but simple. We live in a world where being busy is considered a badge of honor. We’re drowning in information as we’re trying to manage the endless flow of it from our multiple devices. We’re urged to buy more stuff, get more done in a shorter amount of time, and do it all while being bombarded with messages from the media that are designed to scare us into complicating our lives even more by trying to protect ourselves against every possible calamity that might befall us. Many of us are stressed, overwhelmed and frightened.Continue Reading

Let go of fear, embrace change, and move toward joy. – Buckley

I have a love/hate relationship with change. I often think that one of the many reasons why I love cats is that they are creatures of habit who don’t like having their routines disrupted. I like my life, and I like my routines. At the same time, most, if not all, change in my life has always been for the better. And yet, I still can’t quite seem to embrace the fact that change is good.Continue Reading

Ever have one of those days where you just can’t seem to get yourself motivated to do anything? You’re not alone. I bet even Tony Robbins occasionally has one of those days. Whether it’s starting to exercise, or tackling a huge new project, sometimes, it’s just tough to get up and go. These motivational slumps are not to be confused with clinical depression, which requires intervention from a medical professional. I’m talking about those “blah” days that most of us face at one time or another. Continue Reading

We all long for genuine connection with other human beings. Connecting with others not only makes life richer, it appears that we are actually wired to form relationships with others. In Social: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Connect, psychologist Matthew Lieberman explores groundbreaking research in social neuroscience, revealing that our need to connect with other people is even more fundamental than our need for food or shelter.Continue Reading

Are you your own worst critic? Do you feel like nothing you do could ever be good enough? We probably all do this at one time or another, but if you are constantly judging yourself for not being perfect, it may be time to take a good look at your internal self talk and make a different choice.Continue Reading

Happiness can only exist in acceptance. – George Orwell

Every single moment in life offers us a choice: we can either be in the moment and accept what is happening, or we can resist it. This is a lesson that life tends to present to us over and over. Whether it’s weather throwing a wrench into our plans, or a friend or co-worker not cooperating with our wishes, gracefully accepting what is can be challenging. Continue Reading

I recently came across an article on 12 Weekend Habits of Highly Successful People, and I found it fascinating that many were not what I expected after reading the headline. Yes, there was the predictable advice of “get up early,” “get ready for the rest of the week,” and “keep up the momentum,” but a surprising number advocated making time for meditation, unplugging, and making time for fun. But what struck me as most useful was Randi Zuckerberg’s advice. Randi is the founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media (and, yes, she is the sister of Facebook’s creator), so her advice to “forget FOMO and embrace JOMO” was rather unexpected.Continue Reading

I love coffee and couldn’t imagine facing the day without that first cup. I also wouldn’t want to give up my daily afternoon latte, but with the exception of those two daily cups, I really am a tea drinker at heart. There’s just something soothing and therapeutic about a good cup of tea.Continue Reading

Cats are creatures of habit. This may be one of the thousands of reasons why I love these gorgeous creatures so much: I love my routines, and change doesn’t always come easily for me, despite the fact that most, if not all, change in my life has always been for the better. And there’s nothing wrong with positive routines. When the Dalai Lama was asked “if you only had one word to describe the secret of happiness, and of living a fulfilling and meaningful life, what would that word be,” he replied without hesitating: “routines.”

But there is a lot to be said for moving outside of your comfort zone.Continue Reading