PET CONNECTIONS

Is it possible to have a "mystical connection" with your pet? I'll share a little bit here about my Sylvester aka "Little Man." There was an immediate and strong mutual connection between us at the pet store in my home town where I bought him. It wasn't the 'he's just 'so adorable' 'type of connection or anything like that. At the time I was in my mid 30's and had pets all my life and although I connected with my other pets before him this was different.

I was able to effortlessly train Little Man to walk with me without a leash. He stayed right with me didn't need a leash and never ventured out of my sight. When I called him to me on those walks, he listened. Once when he was injured my intution told me correctly. Further up the street, his leg got caught under a wire fence. It was about noon and most people were at work. I was supposed to be at work that day but took the day off. The neighbor who also had the perfect tool to set Little Man free also just happened to be home that day and it was not a holiday. We got him to the vet and he had to wear a leg brace for a while. He took his medicine like a perfect little gentleman and never fussed.

Sylvester was also a car cat and when I would travel on foot away from home he also didn't mind traveling in a fastened wicker basket while at the park or other places.

Little Man was the perfect therapist and could calm me or make me laugh hysterically at will. He brought so much joy to my kids, and my family and neighbors even knew there was something different about this cat of mine.

As for the name, Little Man? Well Sylvester was born with a perfect tuxedo coat. It was black with a perfectly shaped white vest and four perfect white shoes to match. One day I decided to put a black bow tie on him and yelled "You're a little man!" From that day foward nobody called him Sylvester anymore.

When I was forced by circumstances to leave my home state of Massachusetts to move to Atlanta, I had to give Little Man up. There was absolutely no way I could take him with me. There was so much sychronicity in how the doors of a new home opened for him. I'd spent months trying to find a home for him before my departure and had no luck. On the very last day of my stay in MA, out of the blue, a family friend who happened to hate cats ran into a friend, a cat lover, who was looking for a grown cat to keep her company. Wow!

As grateful as I was that we didn't have to leave Little Man in aome shelter, It was the most painful separation from a pet I'd ever had. I just could not stop weeping and I couldn't believe my reaction. Neither could anyone else. I literally felt like a part of me was torn away. Depression settled over me for about two months afterwards.

Well, it is 10 years later and, if I think about Little Man past my limit, the tears start to shed, not only because of the painful separation and how much I still love him, but also because of the joy he brought into my life and my children's lives. Smiles come along with the tears for the gratitude of having had him in my life. I believe that somehow we're still connected. I miss him very very much.

CHRYSALIS TIME

Before a caterpillar can become a butterfly it has to go through the chrysalis stage. To me this one of the ultimate symbols of transformation. On the surface it may not look like much is happening but the delicate chrysalis process changes this furry little caterpillar into an awsome butterfly with wings. Wings of course being a symbol of freedom. Of transcendence. Transcendence to what or to where? For some it is a career change. For others it is overcoming a major fear or even a phobia such as the fear of flying. For others still, it is overcoming destructive habits like tobacco, drug, or alcohol addiction. Or, you may have serious self worth or self-confidence issues that you need to face and then take steps to build that confidence.

This is where the pain of the chrysalis stage comes in. In the case of overcoming extreme shyness or low self-confidence you would need to take action such as getting counseling or coaching or joining a support group or even a supportive public speaking organization such as Toastmasters International (Ouch!).

The caterpillar stage that comes before the chrysalis stage compares to being stuck at point A. Personally it's costing you in some way and causing you great limitations. For example, you've passed up many lucrative career opportunities because these jobs required public speaking or group presentations. Or perhaps because of a fear of flying you've passed up career opportunities that keep you from living the life you want to live.

When you make the decision to change and follow through, you've just entered that chrysalis stage. The effort to overcome the fear of public speaking would be terribly painful and it would also be the process necessary for you to get to your point D, your goal. But the benefits of reaching that point would be so liberating. That journey you took built your self confidence and you are now positioned to gain financial peace of mind because now you can take those career opportunities that once terrified or paralysed you.

In the case of a drug or alcohol addiction this too would be a chrysalis stage in ones life. Unfortunately most people with a substance abuse problem wait until a chrysalis stage is forced upon them by consequences. The pleasure of the addiction is no longer worth staying stuck at point A. Perhaps you've burned so many bridges and you now realize how short life is and you don't want to spend the rest of your days burning more of them. You now realize goals and dreams and you want to reach for them, but first you have to face your inner demons and do the inner work of getting the addiction under control before you can even proceed to make those dreams or goals happen.

The symbolism of the chrysalis stage is a perfect example of how spirituality, self-help, personal developnent and counseling or coaching can transform you into someone you could never have imagined you could become. Either spiritually, emotionally, mentally, financially, or even all of the above.

These stages in our lives are calls to really look deep within oneself and face what is no longer working. To examine what's blocking you from your goals and dreams and then to resolve to CHANGE. To realize that you can't stay the way you are because it's not moving you foward. The pain of being stuck at point A is the motivator that fuels determination to reach point D, again, the place of your dream or goal. The obstacles often boil down to bad habits, "stinkin' thinkin," procrastinaton, and most often FEAR.

Personally, I've overcome so many limitations and have had many chrysalis stages in my life. But I am not "there" yet, and I refuse to stop. I still have more obstacles and limitations I need to overcome. But I'm moving amd I'm growing. The point is to "Keep on Keepin' On," as Gladys Knight sings. To just keep moving until I get to my "there." To my point D. ACTION, PERSISTENCE and PATIENCE is what transformation calls for because I know I can't complete the process overnight.

Finally, I find that patting myself on the back for each accomplishment I make, no matter how small, is strengthening. Having the support of friends who are on the same page as myself regarding reaching for goals and dreams is vital, but having my own inner support system is what counts the most. That's how I build the strength to keep going when other people can't be around keep me encouraged when I'm down.

To those of you out there struggling through your chrysalis stage, know that if you keep your focus on getting those wings, you won't quit and in due time, you'll lift off.

Blessings

BEWARE OF SCAMMERS, AND PYRAMID SCHEMERS

Hello everyone!

For those of you out there that are looking for resources to help you choose the right direct sales or network marketing opportunity, here are two of my favorites:

www.mlmwatchdog.com

www.mlmreviewkings.com

These guys sort out the good the bad and the ugly very nicely and "the watchdog" gives you the dish on court cases of certain mlm companies as well as scammers and pyramid schemers who finally got caught. There are good and honest direct sales and network marketing companies out there and certainly people who have found financial freedom through them. I personally know many. But please use these resouces and do your research and due dilligence before you take a plunge into any of them. Best wishes your search for financial peace of mind.

Blessings

Deborah

FOR SINGLE MOMS

Hello Singe Moms!

I felt moved to offer words of encouragement to struggling single and divorced moms out there. I know what it's like because after my divorce, I raised my son and daughter pretty much on my own. My divorce wasn't a peaceful one, unfortunately. It was also unfortunate for my kids that their father had a personal issue that robbed them of the kind of fathering that they deserved. They were at least fortunate enough to see their father on some weekends and on holidays.

Having a support system of some kind was crucial for this single mom who struggled both emotionally and financially. I'm grateful that my mother in-law continued to treat me like one of her own children despite the divorce. Certain in-laws were my support system. I'm grateful for this because of how my children greatly benefited from this. I needed all the help I could get. My own family was seriously dysfunctional and was not a suitable support system for me or my children. I basically ended up "divorcing" my own family for a time in addition to uprooting, and moving to a different region of the country for my childrens' benefit.

Looking back, one of the mistakes I made was getting married before choosing a career. I assumed I'd "live happily ever after" and could find my career path later. Was I ever wrong. But with the help, support , and encouragement from my support system, I was able to go to a technical school full time for a year and train as a medical assistant and also became a Certified Nursing Assistant for an additional ten weeks of training. I worked in the health care field for many years to support my family. This line of workcertainly didn't make me financially well off, but it was the best I could do at the time.

Now that my children are both college age I'm grateful for what I did do right. I taught my daughter to put career first and marriage second. I'm grateful that she's listening to me. She is working for an excellent company and pursuing her masters degree in psychology. As for my son, he is enrolled in college, but is a bit confused about what he wants to do with his life. He is however, gainfully employed with a great company. They wouldn't be where they are right now if I had stayed in an abusive marriage and hadn't temporarily severed with my own family. I have to mention that after much healing and personal growth, I hold no ill will or resentment toward my ex-husband or my family. My only wish is for them is to find healing for themselves. It took a lot of spiritual growth and time for me to be able to arrive at this place.

Back to my young adults, I see so much potential them. I always encourage them to think about becoming self employed. Entreprenuers. I see their strengths and their gifts and they really do have what it takes. I hope that in time they will see this potential in themselves and reap the benefits of entrepreneurship and live even more fulfilling lives. I love them both dearly and wish the absolute best for them.

Oh yeah! I almost forgot about me again. Ya know, that thing we moms tend to do best after meeting others needs so often? I currently lead and manage a local support group that teaches stress management techniques for anxiety sufferers and tools to help manage depression. I do this because of my own history with depression and anxiety and giving back and helping others makes me stronger the more I do it. I left the health care field due to a work injury and changed career paths. In addition to being a part-time internet marketer, I recently passed state of Ohio Board of Cosmetology's aesthetician's exam and I'm now a Licensed Aesthetician (Whewww! not an easy feat). I'm now in the midst of a career transition and I'm grateful for a brighter career path. If you'd like to know more about me, feel free to visit me at the following web addresses.

Well single moms, be fierce, be strong and credit yourself for doing whatever it takes to raise healthy, happy kids. And don't forget about you. Remember nobody is perfect, so don't be too hard on yourself. If you're without a partner at this time, use this time to take care of you, to do whatever healing you need to do, and to learn to love yourself.

Peace and Blessings