Just a thought.....

Sometimes I wish I had more patience.  It seems as if sometimes I just run out.  I swear I used to have more.  Maybe, as you live longer, your patience grows shorter?  But I'm not THAT bad, not yet anyhow.  I will definitely make sure I am aware of it.  Sometimes, When I'm driving, or when I'm in line, sometimes I just feel like I'm going to lose it.  Not all the time, mind you.  Just sometimes.  Sometimes it turns me into someone I don't like, someone I don't recognize.
Thankfully, as I said, it's not all the time.  And I realize that even the most angelic of people lose it. Except, maybe, Mother Theresa.  So I'm not a bad person.  At least, I don't think so.  I'm just human.  I can definitely work with that.  :) 

Cucumbers plus vinegar = Delicious?

I hate cucumbers.  Not just a hate.  A fear, a loathing.  It's the only food item where, if accidentally included in my order, I will return my food.  Because it just leaves that horrible, soggy, watery taste.  The taste that tastes like nothing, but still tastes vile.

NOOOOOOOOOOO!

I hate vinegar.  And most things vinegary.  I do not do well with German side dish choices.  The Germans seem to have a love affair for all things of a vinegary nature.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love pickles.  What is a pickle?  

Yes please!

A cucumber steeped for weeks in spices and vinegar.


I know.  I know.

Tales From The Massage Realm

In case you didn't know or have never read any of my blogs, I am a massage therapist.  I of course massage humans, but my specialty is canine and equine massage.  That's dogs and horses in layman's terms.  People often ask me, does anything strange ever happen while you're working?  My answer to them is, how long is a piece of string?  In other words, YES.

I've been in this business for about six years now.  A lot of things come to mind.  I remember the first really strange thing that happened to me.  It was just an innocent question, but it made me wonder about the client's home life.  I was in the habit of using warm towels and wiping down each limb after massaging it as clients seemed to like the warmth, plus it removed any excess oil.  After wiping down a man's arm, he opened his eyes and said to me, "That felt great.  Was that your hair you wiped me down with?"  Um.  Ok.  That would be a big fat NO.  First of all, who wants to be wiped down with hair?  I mean, I am sure there are people out there like that - I've heard of worse.  But to me....that's just so weird.  Also, at the time, my hair was no longer than ear length.  So my thought was, how close did he think I actually wanted to get to him?  To his face, his furry forearm, his armpit?  Not that close, I can assure you.

I haven't been asked to do this.  YET.

Another interesting aspect of my job is performing couple's massages.  This is when we have a couple in the room at the same time - it could be spouses, partners, sisters, whatever - mainly it is partners and spouses, celebrating some kind of milestone.  We don't do the massages perfectly in sync or anything like that - we just make sure that we end the massage at the same time.  I have found in my experience that some couples are extremely jealous, and don't want another person touching their significant other.  This leads to them not being able to relax and so they watch the other therapist constantly.  More than once I have felt a client's eyes burning into my soul, waiting for me to peek at their other half's nether regions, I suppose.  Or maybe they just like to watch the other half relax.  Who knows?  All I know is, the eyes are extremely off putting.  I remember one time we had this extremely difficult woman who was very jealous, yet insisted on coming in once a month to have a couple's massage with her husband.  About halfway through he sighed and said, "Honey, you have to learn how to do this.  It feels so good".  She shot me a look like thunder and watched me for the whole massage.  Jeez lady!  I'm just doing my job.

Even more interesting is when I'm working on animals.  Dogs tend to become very relaxed and, uh, pass gas with great ferocity.  Many times I have been working on an older dog and hear a light "pfft" come from the back end.  All of a sudden I smell something like a mixture of sulfur, Beggin' Strips, and rotting vegetables fill the room like a silent vapor.  Most of the time I just hold my breath and keep working; however, if the Mom or Dad just happens to be in the room I HAVE to say something.  I don't want them thinking it was me!  They would never invite me back! And horses - forget it!  When I see that tail lift up, I back up about three feet or more.  Who knows what could be coming out that end?  Whatever it is, I want to be a safe distance from it.  

That's one type of canine massage, I guess.

Another time I worked on a Great Mastiff.  He became relaxed and rolled over - and I then saw the biggest testicles I have ever seen on man or beast. 

I turned to the owner and said, "Are you planning on breeding this big guy?". 

"Yeah, how did you know?"

"Oh, no particular reason".  My eyes can never unsee those bad boys, let me tell you.

With all this though, with the strange folks, the moaners, the groaners, the people who show up late and insist on getting their full massage because the world revolves around them, the jealous folks, the no shows, the dog farts, the horse tail lifting - I wouldn't change my job for the world.  There's nothing better than hearing from a client saying how much better they feel, or hearing from a dog or horse's owner telling them that you really made a difference for them.  And if it weren't for all the strange stuff, my job would be so....boring.  So here's to all the weird goings on that make the world go round.  It takes all kinds - at least that's what my Grandma would say - and damn, was she right.

Our Pets are not just cargo......

The passengers are ready to fly!

When my husband and I found out we were moving to America from England, we were so excited - yet there was so much to do.  We needed to pack, make arrangements for our travel, for the transportation of our belongings, and most important to us of all, the transportation of our beloved furry children, Oliver and Magic.  This was the part that worried me the most.  People who didn't know us well would say to us, "Have you found a good home for your cats?".  The answer was, of course, YES, with us.  My husband and I are animal lovers and to us, pets are not just pets, they are members of the family.  There was never any doubt in my mind that they were coming with us, the question was, with who, and how?

I contacted a company who in the end were wonderful.  My boys arrived eventually just fine and none the worse for wear (well, there was some meowing and caterwauling involved).  However, there were so many rules and regulations, it really got me worried (it's not too hard to worry me where my boys are concerned anyways, but still).  For instance, what you could put in the carrier, what you couldn't put in the carrier, etc.  Plus there was always that worrying in the back of my mind that something would go horribly wrong.  You hear every year about a poor pet companion's tragic death because he was put in the wrong hold or the wrong part of the plane, or it wasn't pressurized.  How awful for the pet parents, to be so excited at the end of a trip, thinking they have done everything right, and then to have that happen - well, it just doesn't bear thinking about.  I have also seen, from the window of the plane, a pet being loaded into the cargo area.  Let's just say that sometimes, the baggage handlers are not so gentle with them.  They treat them as just that - baggage.  Those of us who cherish our pets know that it they are so much more than that.

Soon these worries may be a thing of the past, thanks to Pet Airways (www.petairways.com).  Pet Airways is a new company born out of an idea from Dan Wiesel and Alysa Binder, a couple who had to fly their pet Jack Russell Terrier Zoe in the hold of a normal airplane.  They decided that people's pets deserved better.  Over the last four years they have designed their fleet of five planes (turbo-prop Beech 1900) to accommodate pets and their carriers.  They have taken all the "human furnishings", like seats and overhead bins, out and cleared the way for carriers.  The carriers are secured using a special restraint system designed by Pet Airways.


Sounds great - but for most pet owners, it is the service that comes with the flight that will make all the difference, not to mention the fact that their pet is not in a hold, where temperatures can change rapidly, and it is dark and noisy - so different from the comforts of home.  The service includes pre-boarding walks and bathroom breaks.  It also includes a pet attendant on board, checking on pets every 15 minutes to make sure that all animals are comfortable.  After landing, pets will be disembarked, given a potty break, and will be available for pickup at the Pet Lounge.    If you cannot pick your pet up that day, Pet Airways is happy to board your pet at the Paws Lounge overnight.  You can also always track where your pet is using their pet tracker online.

Pet Airways will fly a pet between five major cities — New York, Washington, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles. The $250 one-way fare is comparable to pet fees at the largest U.S. airlines.    If they are not flying where you wish to fly, you can contact them to see what can be done.  Hopefully, newer cities will be added in the future.  

For some, paying even a little extra is worth it for the peace of mind it brings.  Sometimes, you can drive your pets with you in the car.  But for those times when it just can't be done, it's nice to know there is a wonderful, caring, safe alternative.   I would definitely do it for my boys.  I hate to think of them on their seven hour flight, not being near each other, having it be dark and cold, and not know where they were going and not having any human interaction.  To put my boys on a flight like this would ease so many concerns I have, and I can't be the only one - Pet Airways is fully booked for the next two months.  It's not a surprise really - it's a wonderful, humane concept that is long overdue, and I can only wish them all the success in the world.

Alysa Binder with one very satisfied Pet
Airways customer.

Cell Dogs - A Cell Dog Is My Best Friend

Sometimes, when you are doing something completely non-related, something will pop into your head - something you've seen, a song you know, a movie you saw years ago, but can't remember its name. This happens to me quite often. So as I was wandering around my apartment, doing various boring domestic chores, something popped into my head to make me think. I thought for so long that I had to write about it. What was I thinking of? Cell Dogs.

Now, you might be asking, Cell Dogs? What the heck is that all about? If you know anything about me, you know that I love all animals. I believe that they enrich our lives and make our lives so much more exciting, so much richer than they would have been without them. Cell Dogs epitomizes this to the letter.

Cell Dogs was a program on Animal Planet chronicling a new program for inmates of prisons. This program took dogs from local shelters and animal rescue programs and put them in the hands of a prisoner. Yes, that's right, a prisoner. Many of these prisoners were hardened criminals, in for horrible crimes - murder, fraud, robbery. Although these crimes are serious, there was a criteria that had to be met to be involved in the program. The inmates could not have been in prison for animal abuse or child molestation, among other factors. The "best and brightest" of the prison were chosen to take care of these dogs whose problems were just as varied as the prisoners - some could not be housebroken, some were so shy they could not walk, some just needed to learn basic commands. In all cases, the prisoners were the dogs last hope for adoption. To change these dogs would take a lot of work - and a lot of love.
Love? Love from people who have murdered, robbed, assaulted their fellow human being? How can this be? That, my friends, is the beauty of the program. As you watch, you can see the prisoners transforming along with their dogs. Their face no longer hardened, they realize they are caring for someone else, that someone else is solely dependent on them. They have a purpose. Instead of just sitting in their cells, or lifting weights all day, they have a higher cause. These dogs really mean something to them; they represent life itself. As one prisoner put it, he would never get a chance to leave the prison walls - but he was going to make damn sure that his dog made it out and went to a loving family.

The key to this program, besides the love given and received, is the time the prisoners have. Animal shelters and rescues are so overrun with homeless animals with issues and problems, it's hard to find the staff - and the time - to work with these animals. For the prisoners inside, they have nothing but time. The prisoners are responsible for all aspects of the dogs' care - from grooming and bathing, to brushing their teeth, to the training the dogs receive. You watch these dogs transform, and it really is something to see.

The statistics speak for themselves.  After the program begins, the head of the prison remarks that the relationships between the prisoners drastically improves.  One of the guards says that he hasn't had to break up a fight between prisoners in six months since the dogs arrived.  The prisoners have something to talk about to the guards, and their relationships improve.  Euthanasia in the county dramatically drops as more and more dogs are being adopted out to their forever homes.  One of the most touching parts of the program is when one inmate has to let his dog go, as she is being adopted.  He begins to tear up - but he has no time to grieve.  His next dog is being taken to the prison as he is being filmed. 


A prisoner and his new best friend play fetch.



I know that some of these people have committed heinous crimes.  These programs provide win-win situations.  The prisoners have something to look forward to.  The whole attitude of the prison changes.  The dogs have a chance at a forever home.  Many of these programs are being adopted all over the United States, and the key is that they are working.  I'm not saying that these prisoners should be let back into society.  They need to serve their time.  But what a wonderful way to serve it, and to give back to society a little bit of what they took away.

My hope is that prisons all over the world will adopt these programs.  The healing it provides for all is unbelievable.  I wish that Animal Planet still showed this program; I would definitely be watching.  These animals never judge their keeper, and their keeper never judges them.  It is further proof about how the power of love for an animal can awaken humanity and love in even the hardest of hearts.  As one prisoner said about his dog "She opened us up to our softer sides, and I guess we liked it".  Enough said.

Trainers and their dogs, ready for adoption.  The dogs.
Not the prisoners.  Tee hee.  What a wonderful sight.

For a list of similar programs in your homestate, please check out this link: http://www.coyotecom.com/dogs/prisondogs.html

Hachiko - We could all learn a lesson.................

The world we live in today is a world of fast times and sometimes, even faster friendships. People come and go out of each other's lives in a dizzying whirl, words spoken, faces forgotten. This is what makes it even easier to appreciate those friends who have lasted, those who are near and dear to us. Now, anyone who knows me knows that I believe that sometimes, our animal companions are the most dedicated and loyal out of any human companions - the unconditional love we receive from them knows no bounds. So when I came across a story of an Akita dog whose love for his master was limitless, I had to write about it. This is the story of that dog - the story of Hachiko.

In 1925, Professor Ueno Elizaburo walked every day to the station to take the train to his job at what is now known as Tokyo University. His dog Hachiko accompanied him every day to the station. Of course, he could not go with the Professor to his job but every day at 3:00, when the Professor returned to the station, Hachiko was waiting faithfully at the gates for him, come rain or shine.

One of the few pictures of Hachiko.

On May 21 of that year, Professor Ueno died of a stroke whilst at work. Hachiko was at the station that day, waiting for his master to come home. On this day he waited, and waited. Did he know something was wrong? I often wonder if he knew in his mind that his master would not return. But did this stop Hachiko from going to the station everyday? The answer is a resounding no.

Every day, for nearly 10 years, Hachiko went to Shibuya station at 3:00 and sat in the same spot he always sat in, waiting. He would wait until the station closed. Professor Ueno's former gardner and the stationmaster understood what the dog was doing and fed him and gave him shelter. Soon word spread of this loyal dog. The Japanese culture is focused on family and loyalty. Hachiko was seen as a prime example of what humans should aspire to. People began travelling to see him, to feed him, or just to touch his head for luck. On March 7th, 1934, Hachiko was found dead on the platform where he had waited for the Professor for so long. He had continued his pilgramage, even when old age and arthritis began to make it more and more difficult.

Hachiko's death made the papers in Japan nationwide and a day of mourning was declared. Contributions from mourners all over were sent in and a statue was erected in memory of Hachiko by famed sculptor Andeo Teru - placed in the exact same spot where Hachiko had waited all those years. The statue was taken down and melted for the war effort to make weapons. The amazing thing is, after the war Andeo's son, Takeshi made another statue, which is in the same spot and stands to this day. Hachiko can also be seen stuffed in Japan's National Museum.

Hachiko's statue at Tokyo's Shibuya Station.

I often think, would a human have done this for anyone else? We all have the tendency to be a bit selfish in our lives. It's human nature. It's also human nature to move on, "get over it". Hachiko had to know that something was not right. Yet day after day after day, he waited for his master to come home. Akitas are known to sometimes be indifferent, to do their own thing, to not have the pack mentality. Yet this dog thought of nothing but waiting for his master, and even when he never showed, he continued his journey. How many of us would have given up? How many of us would have become angry - where is he? I'm not waiting for him again! I think that Hachiko really believed that his master would return and he didn't want to not be there for that homecoming. The unswerving loyalty of this dog has moved myself, and countless others, to tears.

I know people who think animals are stuipid, here for our entertainment, simple creatures who don't understand much. How wrong they are. When my husband goes on a business trip, one of our cats mourns until he comes back. Animals are not simple creatures. They are complex with a range of emotions just like ours. Simply because they cannot speak it to us doesn't mean those emotions are not there. I defy anyone to read the story of Hachiko and tell me otherwise. For me, Hachiko is a true hero who should be celebrated by all. Loyalty and love like that are very hard to find indeed.

Rest in peace, little Hachiko. You have taught us all a lesson about what unconditional love really is. If everyone acted in the manner that you have, what a wonderful world this would be.

Me? Road Rage? Never......

I am a massage therapist (surprise surprise).  I am an on call massage therapist.  This means that I work at four or five different places (chiropractors, spas, my own clients) as needed. This can mean driving 20 miles a day, 60 miles a day, or even almost 300 miles, if I have to go far enough on the day.  Inevitably, though I try not to let it affect me, there are a lot of crazy drivers out there, which drives me (no pun intended) to.....ROAD RAGE.

Not cool!

The day can start innocently enough.  Driving along, my favorite songs playing, the sun is shining....what's this?  Someone driving in the middle of the road.  Hmmmmm......why am I not surprised...texting.  Good Lord.  As I drive around them, the car which has been trying to decided for the past 60 seconds whether they should enter the road or not, even though they clearly see me coming, pulls out at the last minute, causing me to slam on my brakes.  Ok, Carrie.  Don't get upset.  Focus on the music.  Focus on the nice, sunny....hey!  You didn't even put your signal on!  You almost hit me!  Ok.  Just breathe.  This light has been green for at least 20 seconds. The driver appears to be checking the radio.  I'll just give him a little beep to let him know it's his turn to go.  WHAT?  I really don't think that I deserved the middle finger for that!  What is wrong with people?


Roadragers.com describes road rage as "the informal name for deliberately dangerous and/or violent behavior under the influence of heightened, violent emotion such as anger and frustration, involving an automobile in use.  This can involve deliberately hitting another person, vehicle or object with his/her own vehicle and/or firing a weapon from it. Other possibilities include hitting the person or vehicle with an item which is not his vehicle, but which ultimately hits another person or vehicle."  Simply put, you get mad at someone's driving, you try to get back at them, either by cutting them off as they did to you, or worse, getting out of your car and getting into physical altercations.  I don't know about you, but I find that the time of year also factors in, i.e. holidays, etc.  Is it really worth it?  Probably not.  But sometimes we just can't help ourselves.  I have told myself so many times to let it go, and nine times out of ten, I do.  But that 10th time.....


So what can we do?  Road ragers gives some tips.  Don't retaliate, don't make eye contact.  Take time to breathe.  Could the other driver have made a mistake?  Nothing is worth your life.  You never know what other people will do or how they will react.  They may look harmless...but they probably aren't.  My best friend was cut off by someone and reacted by honking her horn and flipping him off.  At the next light he pulled out a gun and just waved it at  her, to show what he COULD do.  Just a friendly little reminder.  It just isn't worth it.

I hate it when my husband tries to show
off.  :)

So remember....breathe in, breathe out.  Laugh it off if possible.  Just keep thinking - it isn't worth it.  Chances are, you will feel ten times better for it.  


Oh, and if you've got some time, take this road rage test.  You could find out something about yourself that you just didn't know.

http://www.roadragers.com/test/index.htm.

The Drive In Theater - A Slice of American Ingenuity

I can still remember going to the drive-in theater about once a month when I was a child. My mom would give us a bath beforehand and would then dress my older sister and my twin sister and I in our pajamas with the feet at the bottom. She would pop her own popcorn and we would bring our own snacks from home. She would put the back seats down in the old beat-up stationwagon to create a bed of sorts. The movie would start and we would stare in awe at the huge screen in front of us, large and luminous. Most of us would not make it through the whole movie (the reason for the pajamas, no doubt). It was something to look forward to like no other. I remember being so incredibly jealous that my older sister got to go twice to see Grease, once with us and once with the neighbors. I was so annoyed as I watched her riding away in the back of the car, waving excitedly.

As I got older, I never really thought about the drive-in anymore. I think that, being a teenager, and with so many new and exciting things to entertain ourselves, I never really gave a thought to the drive-in theater which had given me so much joy. I think deep in my heart, I also believed that they didn't exist anymore, like dinosaurs or the tooth fairy. I thought, since I never heard anything about them, that they had just died out and become extinct. The Tyrannosaurus Rex of the entertainment world, along with Caleco Vision and eight tracks. So, imagine my surprise, and sheer delight, at discovering one literally in my backyard in Goochland, Virginia! Movies, here we come!

The first drive-in theater opened in Camden, New Jersey, in 1933. Back then they only had three pairs of six foot speakers to broadcast sound. Still, 500 people turned up, at $1 a car. By the 1940's there were 95 drive-ins spread across 27 states. Ohio led the way with 11 drive-ins. When World War II began, of course production of these drive-ins slowed. The baby boom at the end of the War prompted most drive-ins to add playgrounds. Most parents let their children play on the playground and then went to get snacks at the concession stands. After that, it was movie time! During the 1950's, it wasn't just the number of drive-ins that increased, but the size too. Many began to include boat rides, pony rides, and miniature golf, among other attractions. Some even had the option to order your food from your car and have it delivered by car hops. Now that's service!

In the 1960's and 1970's, the great drive-in began to stagnate. Hardly any were being build and many catered their films to teen-agers. The 1980's almost killed the drive-in with the coming of cable TV and VCRs. In the 1990's, not many new drive-ins were built, but many existing ones began to add extra screens, which attracted new patrons. Also, a sense of nostalgia was felt. Those who used to go when they were young could now bring their own families. This has made a major difference in the resurgence of the drive-in.

Watching movies is always fun, but what is so great about a drive-in? For one, you get to stay in your own car. You don't have to deal with people behind you munching popcorn or being loud. It's also ideal for young parents who may need to feed their kids or who may feel embarrassed going to another indoor theater. Also, a big plus with the drive-in is the price. Although they no longer charge by the carful, which was much cheaper, prices range from $5 to $7 per person, much cheaper than going to a Regal cinema or the Carmike. Most drive-ins show a double feature too, which is great value for money. Also, concession stand prices tend to be much cheaper. At our local drive-in (Goochland Drive-In), nothing is over $3.50. That includes popcorn, drinks, burgers, whatever your fancy! Quite a change from our local indoor theater, where you have to refinance your house to buy a large popcorn and drink!

The biggest plus for me, though, is that I am not only living my childhood again, but I am helping a local business. My husband and I are very big on supporting local businesses, especially in this economy. As far as I know, there are no large chains of drive-in theaters. Every single one is owned by a small business owner trying to make a living. Our local theater is owned by a husband and wife with a small child who decided that they were going to make their dream of owning a drive-in theater a reality. I can't wait to show up there on Saturday night and help them to continue making their dream thrive.

My husband is from England and had never experienced a drive-in theater. Some things have changed (no more speakers, you get the sound through your car radio), but most have stayed the same. I believe that the drive-in theater was one of the best ideas around, and with the public's help, we can keep it thriving and on top. What a novel idea, to let our children and other loved ones experience what we loved as children. I just can't wait! Why not check out your area for a drive-in near you? It really is an experience to remember!

Check out a drive-in in your area at http://www.driveintheater.com/drivlist.html

Information about the history of drive-in theaters taken from www.driveintheater.com.

Forgive Me...

Forgive me for the rant that may or may not follow - well, not really a rant, just a stream of conciousness.  I have written on the subject of supporting local businesses before, and most people know my stance on it, i.e. DO IT.  Now, I'm not saying all the time....I know that Wal-Mart and Target (my favorite) have everything in them and are practically cities in a box.  You go in for one thing....some sugar, a hairdryer....and come out with 50.  I understand this convenience and the fact that prices ARE lower, because these entities are so enormous.  I totally get it.  At the same time though, we've got to try to spend money in independent storefronts too.  Not just storefronts - businesses in general.  The 3/50 Project is a wonderful example of this thought in action.  Spend just $50 a month at three local, independently owned businesses - no chains, no franchises - and watch the businesses flourish, and the community thereafter.  Any money spent goes back into the community in terms of taxes, etc. which can be put forth to better the community.

I can also apply this on a personal note.  I am a massage therapist.  I massage people, dogs, horses, and cats.  I work at a chiropractor and a few other places around town.  I know how easy it is to go to a place like Massage Envy.  Let me tell you, you get what you pay for.  I'm not saying their people aren't good - but most are fresh out of school and new to the business.  Generally they are also worked to the bone, for very little pay (I interviewed for them once, so I know the pay scale).  When you go in for your nice, relaxing massage, or deep tissue workout, more than likely you will have one exhausted therapist on your hands.  You may not get that therapist next time either.  Turnaround is generally very high.  Now, if you call a locally owned business (i.e., my own), you will get someone who genuinely cares about your well being.  I work on my own time, so you will get the 60 minute massage you are paying for, not 50 minutes.  Most importantly, you will deal with myself and myself only, so that you will get me the next time you call.  Not to mention the fact that my prices are reasonable as I am not dealing with a middle man.

Big franchises and corporations aren't bad ALL the time - but when Petco starts killing the local pet store or the local drugstore has to close down because Rite Aid moved in....well, it's just a crying shame.  We don't need a chain on every single corner.  Let's think less of convenience and more of what this country was built on - hard work and perseverance.  Let's make sure we follow the 3/50 rule and try to keep our small businesses going in this flailing economy.

Oh, by the way, for those of you in the Richmond area, a one hour Swedish massage from myself is $50 - there's one of your $50 blocks spent right there.  :)

Gratitude, where art thou?

As I was cleaning the house the other day, I had "House Hunters" on the TV in the background. Now, for those of you who aren't familiar with House Hunters, the program takes a family or an individual who is looking for a new house and presents them with three houses to choose from, of which they eventually pick one in the end. This particular family was shopping in Atlanta, Georgia. They had a budget of about $1.3 million, and were ideally looking for a three car garage, as well as basement room, for their three children. The third house they looked at was beautiful, with a basement the size of my whole house combined. Upon reaching the garage, the wife looked around and said, "Is this a two car garage?", to which the real estate agent replied, "Yes, it is". The wife looked at her husband, crossed her arms, and said, "Now, THAT's a deal breaker".

A deal breaker? I was in disbelief. The house had everything they wanted, and it was bigger than my house and my neighbor's houses combined. But because they couldn't fit a third car in the garage - it was a no go.

I thought about this and thought about this, and for some reason, it really irritated me. It got me thinking about what we are used to in this fast, easy world, and what we take for granted. Now, before I go any further - I need to put out a disclaimer here, that I will end up sounding like a whiney old fuddy duddy. You know the type - "In my day", blah blah blah. But really folks - have gratitude and humility completely been thrown out the window? As an American who has lived in another country before, I am painfully aware of the image that is portrayed to other countries about the lot of us - and of course, this is just a stereotype, but stereotypes ring true for a reason. We are seen as convenience driven, wasteful, and above all, just not understanding how lucky we are. It's not just Americans who are seen this way either - really it's the entire Western world.

It's not our fault. First off, we do become accustomed to what we have. I know I do. If the drycleaning shop isn't open or the card shop opens at ten and not nine, look out! Our convenience has become our downfall. Also, we are accustomed to getting bigger and better things over time - upgrading, if you will. We hear it all the time. "I need that new phone". Well, you really don't NEED it. Unless yours has broken. You WANT it, sure. But you don't NEED it. Either way, we are all guilty of wanting more, and that's ok. But what happens when you get it? Gratitude, and genuine gratitude at that, are your next step.

My husband and I just bought a new house, and you had better believe I give thanks every day. Perhaps not out loud or in front of people, but all the same, I give thanks. I have a house, a car, and a career. Sometimes work can be up and down and I panic in the down times. All the same, I always try to show gratitude. You see, many believe that in giving gratitude, you are like a magnet, attracting positive energy as opposed to negative energy. The more you give thanks, the more you will have to give thanks for. I'm not talking about winning the lottery or drastic measures like that. It's the small things, building up over time, that you will notice.

What am I grateful for? A roof over my head. Good friends. Supportive family. My beautiful cats. The woods in my backyard. A car to get me to work everyday. A job that I need a car to get me to work everyday. Going out to breakfast with my husband. Everything, big and small, is included. Don't get me wrong, I'm not perfect. There are times when I am down and I stamp and pout and get angry about things that didn't go my way. I find that when I am in a state of thankfulness, even if things aren't going quite so well, it really does improve not only my mental state, but my physical state as well. I feel so much better when I have that overwhelming state of yes, things are going pretty good right now. Pitfalls are normal. It's how you get out of them that counts. That is a definite work in progress for me. Recognizing that is half the battle.

So remember - try to be thankful, as much as you can, for the little and the big things in life. It can really change your perspective on the world. Now....if I could just not fall asleep so early at night....then I would be eternally grateful.