Tuesday, July 31, 2018

The Lovely Thief of the Neighborhood

The thief that everyone loved



In my last post HERE, I told you the story about how Miau saved Lucky from a bully Rottweiler. This time I'll tell you about my sweet dog, Lucky. 

Lucky and Miau crossed the rainbow bridge long ago and I'd like to believe that they have found each other there, too.

As I pulled into my backyard one day, I saw a pitiful-looking German Sheppard sitting close to my back door. She was very skinny and sick-looking, ribs visible under her thin coat. I got out of my car and took a few steps toward her while talking to her. She watched me intently with chocolate color eyes, sizing me up. I stopped a few feet from her and sat down on the patio chair. My hubby came outside and sat down next to me.

“Where did you get this sickly-looking dog?” I asked.

“She just showed up about an hour ago. I have no idea where she came from.”

After a short time, the dog came closer and put her head on my knees. I patted her for a while and I could feel bumps on her back and sides. I parted her fur and saw old and fresh bruises. “Where did you come from? Who did this to you?” I asked sniffing back tears.

She just looked at me with sadness and trust in her eyes.

Hubby went inside and grabbed bowls of food and water. He placed them close to the dog. She started eating while keeping a wary eye on us. When she was finished, I invited her in. She wouldn’t come inside, so I brought a blanket out and made a temporary bed for her on the patio.

The next morning, I made posters and we posted them in the stores and post office.
When nobody called to claim her after three days, we decided to keep her and took her to our veterinarian.

The vet examined her, took some blood and the next day called us with the results. “She is in bad shape, I’m afraid. She has heartworms and Lyme disease.”

The next day we took the dog to the animal hospital where she stayed for five days getting antibiotics and chemotherapy infusions.

We named her Lucky. She was very weak when we brought her home, but after a few days she started eating better and better and started playing and gaining weight. We noticed that she was afraid of leather boots and if we had a stick or broom in our hands, she cowered. My hubby stopped wearing his boots and we put the brooms in the basement.

Lucky seemed healthier and happier with every passing day, although she had some limitations. She couldn’t run more than a few feet without gasping for air. She loved to be close to us when we were outside, but she refused to step into the house, but she felt safe in the basement when it was raining or thundering. Hubby built a house for her close to the back door and padded the inside with thick carpet. Lucky claimed her new home happily. We tried putting a collar on her, but she became very nervous. We were afraid that she would wander out to the road and get hit by a car, but soon we noticed that she was afraid of the passing cars and never went close to the end of the driveway. But, from the backyard, she started visiting the neighbors on our side of the highway. They didn’t mind. Moreover, they began looking forward to seeing the sweet dog every day.

One morning I went outside to have my coffee on the patio and found a sweater by the chair. Lucky was lying next to the sweater, wagging her tail happily.

I patted her head and asked her, “Where did you get this?” She just looked at me with her big brown eyes.

The next day I found a pair of jeans on the patio, and the following day some bed sheets and a motorcycle helmet. Her collection pile grew every day, and we didn’t know what to do.
“How can you make a dog understand that stealing is not okay?” Hubby scratched his head.
We couldn’t find a solution, so we just kept hoping she would stop.

We got into the habit of going from door to door in the neighborhood with a basketful of stolen goods. We apologized and returned the boots, gloves, screwdrivers, flowerpots, toys, and all other small things she stole. The neighbors understood, and they kind of made a game out of coming to our patio looking for their missing items.

This went on for about a month. On Thanksgiving morning, I saw Lucky dragging something big and heavy tied in a shopping bag. What now? I thought. I went closer to discover a half-thawed turkey inside the bag. I had an idea where the turkey came from when I saw my neighbor coming up the driveway.

“Okay, Lucky, I will draw the line here,” she shouted. “You stole my turkey off the patio table!”

Lucky walked up to her and sat down in front of her. She touched the neighbor’s knee with her nose and looked up at her. The neighbor patted the dog on the head and cooed, “Don’t you try to melt my heart with those puppy eyes."

She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and dropped down on her knees. She hugged Lucky and whispered, "Sorry, Lucky, I know you’re a good dog. I didn’t mean to shout at you.”

Lucky watched the neighbor walking down the driveway with the turkey and from that day on, we never had to return stolen goods to our neighbors as if Lucky understood that stealing is not okay.


I write magical realism, alternate history, epic fantasy novels as well as fun, educational and bilingual books for children ages 2-14 about acceptance, friendship, family, and moral values such as accepting people with disabilities, dealing with bullies, and not judging others before getting to know them.

Click on my PAGE, you might like some of my books and if you'd like to read my older blog posts, you can find the links at the end of my page.



Monday, July 30, 2018

What Would Make YOU Happy? by Grace Augustine #OurAuthorGang



photo: chirotrust.org

   So, today's thousand dollar question is...what makes you happy? Take a moment to think about that...your happiness. How do you become happy? When are you happy? Why are you happy? 

photo: thehill
Will money  make you happy?

photo: Pinterest
What about the other half of your heart?


   A professor at Duke University discovered in 2001 that among adults with coronary artery diseases the risk of cardiac death was 2.4 times higher for those who were socially isolated than for their socially connected peers.
   40 million adults in the US (18.1 percent of the population) suffer from anxiety disorders. This is according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.  FORTY MILLION, people. That is way too many.
photo:  thebridgemaker
   What if I told you that you could start being more joyful right now?  What if I told you that you could calm part of your anxiety? Would you believe me?  Well, you can...we can.
   According to an article in the July edition of O Magazine, a 2012 New Zealand study found that the following behaviors enhanced enjoyment:

1.  TALKING TO ANOTHER PERSON ABOUT HOW GOOD YOU FEEL
2.  THINKING ABOUT HOW LUCKY YOU ARE
3.  THINKING ABOUT RECAPPING THE EXPERIENCE FOR OTHERS
4.  LAUGHING
5.  TELLING YOURSELF HOW PROUD YOU ARE
6.  FOCUSING ON THE PRESENT

photo: yourtango
   I'm sure at some point in time all of us have read this above quote. There is truth to it. Our lives cannot get better or move forward until change happens, and WE MUST BE the change.
  Happiness isn't something that is bred into us. It's a choice. 
   "It is not happiness that makes us grateful. It's gratefulness that makes us happy." --David Steindl-Rast
photo: twitter
   Here is a little exercise to bring joy into your life...I hope you will considering doing these steps. (again, ideas taken from an article by Molly Simms entitled What Would Make You Happy? in the July edition of O Magazine...oprah.com/gethappy)

WEEK 1:  Take stock in yourself and write things down that come to mind. They may be sentences like "I feel like a failure" or "As I look back on my life all I see are victories" or somewhere in between.  Then make a list each day for 7 days of what you are grateful for.
WEEK 2:  Concentrate on social connections and acts of kindness. Are you a face to face social person? Or, do you sit behind a computer or cell phone for your conversations?  This week, you will need to move out of the shadows and into the real world and communicate face to face.  How can you be kind to someone? A smile, a note, a phone call, a lunch meeting?  DO SOMETHING WITH SOMEONE.
WEEK 3:  Self care. How well do you take care of you? Concentrate on exercising more and getting more sleep.
WEEK 4: Take 10 minutes...TEN MINUTES...out of your day to meditate.  Clear your mind, go outside, or find a space to just be quiet. Train your mind to be quiet...whether that is through yoga, true meditation or prayer. Learn to breathe. Learn to be aware of the sights and sounds around you.
   And, if you are feeling particularly in the mood of gratitude...take time to write a note to someone in your life who needs to hear how much you appreciate them. Write down why, memories, and thank yous. Next, call that person or skype with them or do the phone message thingy where you can talk with each other and see each other--or (novel idea) make plans to be together. Share aloud what you've written. It is a soul cleansing that I guarantee will affect you for the better.
   See....that's not so hard. Our world needs more people who are connected...face to face connected. We need to be those people, the people who are kinder and more giving than those always taking
   By instilling an attitude of gratitude within ourselves, it assures that we can and will be on the right track to happiness.
COMMENTS

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Nikki McDonagh

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Great post, Grace. I know it is the simple things that make me happy. I don't need stuff just people I love and watching nature in all her glory.
 
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Rebecca Tran via Google+

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Great tips Grace we should all remember try to connect with those around us.
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Thanks, Rebecca!

Ruth de Jauregui via Google+

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Author Grace Augustine​ shares some tips on ways to improve your outlook on life and how they can lead to a happier you. #OurAuthorGang
 
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Rebecca Tran via Google+

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Grace Augustine shares ways to increase your happiness on #OurAuthorGang
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Ruth de Jauregui

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Thank you so much for these wonderful ideas on how to change our own outlook on life. Great post!
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Thank you, Ruth!

Joanne Jaytanie via Google+

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Are you happy? Stop by and read today's post. Some great ideas are shared. #OurAuthorGang
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Joanne Jaytanie

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Some great advise. Thanks for sharing, Grace.
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Thanks Joanne!

Joe Bonadonna via Google+

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Today on #OurAuthorGang, author Grace Augustine​ begs the question, "What would make you happy?" Great insight and some wonderful suggestions, too.
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Thanks, Joe!
 
+Grace Au -- you're very welcome!

Joe Bonadonna

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Fascinating article, Grace. Some excellent suggestions, too. Just had a similar conversation with someone over the weekend. What would make you happy? Indeed!
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None of us truly know until we sit down and really think about this. We "think" we know...but until we dissect our lives to the core, what we think and what is actually the motivator are two totally different things. Happiness comes in a variety of ways. We always must seek with an attitude of gratitude being the #1 key to achieving happiness!
 
+Grace Au -- Amen to that! It's interesting that you posted your article at a time when I've been trying to find a new path to happiness, or at least remove some of the obstacles I keep tripping over.

Chris Weigand via Google+

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Check out ways Grace Augustine​ suggests to increase happiness.
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Chris Weigand

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Thanks for the great advice. I will definitely have to incorporate some of the suggestions into my life.
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Thanks, Chris

Toi Thomas

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Great post. I like the breakdown of different things to do each week.
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Thanks,Toi. Yes, breaking down things helps make them not so overwhelming.

Toi Thomas via Google+

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Today, Grace Augustine​ offers reflections and tips on how to be happy. #OurAuthorGang
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Grace Au

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Join me today as I discuss some possible tips to your happiness.
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Erika M Szabo via Google+

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
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Erika M Szabo

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Great advice for everyone Grace! I'm an overall happy person but funny that you mentioned meditation Lorraine, it doesn't work for me either for a different reason. I attended a yoga class for a short while and one class happened to be on my birthday. When we sat on the mat to meditate, my friend snuck up to me and smeared whipped cream all over my face. The entire class came over to lick it off and they sang happy birthday. Since then, every time I start meditating I giggle and give it up :)
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Thanks, Erika. Meditation or quieting of your mind takes practice. I haven't mastered it...I keep trying, though!

Lorraine Carey

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Did this post ever come at the right time for me, Grace! I really needed this. I try to do all of the steps but #4 is something I have let go. I used to meditate on a regular basis but lately have let that slip by the wayside. Excellent tips here! Thank you for posting.
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Lorraine, I thought that very same thing when I read the article that spurred me to write this post. I spent 30 min. every morning (before kids and during the college years) in prayer and meditation. Now, not so much. I usually use my time right before bed to journal and pray. It takes discipline and that is something I sorely lack most days.
 
+Grace Au Yes. I agree. It seems harder now with the kids out of the house and being retired. I have to get back into this.

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