When You're Dealing With a Rough Start...

by Skip Cohen

Today's post comes with a warning label - Sunday Morning Reflections are never about business or marketing. However, they're hopefully about something you can relate to. For me, it's a therapy session as I write about something usually more personal and often on the taboo list of what the "experts" say you shouldn't share in a blog post! LOL

The shot above, thanks to Adobe Stock, is pretty much me this morning. I couldn't decide what to write about and started several posts, only to hit the delete button. Lacking a decent night's sleep, for which I blame a York Peppermint Patty just before bed, I'm simply off a beat.

Have you ever had a day kick-off where you were simply clueless - not just about the day's plans, but how you felt? My usual dive out of the bed to beat the Energizer Rabbit to the starting line just didn't happen. But with your help, combined with Sheila and the enthusiasm of two pups, I'm almost back in sync.

​Sheila and I ALWAYS take the pups out together. The backyard is fenced, and the morning's fun starts with these two knuckleheads running around like crazy, then doing their business, followed by at least fifteen minutes just lovin'. I stayed in bed this morning, grabbing more sleep, and the pups came to wake me up.

Sensing something was off a beat, they both took turns snuggled up to me. Something was not quite right, and they felt it - it's that amazing intuition pups have to know precisely what you need, often when you don't know yourself.

Now, here's where you came in - I mentioned Reflections is therapeutic. Well, trying to express what I'm feeling today, pups climbing all over me, and a partner who gave me room to bounce back together got me back on track.

And there's my point - sometimes it takes a village! Sadly, so often, we forget we each have a village to draw from and lean on. So, if your day seems like it's going in the wrong direction, call in the troops! First call to make is to your heart - then check in with those people or critters you're closest to. As I'm writing, Lucy just wandered in, coming by for a hug, and then jumping into her spot on the loveseat in my office to keep an eye on me.

Sometimes, you have to ride out whatever is slowing you down and remember the importance of gratitude. An hour ago, I was off a beat, tired, down in the dumps, and having little explanation of why. Maybe finding the "why" wasn't as important as accepting how I was feeling and moving on.

Wishing you a day filled with gratitude and time to get a little sappy with the people (and pets) most important to you. And when you have a day like mine started out, go with it. Like stretching exercises before you work out, maybe that's all your heart and soul need - a little time to adjust and move on. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs, just like the ones I'm about to hit Sheila and the pups with...they really do work.

Happy Sunday - or Monday, depending on where you are in the world.

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