Best Friends and More | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, April 1, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||
JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS 8 Mountain Views-News Saturday, April 1, 2017 HEALTHY LIFESTYLES Happy Tails by Chris Leclerc RUFF DAY AT THE OFFICE THE JOY OF YOGA RELAX INTO IT When my sweet pup, Molly first came to live with me and my husband, she was so afraid of being left home alone, she would rip the entire place apart trying to get out and find us. It took us literally years to convince her that she would be okay while we were away and that we would return in short order. I believe part of Molly’s fear was brought on by the fact that her original owner, Frederick Alfaro had never once left her alone during the three years she lived with him. Then, when our dear Frederick passed away, five years ago this May, I do believe that Molly’s fear of being left home alone was even more intensified by having been present when he fell suddenly ill and was taken by ambulance to the hospital, never to return home again. And so it was quite the struggle for the first couple of years that we had Molly in our home. She insisted on going with us everywhere we went. We tested the waters numerous times by leaving her behind when we went out on brief excursions, only to return to find ripped window shades, mangled moldings and the bloodied paws that caused the chaos. To prevent our home from being completely destroyed by our precious yet fretful pet, we took her with us everywhere we went for many months. Because of my line of work, I was often unable to let Molly to tag along with me, so my husband was kind enough to let her join him when he went to work each day. This arrangement was made possible only by the fact that Rick has an antique store where Molly wouldn’t (for the most part) hinder daily operations. One day I decided it was time to make another attempt at leaving Molly home alone. I left for an hour and much to my pleasant surprise, I returned to find that she had, at last, learned to relax and enjoy the safety of her home. She came calmly to me when I opened the door. There were no signs of destruction and it seemed she’d been sleeping the entire time I‘d been gone. Ever since then Molly has been holding down the fort while we go about our daily activities. We were fortunate to have had the flexibility of Rick taking Molly to the shop, but most pet owners are not in the position to do so and at times it can become a real problem. Of course, there are pet sitters and walkers such as myself to help shorten the day for the dog somewhat, but even then it can be stressful for an owner to have to leave their beloved pets home alone all day. The good news is, a new trend seems to be emerging on the horizon among forward-thinking business owners, which could make it much easier for pet-owning employees to meet the obligations of their occupations, bring home the bacon and be there for their pets, all at the same time! More employers are beginning to recognize that their pet-owning employees are more productive on the job if they are not preoccupied with what their dogs might be doing at home alone. These brilliant bosses have found that operations go much more swimmingly when employee’s pets are allowed to join them on the job. Most of today’s dog-friendly workplaces are of the creative and technological persuasion, but the trend is catching on and many say it’s the wave of the future. Roger Vincent’s article Canine to Five, in last Sunday‘s LA Times Business section is what inspired my thoughts on this exciting subject. In it, Vincent recounts his visits to a couple of LA’s work places where he met plenty of pleasant pups along with the chief “eggs” and a few property landlords who swear by the movement toward dog-friendly working environments. As long as the rules are laid down and complied with, it’s a win-win for all involved. The presence of kind canines in the work place is guaranteed to help create a familial ambience in the office. To most folks, doing business in this type of setting is much more desirable than that of the historically-typical stuffed-shirt conventional setting. The cold and uninviting hyper-professional work environment is all but completely passé nowadays. Those who’ve invited “Fido” in say their clients feel way more welcomed and relaxed in a dog-friendly setting. But it’s not all tricks and treats when it comes to adding pets to the work place. There are a few realities that have the potential to cause problems when it comes to intermingling the career with the canine. For example, there may be pet-free coworkers who are allergic to animals. Then there are those who are sincerely fearful of dogs. Clearly one can’t choose pets over people in the office, can one? (I suppose it depends on who you ask!) Then there is the issue of coordinating pet potty breaks with personnel productivity. Although, this is not necessarily an insurmountable concern, it is something to be considered. In my mind, logic follows that dogs who spend more time with the people they love, are more likely to fall into a regular routine based on the routine their people maintain throughout day. I mean, people have to go potty too sometimes, right? I imagine it’s not unlike how it goes when the dog is home with his human. Further, an owner who loves their dog enough to take him to work is more likely to be responsible enough to pay attention to when it appears the pup may need to go. And while there may be interruptions unique to a dog-friendly work setting, there will also be less of a rush for folks to get out and go home, since the reason many employees rush to get on the road is the furry four-legger already laying next to their desk! All in all, I think having a dog-friendly work environment is a fantastic idea. And it doesn’t surprise me at all, that many businesses are following the lead of the creative and tech industries by allowing dogs on the job. It just goes to show how important our pets really are to us. There are few things in life that can have such a positive impact as that of a precious pup! Yoga is about becoming free of struggle. There may be a challenge and we may push our limits, but we don’t struggle in yoga. There are many techniques used to accomplish this. Accessing a nourishing, full, deep breath and finding a sense of relaxation are probably two of the most important. Have you noticed how a deep breath can change things? Finding even, smooth breaths changes our physiology and greatly affects the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems. When we breathe in a deliberate way, the energy and the mind are soothed and refined. The road to freedom and letting go can be found this way. With the breath as a catalyst, yoga allows us to find relaxation and cultivate a sense of ease. It’s when we find the rhythm of relaxation that we are able to go deeper in yoga. Deep physical relaxation is found in savasana, the final resting pose. However, mentally, the mind is being soothed throughout practice. If the practice is approached by trying “too hard” or wanting to accomplish, then the profound sense of relaxation and letting go is not going to happen. You’ve probably come upon this principle in other areas of life. Letting go allows abundance and exerting too much self-will is ultimately limiting. Relaxing into practice and agreeing to be fully present will break down resistance and create freedom on all levels. Come and practice with us at Yoga Madre. Learn what exerting great effort and feeling comfortable feels like at the same time! Love and Namaste, Keely Totten E-RYT 500, Yoga & Meditation Teacher THE MISSING PAGE Real Life Tips from LIfe's Instruction Manual NO LONGER A YES WOMAN Are we having fun yet? If you have to ask the question, then the answer is no. There was a time in my life when offered an opportunity, I always responded, “yes”! I did the same when someone asked me to help. Sometimes I had amazing adventures, and sometimes it left me tired, worn out and resentful. It is important to train yourself to be able to decline an invitation. We are not meant to do everything. There are some events we are going to have to miss. There may be times when you will need to turn down an assistance request. It is not only good self-care, but it’s also honest. Give yourself permission to make yourself a priority. It is an excellent way to set the standard for how others will treat you. It is great modeling for your children as well. When I said yes to everything, I was hurt, confused, resentful when other people told me no. I didn’t understand why someone would not do everything since I was running myself ragged trying to do it all. Rest is important. Taking time to be still is restorative and can recharge your creativity. Time is the great equalizer. Experts say that we all get the same 24 hours, although it doesn’t always seem like we do. My mentor encourages me to use my calendar as a tool to achieve my goals and manage my activities. It is my biggest challenge, but it is essential. Whenever I find myself feeling pressed for time, I review my goals and I find it is easier to get back on track. When I remind myself why I set a goal, it is easier for me to follow through with completing a task. If you are feeling time challenged, perhaps you could start by recording how you are spending your time. After keeping a record for a few days, your schedule may reveal what’s eating up your days; then you can make adjustments. If you find that your days are not reflective of your priorities, then cut out those things that do not bring you joy. News flash: Your children do not need to attend every birthday party or participate in every activity offered. They need quiet time too. They need not be rushed from school to music lessons, to ball practice or a playdate. Get out of the car and sit down. Find joy in your life and help your children enjoy having peace in theirs. Lori A. Harris is a lawyer and empowerment coach that helps women that women live their best lives. You can get more tips and find out more about her at www.LoriAHarris.com and download her free app the Gratitude Train in Google Play and the App Store. LOOKING FOR A BEST FRIEND Clyde was picked up on the streets of San Gabriel. He appears to be a Chihuahua mix with a “Chi” look. Clyde was bit timid when he first arrived at the shelter, but with some gentle socializing and regular walks, loves the company of people. He is very comfortable with the staff and volunteers, and enjoy getting pets and lap time, sharing kisses in return for a back scratch or belly rub. Clyde is social with other dogs, and enjoys playing with them or with toys. He loves walks and is easy to manage on the leash. If you have room in your life for a delightful little dog, come and meet Clyde. His adoption fee is $130 which includes neuter surgery, a microchip, first vaccinations and a free wellness check-up at a participating veterinarian. Feel free to call us at (626) 286-1159 for more information on Clyde. ID#25391. He currently resides at the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society located at 851 E. Grand Avenue in San Gabriel which is located off San Gabriel Blvd, north of Mission and south of Las Tunas Drive. To arrange a ‘Meet and Greet’ with Clyde, please stop by any time from 10:30am to 4:30pm Tuesday through Sunday.Website:www.sgvhumane.org. The San Gabriel Valley Humane Society is one of five finalists for the Animal Planet Pet Nation Renovation grant of $50K in repairs for our needy shelter! Please visit the link and vote for us, we need your support! Thank you!!! It would be great if you could share this and ask your friends to vote for us too!! http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/pet- nation-renovation-interactive/#vote KATNIP NEWS JOEY, age 1 1/2, is such a handsome boy, with white under his chin. He is so comfortable that you can rub him anywhere. No area is too sensitive. Joey gets along well with other cats, too. Highly adoptable. Call to arrange a Meet & Greet, 626-676-9505. Tax-deductible adoption fee is $100, which includes spay, microchip, exam & vaccines. A great savings! Our cats are negative FELV/FIV unless otherwise indicated. See more pictures, videos, adoption info & application on our website, www. lifelineforpets.org. Sorry, we are not accepting cats at this time. Can’t adopt? See our website for how to sponsor a kitty. Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com | ||||||||||||||||||||