Be a Friend who Knows the Song in Loved Ones' Hearts

"A friend is someone who knows 

the song in your heart"

"And sings it to you 

when you forget the words."

Shania Twain

Be a friend to others~

listen for the songs in their hearts

and sing it to them when they forget the words.

You are my Sunshine

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,

You make me happy when clouds are grey.

You'll never know, dear, how much I love you."

Be someone's sunshine today.

Things will be Brighter

"Ooh-ooh, child, things are gonna get easier;

Ooh-ooh, child things'll be brighter. 

Someday, yeah, we'll put it together and we'll get it all done.

Someday, yeah, we'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun."

The Five Stairsteps

Here Comes the Sun

"Here comes the sun,

Here comes the sun, and I say 

it's alright,

It's alright.

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes.

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes.

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes.

Little darling, its been a long cold lonely winter,

Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here.

Here comes the sun,

Here comes the sun, and I say

it's alright,

it's alright. "

George Harrison, The Beatles

Keep Looking Up

Happy

" Nothing can bring me down"

"Because I'm happy

Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof

Because I'm happy

Clap along if you feel happiness is the truth

Because I'm happy

Clap along if you know what happiness is to you

Because I'm happy

Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do"

Pharrel Williams

Now is the time to sing the song's in loved ones' hearts 

We can all use the reminder that there's happiness and sunshine

to be found at this time. And for everyone sheltering in place,

it is good to remember that through song we can elevate 

ourselves to feel like 'a room without a roof'.

Seek Your Place of Calm and Happy

Reach Out to Others

Happy Trails, Gus

Gus, my sister Nan's comfortable old horse left this world for greener pastures

yesterday. He is now riding high and grazing to his heart's content.

𝅘𝅥𝅯𝅘𝅥𝅯𝅘𝅥𝅯

Happy trails to you, Gus,

until we meet again.

Gus

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For more than 35 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes letting go and moving forward with life easier than ever before. 

Do you know someone who could benefit from uplifting messages? Please share Lightarted Living with them. If you or someone you love is interested in learning more about closing the gap between where you are now and where you want to be, join the FREE Lightarted Living mailing list. 

Lightarted Living: How to Avoid Killing each other while Sheltering i...

Lightarted Living: How to Avoid Killing each other while Sheltering i...: How to Avoid Sharpening Your Claws on each other while Sheltering in Place Today I thought a little advice from Brownie the Cat w...

How to Avoid Killing each other while Sheltering in Place~One Cool Cat's Advice

How to Avoid Sharpening Your Claws on each other while Sheltering in Place

Today I thought a little advice from Brownie the Cat was in order. Before Brownie left this earth, he gifted us his playbook for harmonious living--and is now keeping a watchful eye on us. Here he provides tips on how to share space with others without sharpening your claws on each other.

Lately, thought Brownie, I see the humans are restless. While they appear to be complying with the Shelter in Place order, they're mewling their nerves are fraying and they're hissing at others more. What advice do I have for humans sheltering at home with others who are getting spitting mad at each other?

First of all, as your home stays may last a while, it behooves you to figure out how to change your outlook to make your abode a sanctuary of comfort and harmony if you're to survive without too much tail swishing, hissing, howling, growling and cat fighting. 

Stop Struggling--Accept What IS

"Stop Struggling" says Brownie. "I sheltered at home for years with three other cats and a human. I quickly learned to accept 'what is' and to 'sleep on it' whenever tensions arose."

Accept that within you there is a stillness--and choose to find that stillness at the beginning of the day and at the end. Be gentle with yourself and with others. 

Gentle and calming silence can serve as a pressure value returning you to serenity. When you notice your tension rising retreat inside yourself. If needed you can always hide under the bed.

Use Purr Therapy, Says Brownie

Purring and humming has been shown to calm beings. Practice creating space within you with gentle purring. If you can't do this yourself, get a cat.

When you start getting your back up over things your housemates have done, let it go. Quickly return your attention to self-calming activities by purring while humming in your head 'That was Zen and This is Meow'. 

Create What Must Be~Purr More; Hiss Less 

To endure closed space with others for long periods of time you need to Purrrrge yourself of anger and irritation. Forgive and forget your own and other's transgressions daily. Stop and start over.

It won't serve you to get your back up and hold on to annoyance and irritation with your housemates. It'll just put your back out and make your throat sore from all that hissing and growling.

Create what must be for you to better enjoy your time at home. Take charge of your thoughts and actions to create the home environment you desire.

Purr-haps kindness is the way to go. You humans say 'plant kindness, harvest love'. Try starting your day with acts of kindness towards others. Lead with love and a heart filled with compassion. Purr more; Hiss less.

If you want a serene home, choose to create what must be. If that's too much trouble, you can always hide under the bed for the duration of your home stay.

Practicing the PAWS

When others get in your space, try flattening your ears while swishing your tail  to get others to back off. Then practice the paws by retreating, purr-haps under the bed, to give yourself time to calm down before lashing out.

Pause, and put time and distance between you before you speak or act. This is one of those times sleeping on it  or taking time out for a little paw washing really helps. Alternatively, lift your hind leg in the direction of the other and calmly and meticulously clean your bottom.

Of course, if others just aren't good at reading the subtleties of your tail swish and passive retreat, you may want to pull out your claws, lower your ears further, and assume the back up position while letting out a loud HISSSSSS. This bold display of displeasure often does the trick and makes others make a hasty retreat.

Stop Suffering this Very Moment

Stop fighting your fate and your suffering will end. You have within you everything you need to create the environment you want as you shelter in place. Don't dwell on things you can't do anything about. And act on what you do know to do--or not to do--starting by giving each other space.

If the other cat is the one who's feeling annoyed, resist the urge to poke her.  Give her space. Don't insist on petting and consoling her when she clearly wants to be left alone. If you insist on ignoring all the signals to back off--no matter how good your intentions--your suffering will continue and you should expect the claws to come out. Apply the good sense you have. Everyone needs space.

Pull down your playbooks off your upper shelves--apply the wisdom you find within on love, trust, faith, hope, smiling, and being tender. Laugh a lot with one another. Give each other space. Encourage rest and sleeping. Give everyone a daily job. Play together. Fill your home and tummies with warm scents and flavors of comforting foods.

By allowing each other to have a safe place to retreat you'll create a domicile you'll enjoy sharing. Together you'll get through this.

Stop Struggling--Stop Suffering

'Siddhartha stopped fighting his fate this very hour, and he stopped suffering.' 

'Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at anytime.'

Hermann Hesse

💓Stop Struggling💓Stop Getting on Each Others Nerves💓

💓Accept What IS💓Release What Was💓Create What must Be💓
Andrea Balt



A Cautionary Tail 

There once were two cats from Kilkenny,
Who thought there was one cat too many,
So they fought and they fit,
And they scratched and they bit,
Till excepting their nails,
And the tips of their tails,
Instead of two cats there weren't any.

Don't let this happen to you. Brownie

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For more than 35 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes letting go and moving forward with life easier than ever before.

Do you know someone who could benefit from uplifting messages? Please share Lightarted Living with them. If you or someone you love is interested in learning more about closing the gap between where you are now and where you want to be, join the FREE Lightarted Living mailing list. 

Lightarted Living: Our Fates are Connected~Be Kind to One Another

Lightarted Living: Our Fates are Connected~Be Kind to One Another: �� The Fates bring love to a troubled world �� In times of trouble console and help one another �� Love One Another �� Be...

Our Fates are Connected~Be Kind to One Another

💓

The Fates bring love to a troubled world

💓

In times of trouble console and help one another

💓

Love One Another

💓

Be Kind to One Another

💓

Our Fates are Connected~Be Compassionate

"Fate leads the willing

and drags the reluctant"

Seneca

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For more than 35 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes letting go and moving forward with life easier than ever before.

Do you know someone who could benefit from uplifting messages? Please share Lightarted Living with them. If you or someone you love is interested in learning more about closing the gap between where you are now and where you want to be, join the FREE Lightarted Living mailing list.

Lightarted Living: 'How to Read Humans' by Brownie the Cat

Lightarted Living: 'How to Read Humans' by Brownie the Cat: Brownie the Human Whisperer Brownie left this world recently, but not before leaving his cat guide for future 'human consol...

'How to Read Humans' by Brownie the Cat

Brownie the Human Whisperer

Brownie left this world recently, but not before leaving his cat guide for future 'human consolers'. 

Brownie,the human whisperer, was a master cuddler who knew the art of waiting for the invite before jumping into the lap of comfort.  He'd quietly and patiently observe his person without disturbing her while sitting perfectly still until she softly extended an invitation to join her.

I want so very much to Jump into your Lap to Snuggle but I Wait

Brownie read her moods, always knowing when she needed company and when she needed solitude. All of this was done silently, softly and lovingly. He grocked her. He loved her. He adored her. He waited.

"Brownie", you'd say in that soft voice, "You could, you know." My heart jumped with joy as I lept into your lap of comfort.

How to get in Bed with Your Human

Brownie understood 'gentleness could accomplish what force could not' and 'all good things come to he that waits'. His unhurried and good-natured manner would result in good things like cuddle time with a relaxed human every time.

His advice? If you want to get in bed with your human for a snuggle, or keep her company and cuddle on her lap, you can't force the issue. You must gently sit alongside her and send her love. She'll soon feel your warmth and gaze, and respond with an invitation to join her.

How to Make Your Bed and Lie in It

Brownie was always a firm believer in sleeping on the job. If you want your human to learn the art of being comfortable and cozy in life, he thought, you must show them how to do it. It is very important to make your bed and lie in it.  

"Human's are a busy lot," Brownie thought. "To help them let go and relax you have to catch their eye, then show them how to soften their bodies in slumber. Always choose places their attention goes to lie down and demonstrate the proper way to relax--such as on bookshelves or computer keyboards."

"And once you've been invited to have a snuggle on her lap, if you fall asleep, it will cause her to relax that much longer as she won't want to disturb you. That's how you make your soft bed and lie in it longer."

50 Shades of Cat

Not every cat wants to be a cuddler or consoler of humans. But if you desire to be a love-bug, cuddler, or snuggler as I was, relax in the job. Sleep a lot. Purr a lot. Wait a lot. Love a lot.

I dedicate my "How to Read Humans' manual to the woman I adored, Linda Barnett. She is a worthy human with kind eyes and a good heart. I chose to live with her as I could read her tenderness for all living creatures. I know any cat who now comes to live with her will find a suitable home--no matter what shade of cat she'll take you in.

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For more than 35 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes letting go and moving forward with life easier than ever before. 

Do you know someone who could benefit from uplifting messages? Please share Lightarted Living with them. If you or someone you love is interested in learning more about closing the gap between where you are now and where you want to be, join the FREE Lightarted Living mailing list. 

Lightarted Living: Keep Peace in Your Soul

Lightarted Living: Keep Peace in Your Soul: You are a child of the universe No less than the trees and the stars. In the noisy confusion  of Life Kee...

Keep Peace in Your Soul

You are a child of the universe

No less than the trees and the stars.

In the noisy confusion 

of Life

Keep Peace

In your soul.

Keep Peace in your Soul

Keep Peace in your Soul

Keep Peace in your Soul

You are a child of the universe, 

no less than the trees and the stars.

In the noisy confusion of life,

Keep peace in your soul.

Max Ehrmann

Original Photo of Sycamore Tree by Lee Bryant

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For more than 35 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes letting go and moving forward with life easier than ever before.

                                                                                                    

Do you know someone who could benefit from uplifting messages? Please share Lightarted Living with them. If you or someone you love is interested in learning more about closing the gap between where you are now and where you want to be, join the FREE Lightarted Living mailing list.

Lightarted Living: How Much is that Doggie in the Beet Juice?

Lightarted Living: How Much is that Doggie in the Beet Juice?: How much is that doggie In the beet juice? The one with the waggly-ist tail? How much is that doggie in...

How Much is that Doggie in the Beet Juice?

How much is that doggie

In the beet juice?

The one with the waggly-ist tail?

How much is that doggie in the shelter?

I do hope that doggy's for sale!

WOOF!

How much is that doggie in the beet juice?

Background Photo of "Beet Juice" by Lee Bryant

You Art What You Eat!

Life offers you a daily Rorschach Test to show you what you're focused on and perhaps provides you a clue of what you want to have in your life. All you have to do is unlock your eyes and look into everything to find what you're looking for. 

My partner-in-Art, Lee Bryant, who has an amazing eye for capturing interesting subjects in everyday life to photograph sends these works of art to me to use as a Rorschach Art Test.

The background I used in this piece is a photo of beet juice. Thus 'I art what I eat'! And what often shows up for me in my Rorschach Art Test are themes of love, relationships and dogs. 

And as often happens, as I turn my focus on dogs, love, and silliness, more silly dogs appear around me--one's rescued from the shelter into good homes. It makes me happy to see my friends adopt dogs to enrich their lives. It's good for the dogs and life-saving for the humans.

Welcome Seamus! 

Congrats Sue Flynn!

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 For more than 35 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes letting go and moving forward with life easier than ever before. 

Do you know someone who could benefit from uplifting messages? Please share Lightarted Living with them. If you or someone you love is interested in learning more about closing the gap between where you are now and where you want to be, join the FREE Lightarted Living mailing list. 

Lightarted Living: All is Well~Have Faith in the Future

Lightarted Living: All is Well~Have Faith in the Future: To best get through life's crises calmly  choose to see  FAITH and FUTURE as conjoined twins-- Where one goes the other fo...