Attitude Adjustment

My eyes are shut tightly.  I know what’s coming.  Taking a deep breath, I approach my husband.

“Could you please take the trash out?  Tomorrow is pick up day.”

That’s when the tantrum starts.  He begins to stomp around the house and slam doors.  Replacing the trash bag becomes a scene in and of itself.  Then he mutters under his breath as he makes the not-so-long trip to the end of our driveway.

This display went on for about three weeks.  Finally, I had had enough.  I explained that I was not asking him to remove the trash to annoy him.  We use a very large trash can and I am not physically strong enough to carry the bag.  Since that conversation, his tantrums have stopped.

I listen to the Jillian Michaels podcast and something that she said several months back really resonated with me.  She said that we need to stop “co-signing on other people’s bs.”  This means that you do not simply agree with someone’s behavior just because you love him/her.  To me, if you really love someone, you see their flaws and because you love them, you inform them of their behavior.

If your significant other refuses modify his/her behavior, it might be time to move on.  I think of all of the women who stay with their “husbands” even though they know they are being cheated on.  Heck to the no!  We as women (and as human beings) deserve so much better than that.  Why would we want to sit idly by and pretend that we are okay with the situation? 

I also began to think about people who know that their other half is molesting children.  Or abusing animals.  How could you possibly do nothing knowing that this type of heinous behavior is going on?  To me, if you do nothing to stop it, you are just as guilty as the person performing the cruel acts.

Love should not have a blinding effect on our minds.  Or even worse, our conscience.  

We know the difference between right and wrong.  If we care about someone, we need to address these behaviors as soon as possible.  Refusing to believe in reality achieves nothing.  The person will continue to spiral out of control until he/she is made aware of their actions.

No one wants to be alone.  I understand.  After my high school sweetheart of 4 ½ years broke up with me, I was devastated.  I had gotten so used to being part of a couple that I had forgotten how to be me.  I fell into the melodramatic fear that I would be alone forever.  But the truth was, I didn’t miss him.

He had started to become verbally abusive during the last year and half of the relationship.  Then he began lying about where he was and who he was with.  This all culminated with the fact that he flew into a jealous rage whenever he saw me even talk to another guy, even if it was a fellow college classmate.

When the relationship ended, I took a step back and re-evaluated my priorities.  I was in college and very focused on my education.  A degree in journalism was my goal.  Did I want to find the right guy and get married?  Absolutely, but I was not willing to compromise my dreams and morals to make it happen.

I decided that I was done with the foolish games of cat and mouse.  So over trying to please someone who really didn’t care about me and my dreams.  And certainly finished with people who have severe trust issues.

I did not want to spend my life being someone’s mother or personal cheerleader.  Or cry myself to sleep as I had been doing for the past three months.  I wanted to invest in myself and find the love that I knew I deserved.

As fate would have it, I met my now husband in a college class that I was told I needed to transfer to a four year institution.  In reality, the course counted for nothing and was not needed at all.  I would love to say that our relationship has been perfect, but that would be a lie.

We have certainly had ups and downs.  Trials and tribulations that have truly tested our bond.  However, out of our deep love for one another grew respect.  We value each other and do our best to show it daily.

My husband knows that if his attitude begins to show, we will be having a discussion.  I don’t shy away and remain silent as I did with my ex-boyfriend.  I stand up for myself and focus on working out the issue instead of fighting to be right. 

He also knows that if I call him out for a certain behavior that it is something that he really needs to work on.  I don’t believe in nitpicking over the small things like socks on the floor next to the hamper.  I want my husband to be the best person that he can be, not just for me, but for himself.  And I know that he helps to make me a better person too.  If I start to get crabby or judgmental, he brings it to my attention so that I can reign in my emotions.

This is what it means to love someone.  Yes, you love them when they are at their worst, but you don’t allow their worst to define them.  You build them up with faith and support, but you also make it clear that there are certain behaviors that will not be tolerated.  Don’t co-sign on the dotted line for the bs of others.

Picture Book Summit Review 2017

The date was circled on my calendar in bright red.  I eagerly began counting down the days in the middle of September.  My very first Picture Book Summit was only days away!

What is a picture book summit, you may ask?  It is a day-long writing conference for picture book authors and illustrators that is conducted webinar style.  I get to enjoy the summit from the comfort of my own home.  No long car rides or pricey hotel fees.  Just me, a cup of tea and my laptop.  Paradise!

With tea in hand, I am ready for the #PBSummit!

October 7^th arrived and I jumped out of bed.  I didn’t want to miss a single moment.  The summit began with a dance party.  I loved watching the summit founders bust a move! 

My excitement level was at an all-time high when acclaimed author/illustrator Tomi DePaola took to the web cam.  He looked like a jolly elf that I just wanted to hug!  His presentation was truly inspiring.  I could not believe that he used to tap dance, like me!  He also spoke of his artistic process and shared a glimpse at some new projects he is working on.  I literally could have listened to him speak all day.

The second speaker was none other than summit founder Julie Hedlund.  Her presentation was about the layers of children’s picture books.  I loved her detailed description of each layer.  I never knew that there was so much substance within the pages of picture books.

I am so honored to have been featured in the PBSummit slideshow!

Renowned picture book author Carole Boston Weatherford shared insight on the importance of point of view in picture book writing.  She also gave summiteers a glimpse into her writing process that she likened to a spiritual experience.  Fellow founder, Laura Backes, followed up with a fabulous presentation about writing with a purpose without sounding “preachy.”  The takeaways she provided were not only helpful but inspiring.

Ending the day with Adam Rex was truly like the proverbial cherry on top of a sundae.  He was absolutely hilarious!  I learned how valuable humor can be in a picture book and that the days of “why did the chicken cross the road” jokes are long gone.

I greatly appreciate the literary agents who also took part in the summit.  They gave clear descriptions of the types of picture books they are currently in the market for.  I loved getting to learn tips and tricks for how to make my writing stand out and avoid the slush pile!  I will definitely be doing some serious re-writing this weekend.

I cannot wait to see Dash again next year!

I had an absolute blast at the Picture Book Summit!  I will definitely be attending next year (and every year after!).  The presentations were so inspiring that I also signed up for the Summit Founders’ Sessions.  The sessions will be held once a month from November 2017 to February 2018.  I know that I am going to learn even more about the fabulous world of picture book writing.  I cannot wait!

Over-Scheduled Andrew Book Review

Over-Scheduled Andrew by Ashley Spires tells the tale of one very busy penguin.  He always loved performing, so he decided to join the drama club at school.  Andrew would rehearse his lines on the way home from school with his best friend, Edie.

One of his teachers suggested that he join the debate club to help strengthen his public speaking skills.  Andrew wanted his play performances to be top-notch so he signed up immediately.  He did so well that Calvin recruited him for the chess club.

During play rehearsals, Andrew discovered that his dance moves were lacking.  Naturally, he signed up for ballet lessons and karate.  Then he joined the tennis team, became the school newspaper editor and began learning how to play the bagpipes.  Did I mention that he also joined the French film club, started taking singing lessons and began taking Spanish classes?

To say that Andrew is busy would be a huge understatement.  Will he be able to handle the pressure of being involved in so many clubs and projects?  Will he ever have any time to spend with Edie?

I loved every page of this book!  I can totally relate to Andrew and his super-packed schedule.  This definitely takes me back to when I was in elementary school and had dance class four nights a week, piano lessons twice a week and Girl Scout meetings throughout each month.  Not to mention that I was an avid member of the Science Club and was also on the Student Council.

I definitely feel Andrew's pain!

I think that readers of every age will delight in this story.  The characters are absolutely adorable and subtle adult humor is laced throughout.  I feel that the theme of the story will definitely resonate with parents who are juggling a career and a family while still trying to find time for themselves.

The Most Magnificent Thing Book Review

The Most Magnificent Thing written and illustrated by Ashley Spires, introduces the reader to a regular girl and her best friend: her dog.  They enjoy doing everything together.  One day, she gets an idea.  She is going to make the most magnificent thing!

Feeling inspired, she quickly gets to work.  Her faithful assistant is there to lend a helping paw.  She completes the project in record time but realizes that her creation is all wrong.  The girl decides to try again.  The piece is still not what she had envisioned.

She continues to try, working faster each time.  When her umpteenth attempt ends in failure, the girl gets mad.  So mad that she decides to completely give up on her idea.  Will her assistant be able to change her mind?

This is an amazing read!

I absolutely adore this book!  I love the subtle details in Spires's illustrations.  Many of the backgrounds remain in black and white with only certain objects or characters in color.  This can be seen on pages five and six.  I spotted a cat in a window and a bird that are both in color while their pearches remain colorless.  I love the contrast that this adds to the illustrations. 

I also love how there is a story within the story that is contained in the illustrations.  The girl's dog had me laughing with his crazy antics.  The ending of the story is also quite surprising.  I was totally touched and even shed a few tears. 

This book is a fantastic read for book lovers of all ages.  Young and old alike will definitely be able to relate to the emotions of frustration and defeat as well as the theme of friendship.  I would highly recommend that this book be used in schools as well.

SUP Creative Group - Marketing Services & Events Promoting Your Business and Supporting the Pets We All Love

SUP Creative Group - Marketing Services & Events Promoting Your Business and Supporting the Pets We All Love

Storytime Pup Children's Book Read Aloud: Priceless Penny. Stories for ...

Friendly Family

“Get up, get up!  Get up, get up!”

Blanca’s song “Get Up” blares from my iPod.  As I roll over, my alarm clock then begins to beep.  It is 5:00 a.m.  Time to start my day.

I sleepily rub my eyes and place Hope, my blind/deaf Dachshund, on the floor.  She charges off down the hall barking and wagging her tail.  Hope knows that breakfast is soon to come.

My feet automatically find the pair of slippers that I keep next to my side of the bed.  I then make the sleepy shuffle to the bathroom to wash my face.  Feeling slightly more awake, I get dressed and head to the kitchen.

Hope gets fed first.  If she does not, she will bark until food is placed into her pink dish.  With my cereal in hand, I happily turn on an episode of The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross.  This always starts my day off right.

Time for the war paint!  I love to listen to one of my favorite podcasts while painting my canvas.  My top three podcasts are:  The Jillian Michaels Show, FOMO Fanz by Brian Fanzo and The Bryan Kramer show.  Being able to multitask while getting helpful fitness and entrepreneur tips is a big time saver for me and also helps my brain to begin focusing.

After kissing my fur babies goodbye, I grab my lunch bag and head out the door.  Music begins blasting from my car stereo.  I am one of those crazy people that loves to sing and make up little dances while driving.  I hope that my fellow drivers don’t think I am having a seizure!

Cresting the hill, I begin to smile.  On the right side of the road stands a family consisting of a father and his young son and daughter.  They happily smile and wave to the traffic passing by.  I love waving back and seeing the kids’ faces light up.

Even in the winter months, they man their post.  I will never forget seeing the little girl bundled up in her winter coat and pom-pom hat waving for all she was worth one chilly December morning.  Their father even provides hot cocoa to keep them warm.

Sometimes, the family’s golden retriever joins in on the fun.  I have even witnessed the father sans children standing by the side of the road with his morning cup of coffee.  This family is doing their part to make a difference in this world.  Just the simple act of waving can truly brighten someone’s day.  My heart always swells when I see them.

So often we feel that we need to do something huge in order to make a difference.  We believe that smaller actions do not have a great impact.  Or even worse, we expect to get praise for our grand gestures.

This family is proving that change can be affected in the smallest of actions.  They are saying so many things with each wave of their hands.  “Someone cares about you.  Have a great day!  Pay the smile forward!”

I have often thought of pulling over and telling them how much their kindness means to me.  They have truly become an important part of my life.  When I am having a bad morning, they turn it all around.  I am reminded that selfless people do still exist.

Seeing them also fills me with hope for future generations.  This father is definitely raising his children right.  He is teaching them that the world is bigger than their cell phone screen.  That there are more important things in life than getting the highest score on Candy Crush. 

Leading by example, the father is instilling a sense of empathy.  He is also taking the time to invest in his children’s lives.  They could be standing alone at the end of their driveway waiting for the school bus as many children tend to do.  This man is a shining example how all parents should behave. 

  

We all have the power to make someone’s day just a little brighter.  There is no need for flashing neon lights or a mariachi band.  It only takes a pebble to create a thousand ripples.  Maybe you could start the ripple effect by smiling at a stranger you pass on the street.  Try purchasing an extra breakfast burrito on your morning McDonald’s run and give it to a homeless person that you see on the corner.  Compliment a co-worker on his/her outfit or hair style.    

Be brave!  Take the first step in making the world a better place.  Together, we can be the change.

ALA Annual Conference 2017

We stood anxiously waiting on the corner.  The valet had left to retrieve our vehicle twenty minutes ago.  I was scheduled to do a book signing at the American Library Association Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois at 9:30 a.m.  According to my watch, it was already 9:15 a.m. Finally, our car arrived.  We hurriedly threw our bags into the trunk and left the unhappy valet tipless.

My husband channeled Mario Andretti as we raced to the venue.  Soon, the McCormick Convention Center towered before us.  Sun struck the glass building sending light cascading in all directions.  We found the parking garage and continued driving until we reached floor five.

Stepping inside, we were amazed at how spacious the facility was.  We raced up the escalator and made a mad dash for the registration table.  Once we had obtained our badges, we were on the run once again to fin the Independent Book Publishers Association booth.  Much to my dismay, we arrived at 9:40 a.m. and someone else was sitting in my seat happily signing copies of her book.

I was completely heartbroken.  I introduced myself to Lee, one of the IBPA staff members.  He immediately calmed my nerves by instructing me to take several deep breathes.  I explained the situation and Lee was quick to re-schedule my book signing at 3:00 p.m. that same day.  I was beyond grateful for his patience, understanding and most importantly, his help.  After telling me to take a few more deep breathes, Lee told me to enjoy the conference and he would see me at 2:45 p.m.

Standing next to my book on display at the IBPA booth!

My husband and I did not even know where to start.  Booths lined the entire interior of the conference center.  Fellow conference attendees raced from one side to the other, most carrying backpacks.  I soon found out why.

Many of the booths were giving away advanced reader copies of books that will be released this fall.  In a mere fifteen minutes, we already had five books in hand.  Thankfully, several of the publishing companies were also giving away free tote bags.

I did my best to take it all in.  My brain was definitely on overload.  Big name publishing houses such as Disney, Scholastic, Penguin and Harper Collins had massive displays.  Lines quickly formed wherever an author signing was being held.

In the back of the convention center was Artist's Row.  Wizards of the Coast was present representing the importance of gaming via their Magic the Gathering card game.  I was beyond honored to meet Andy Runton, the creator of Owly, an enchanting series of both picture and comic style books.  He was so down to earth and we quickly bonded over our love of rescue animals.

Me with Andy Runton, creator of Owly!

Check out the amazing sketch Andy made!

This batty sketch is too adorable!

We then dined at the convention center food court located upstairs.  It was truly amazing to look out over the balcony and view the sea of people wandering throughout.  I also enjoyed getting to listen to librarians from across the country discussing important issues regarding children's literacy initiatives.

Feeling re-energized after lunch, we jumped right back into the fray.  We were about to pass a small booth on the left when something caught my eye.  There was a copy of one of my favorite children's books of all time:  Skippyjon Jones!  That is when I noticed the sign stating that Judy Schachner was going to be signing books that day at 3:00 p.m.

Uh-oh.  My book signing was at 3:00 p.m.  What could I do?  I did not want to miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  My wonderful, fabulous husband had a solution.  He would wait in line and get her autograph while I attended my book signing.

Her publishing representatives could not have been nicer.  Matt was going to be the first person in line.  They asked us if we really thought Judy would attract that much attention and I answered with a resounding, "OH, YES!"  These amazing ladies even offered us the option of leaving our cart (filled with copies of my children's book, Priceless Penny) at their booth as a place holder in line so that we did not have to keep lugging it around!

Matt refused to leave his post.  He knew how important getting Judy's autograph was to me.  I decided to poke around the conference a bit more before signing time.  As luck would have it, I unknowingly joined the line for one of my favorite authors/illustrators, Ashley Spires!  She is such a sweet and caring person.  We talked about our fur babies and I discovered that she actually fosters kittens!

I could have talked to Ashley for hours, but the time of my book signing was rapidly approaching.  I hurriedly dropped off my new books with Matt, grabbed the cart and trundled my way to the IBPA booth.  Things went much smoother this time.  While waiting for the author before me to finish, some children walked up and began talking to me about my book.  I loved getting to share Penny's story with them.

The book signing experience was surreal!  I looked up to see that a line of people had actually formed for my book.  I met so many wonderful librarians and their children.  It was truly one of the greatest moments of my life.

Little did I know, my husband was just a few feet away recording the event.  I am so blessed to be married to such a wonderful man!  He even took some photos so that I could share them on my social media sites.

My book signing at the IBPA booth was a success!

Matt got the autograph!  I love the inscription and cat sketch!

When my signing time came to an end, we decided to make one more lap around the conference before heading home.  I am so very glad that we did!  We ended up getting in line to meet even more authors and also got to re-connect with Ashley Spires!  This time she was giving away copies of her books Edie's Ensembles and Over-Scheduled Andrew.  I cannot wait to read them!

I gave Ashley a copy of Priceless Penny and she wrote this truly humbling inscription!

I loved talking to Ashley about even more of our fur babies!

Even though the conference officially ended today, the hubs and I had to head back home since we both had to be at work.  We accumulated a total of 37 new books with over half being autographed.  Attending the ALA Conference was such a wonderful experience that we will definitely be going back next year!

Check out all of the new children's books I snagged!

This is a collection of young reader and middle grade titles I scooped up.

I love the sketch of Pig in a boat that David drew!

Brendan's cat sketch makes me smile!

A super personal inscription from Ashley Spires!

I love that Ashley signed each of her books in a different colored pen!

To learn more about the ALA Conference, please visit:  www.ala.org.

Priceless Penny Book Signing at ALA Conference 2017

A New Tale for a Rescued Kitten

Bruce’s tale very nearly didn’t start at all. A year and a half ago the bedraggled one-day old kitten was alone on a footpath in the rain.

                

Luckily he was spotted by a woman who was walking home from work. She took him home and fed him around the clock to keep him alive.

The kitten was named after that other famous orphan, Bruce Wayne.

The tiny kitten’s story went viral. He now has over 32,600 Facebook fans from all over the world who hang on his every photo and exploit – including getting to know his “big sister” Jager (also a rescue cat), and changing colour from grey to black.

(This video explains how Bruce changed colour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwDe8n9WgMk)

Along with climbing trees and frolicking in the garden, Bruce now dedicates himself to raising awareness of other cats and kittens in need. Bruce has helped other cats like DeeDee find forever homes.

Kathryn van Beek (Bruce’s human) has now written and illustrated a children’s picture book called Bruce Finds a Home. 

The book, which is based on the story of how Bruce was found, encourages children to care for and be kind to animals.

The book supports The Animal Rescue Network, a charitable trust dedicated to helping stray and abandoned cats and kittens.

Bruce is currently running a Kickstarter campaign which allows people to pre-order copies of the book. There’s a range of rewards for those who pledge, including custom illustrations and even Bruce’s pawtograph! You can find Bruce’s Kickstarter page here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kathrynvanbeek/bruce-finds-a-home

The book is already 87% funded with two weeks of the four-week Kickstarter campaign still to run. We feel sure that Bruce will achieve his goal of releasing his book, supporting The Animal Rescue Network and encouraging children to be kind to animals.

(This video documents Bruce’s life so far: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTlHIEyjeuw&t=28s) 

Entangling Entrepreneurs

I never thought that I would run my own business.  I have always had a passion for writing and creating but it never crossed my mind that I could turn that passion into a living.  My husband encouraged me to write a children’s book about our amazing three-legged dog, Penny.  I began doing lots (and lots) of research about independent publishing.

In March of 2015, I created Theuerkauf’s Tails, LLC.  The purpose of my company is to self-publish children’s books about the various animals that my husband and I have rescued over the years.  Each has a story of redemption and love that is all its own.

With the company established, I began to book numerous events as a vendor.  Tears filled my eyes every time that I saw the name “Theuerkauf’s Tails, LLC” hanging above my vendor space.  All of my hard work, determination and dedication was finally allowing me to achieve my dreams.

I love getting to connect with readers of all ages.  Penny loves getting belly rubs from her fans.  I also enjoy networking with other likeminded entrepreneurs.  Learning about other people’s passions and dreams is very inspiring to me.  I am eager to share my story and trade business cards with creative souls.

I would like to think that I have graduated from novice to advanced networker.  My elevator pitch flows from lips with ease because it comes directly from the passion that I feel in my soul.  In honing my networking skills, I have come across another type of entrepreneur:  The Glomerpreneur.

A glomerpreneur is a person who claims to be an entrepreneur, but then gloms off an already established entrepreneur.  This person seeks to ride the coattails of another person’s success in hopes of elevating his/her status and company.  Often times, this person will request contact lists, access to certain events, etc.

I met my first glomerpreneur at a conference.  We hit it off instantly as we are both very passionate about animals and their welfare.  We exchanged information and began planning several projects together.  I was very excited about my new connection.

We began e-mailing as soon as the conference ended.  It began with updates about our businesses and what we were planning next.  Then came the first request.

He/she complimented me on my social media savviness and wondered what my secret was.  I freely offered to provide a list of groups that I often share my content with via Facebook.  This person was very appreciative.  It felt great to be helping someone else get their business off the ground.

Later in the year, I was contacted via Twitter from a company about an exclusive event that they wanted me to attend to promote my children’s book, Priceless Penny.  I was beyond excited and honored.  Of course, I shared this information on my social media platforms.

Within minutes, I received an e-mail from my friend.  He/she congratulated me on my achievement…and then asked for the business’ contact information.  I was blown away!  This business personally contacted ME because of MY brand.  How dare this person try to worm his/her way in!  Not to mention, this will be my first time attending this event.  I am not about to push the company and say, “Hey, can my friend come too?”

This put me in a very delicate situation.  If I am honest with my friend, I will look like a diva attempting to hog the spotlight.  And I absolutely cannot stand liars.  Should I compromise my beliefs in order to not offend my nosy friend?  I struggled with this dilemma for two days.

I ultimately decided to provide limited information.  I gave my friend the name of the event and the contact’s first name only, feigning that I had not been given anything further.  It is at this point that I noticed this person had begun to become heavily involved with another conference attendee.

 

Photos and videos of them together surfaced on Facebook.  At first, it was just a few photos once a week.  Then it became daily photos of the duo.  While I was happy to see that a new friendship was forming, I was a bit worried.  Was the glomerpreneur preparing to strike again?

My fears were soon confirmed.  The “friend” was posting numerous selfies with the established entrepreneur and constantly tagging the person’s business.  He/she began to invade every single event that this person’s business was hosting.  The captions on the photos soon read “helping out at [event name here].”  I wonder if this savvy business owner has caught onto the glomerpreneur yet.

While creating my LLC only took a few months, building my brand has taken several years.  I have spent countless hours researching marketing techniques.  Days have passed where I have done nothing but scour Twitter and Instagram looking for new brands to follow.  I have spent money to attend conferences and seminars to learn how to expand my brand as well as to partake in networking opportunities.  In my “spare time,” I am constantly creating new content for my social media platforms while working on my next book project.

To me, being a true entrepreneur means that you are blazing a new trail.  Walking where others have not yet trod.  You are literally creating something that has not been seen or done before.  Attempting to attach oneself to someone else’s brand/business hoping to catch the fallout of their success is truly heinous.  The reason why people become successful is because they work tirelessly to achieve their goals.

My husband will often tell me that I need to take a break.  While I do tend to over extend myself, I am very proud of everything I have accomplished thus far.  Priceless Penny has won six literary awards and has been featured in StoryMonster Ink magazine.

I have had the extreme pleasure of meeting Seth Casteel (creator of Underwater Dogs/Cats), Brian Fanzo (branding and content specialist), and Bryan Kramer (TED Talk speaker).  I am blessed to call fellow entrepreneur Deirdre Franklin (owner of Pinups for Pitbulls) a friend.

I have discovered amazing conferences such as the Best Friends Animal Society National Conference, BarkWorld Expo and the Petfinder Adoption Option Tour.  Through these events, I have made lifelong friends and have learned how to better serve the animal community.  I get to travel and learn more about the wonderful country that I call home.

 Building a business from the ground up is hard, but very rewarding.  Watching efforts turn into successes is an exhilarating feeling.  Knowing that people care about the work that I am doing fuels my passion and creativity.  This is the true entrepreneurial spirit.

I wish everyone who is trying to achieve their dreams nothing but joy, peace and success.  Just make sure that your achievements are truly of your own making.  And guard your hard work from any lurking glomerpreneurs.

Dog Born Blind, Deaf Because Of Bad Breeder | The Dodo

Poisoning Perfection

My heart was beating wildly.  Slowly, the teacher made her way around the room.  She stopped at my desk and handed me a white card.  Taking a deep breath, I flipped it over.  YES!  Straight A's!

My parents expected nothing less.  This could be due to the face that my mother was a teacher.  I remember going on full lock down to study for finals.  When I say "lock down," I mean that we would study for five hours straight.  Seriously!

If I received an A-, my mom would grill me asking why it wasn't an A+.  She was not overjoyed like many of my classmates' parents would have been.  I was held to a much higher standard.

I was not expected to attend an Ivy League college, but I was to do my absolute best every day.  Often times, this meant missing out on doing things with my friends.  Education came first.

Mom revealed to me more recently in my adult life that the reason she demanded so much of me academically is because her mother never took an interest in her schooling.  She knows now that she went overboard, but to me, the damage has been done.  I have carried that pressure for perfection with me into adulthood.

Upon graduating from college, I was so excited to enter the working world.  I saw myself getting a fantastic job that I would absolutely love.  I would continue to work hard like I always had and would be financially rewarded.  I could look at myself in the mirror every day and happily know that I was successful.

What I soon discovered was that the working world is not the same one that my parents had.  The job market was scarce for people with journalism degrees.  People who had retired were having to come out of retirement due to the failing economy.  And those that have the fantastic jobs continue to hang onto them for dear life.

My work ethic and positive personality were hardly ever appreciated by my employers.  And certainly not by my co-workers.  It seemed that I was the "problem child" that "made everyone look bad."  The dream world that I had created in my mind shattered.

The perfectionist programming did not help me achieve my dreams.  Instead, it made me feel like a huge failure.  I was doing everything that my parents had told me to do, following all of the rules and still getting nowhere.

I began to criticize and internalize everything that I did.  I must not be working hard enough.  My best must not be good enough.  I am not good enough.

In 2016, I self-published my first children's book, Priceless Penny.  The story chronicles the amazing adoption journey of my tripawd Chiweenie, Penny.  I thought that the book would become an instant best seller.  Visions of television and book store appearances filled my head.

I worked tirelessly on Penny's social media accounts.  I created and maintained Penny's website, making sure to upload photos and videos almost daily.  Networking became like a second job.  I was always promoting Penny and her story.

Yet, Penny was not launched into the ranks of animal superstars like Tuna, Nala Cat and Lil Bub.  I could not understand it.  Penny's story is so special and (being the biased fur mom that I am) she is beyond adorable.  What was I doing wrong?  What I should have been asking myself was why am I comparing Penny to other animals?

Perfection is a dangerous thing.  It makes enjoying life nearly impossible.  I realized that I have spent most of my life beating myself up over things that are beyond my control.  Worse than that, I have been trying to live up to the expectations of others.  I have even gone so far as to actively seek approval for the decisions that I make.

Happiness has not been attainable for me because I have been chasing someone else's dreams.  The cut throat working world is not for me.  My husband and I have even talked about the possibility of me becoming a stay at home fur mom.  I would love to start my own animal rescue, The Duchess of Spots (named after my and my husband's first dogs).  My focus would be to rescue differently-abled and special needs animals.

I also want to continue to write books about the animals that I have adopted.  Telling their stories and promoting adoption is something that I am very passionate about.  I want to be a voice for the voiceless.  And I would love to devote more time to volunteering both as a certified therapy dog handler and as a humane educator for the APA of Missouri.

We are not made to be perfect.  We are made to be perfectly imperfect.  Being an individual is what life is all about.  We should chase our own dreams and follow the path that feels right for us.  While I know that my parents may not always approve of my choices, I do know that they love me more than anything in the world, flaws and all.

APA's Jennifer Blome and special guests to lead story time for children

Penny and I are so honored to be featured in Ms. Jennifer Blome's interview on KTRS 550!  We love volunteering for the APA of Missouri!

Dog Book Review: Priceless Penny

The BEST Kid's Picture Books of 2016

Celebrity Priceless Penny Book Reading

I am so touched by this awesome celebrity reading of Priceless Penny by friends Deirdre Franklin from Pinups for Pitbulls and Alyona DelaCoeur from Why Does My Dog? And a special thanks to cutie pie Baxter Bean!