Inhumane Humanity

My hands shook as I listened to a voice mail on my cell phone. I could not believe it. I had just received a call for an interview at my dream job!

If everything went well, I would be the newest member of the Missouri Humane Society as an Adoption Counselor. My husband and I visit their Macklindlocation at least once a month to give treats to the animals still searching for their forever homes. To think that I would get to be a part of such a wonderful group was mind blowing.

However, my joy soon diminished as I realized I had gotten an interview for their Chesterfield location. This would mean almost an hour drive every day. Plus, I would have to work on holidays as well as weekends. But my passion for animals is so great that I knew compromises would have to be made.

The doors opened and I stepped into the adoption center. Cute kitties pawed at me from behind their glass enclosures. Animal themed gifts filled the mini gift shop. It was official. I was in heaven!

I immediately hit it off with the manager. *Beth and I had the same passion for saving lives. I was then asked how I felt about euthanasia. “Well, I liken it to deer hunting,” I explained. “I do not participate or support it, but I understand why it is sometimes needed.” She said, “Great analogy! I don’t like hunting either.”

Before I knew it, I had received an offer for immediate employment. While overjoyed, there was still one issue that needed to be addressed: the pay. Accepting this job would mean a HUGE pay cut. My husband was less than thrilled, but wanted to support my dream. He knows that I am not meant for the cut throat office world. I have had my share of that abuse. And I truly do have a talent for working with animals. They seem to instantly trust me. I firmly believe that it is a gift from God.

I do not want to be selfish, but I am ready to do something meaningful with my life. Something that will utilize the skills and talents that God has given me. I no longer want to pretend to be something that I am not.

Taking a deep breath, I brought up the salary. Beth told me that she would see what she could do. Then she began to talk about another position that was still open. The Transport Coordinator would be responsible for going to area shelters and selecting the most adoptable animals to be brought back to the humane society. This person would also assist the Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force in rescuing abused and neglected animals. And Beth thought I would be just perfect for the job!

She raced out of the room in search of her phone. She hoped that she would be able to reach her supervisor so that I could get hired on the spot for that (higher paying) position. I thought that the stars of my life were finally aligning. God did have a plan for me and it was going to be amazing!

Unfortunately, Beth was unable to locate her boss. I left with the understanding that the Adoption Counselor position was mine if I wanted it and that Beth would be contacting me when she heard from her boss.

I left feeling so excited. Beth had given me more compliments than any of my bosses (past and present) ever have. Everything felt so right.

The next morning, I received a call requesting an interview that very day in the afternoon. I readily accepted and watched the clock slowly tick away the minutes until my departure. My phone rang about two hours before the interview. It was *Michelle, Beth’s boss, wanting to conduct a pre-interview. She began by explaining the hours and how they would vary. Some overnight travel may be required. I was nodding my head, as if she could see me. Michelle then asked how I felt about euthanasia. I decided to stick with my hunting analogy since it was such a hit and accurately describes how I feel about the subject.

“You would be performing this,” Michelle stated.

My heart immediately dropped into my stomach. I felt like I was going to throw up. “I would be performing euthanasia?” I asked incredulously.

“Yes, that is a requirement for this job.”

I was completely horrified. I am known as the saver of animal lives, not the destroyer. No way in a million years could I ever kill an animal, no matter how much money was thrown at me.

“No, I could never do that,” I replied.

“Well, it is a requirement for this position,”Michelle commented. She then left a very pregnant pause as if I was going to change my mind.

“I’m sorry, but I could never do that,” I answered.

We thanked each other for our time and hung up. I was enraged. Beth had billed the Transport Coordinator position as one that would SAVE lives. She did not make a single mention of the fact that I would also be responsible for needlessly killing animals. I would have showed no interest in the job if I had known the full details.

This experience has greatly changed my opinion of the Missouri Humane Society and what they stand for. I found out that if they have a large influx of animals, those that have treatable illnesses, such as UTI’s, are euthanized to make space for their healthy, adoptable counterparts. While I understand that overcrowding is a real issue, what I cannot wrap my brain around is the fact that HSMO just received a multimillion dollar grant to build a new, larger facility. Doesn’t this mean that they will have more space for intakes? And they are blessed enough to have 3 locations, unlike most animal shelters and humane societies that are lucky to have just one.

With all of these spaces to house homeless animals, why are they insistent upon killing them? I own several fur babies that I know they would have deemed “unadoptable.”Hope, our double dapple Dachshund, was born without eyes and is completely deaf. She is the biggest inspiration in my life. Even with these“disabilities,” she lives her best life in which her tail is always wagging. Hope holds her head high as she prances from room to room. Had she fallen into the clutches of HSMO, she would have undoubtedly been killed simply because people cannot begin to fathom how any living creature could be happy living a life without sight or sound. Yet, she loves everyone that she meets. Hope will greet you with a wag of her tail and then cover you in the best weenie kisses ever.

Penny is our tripod Chiweenie wonder. She was born with a severe overbite and a deformed front paw. While Penny does hop around like a bunny, she does not allow anything to hold her back. She frequently scales our three foot pet gate and loves to race her furry siblings around in the backyard. Penny is a total love bug who enjoys meeting new people, dogs and cats. Her looks only enhance the awesomeness that is Penny.

Every day, animals just like Hope and Penny are“put to sleep” because they are deemed unworthy of being adopted. How can HSMOplay God? I cannot ever imagine being forced to choose which animals to save and which to kill. It is reminiscent of Sophie’s Choice on a much larger scale. Marc Barone is currently working on an epic project entitled “An Act of Dog” in which he is painting portraits of all of the dogs that have been euthanized across the country for no other reason than a lack of space.

I am then reminded of HSMO’s Second Chances telethon. This annual TV special presentation depicts HSMO as being the guardians of animals and their well-being, all while asking for monetary donations in order to continue providing “protection” for animals in need. What they do not tell viewers is that they are not a no-kill shelter. They are an all access shelter, which means that they will not discriminate against an animal due to age or health issues. I was told this during my interview. The same interview in which I was told that if there was an abundance of animals, those with treatable illnesses would be euthanized first. What a hypocritical organization!

If they truly want to be humane (as in their very name sake), they should try to HELPas many animals as they can. Just like humans, not all animals are born with the same chance at a wonderful life. I had believed that it was the mission of every humane society and rescue group to give these poor creatures a second chance at living the life they truly deserve.

While my dreams of combining my love of animals with a job are sufficiently dashed, I also find that I am feeling somewhat relieved. Knowing how duplicitous HSMO is, I would not want to be employed at their establishment only to watch countless numbers of animals senselessly lose their lives.

*names have been changed

Drifting Dreamers

 We all have dreams.  Some are lofty while others are small.  Each and every dream is important and speaks to who/what we are truly meant to be.

I read the most inspiring quote in one of my Self magazines.  It read:  “It’s not who you are that holds you back.  It’s who you think you’re not.”

This is incredibly true when it comes to chasing down our dreams.  My biggest dream is to become a successful author.  While I feel that I am talented enough to “make it,” there are countless things that bombard me with feelings of doubt.  

I am currently in the process of launching my own publishing company entitled Theuerkauf’s Tails, LLC.  Fear grips me when I realize that I do not know the first thing about owning and running my own business.  Even though I have my Bachelor’s degree and graduated Suma Cum Laude with a 3.8 GPA on a 4.0 scale, I somehow do not feel “smart enough” to figure things out.

Money is also an issue that I worry about constantly.  The costs of creating an LLC are quite high.  Not to mention the cost of purchasing ISBN’s, filing my copyright, filing with the Library of Congress and printing promotional materials.  I do not want to waste my family’s limited resources on something that could turn out to be unsuccessful.

But every time that I talk about my children’s book, Priceless Penny, I become excited.  Then, I start getting ideas for promotions, book signings, merchandise, etc.  I literally feel like this is what I was born to do.  Combining my love of animals and my talent for writing seems as natural to me as breathing.  So, why am I afraid to try?

I am reminded of a family member, *Riley.  She wanted to get her Master’s degree in teaching and was enrolled in the program.  Then, she got married and stopped attending.  When I asked her why she did not continue she simply said, “I wanted to spend time with my husband.”

While I believe that it is important for couples to spend time together, you should not have to give up on your dreams in order to make your significant other happy.  Their happiness should come from seeing you happy (and vice versa).  I also felt like this was extremely unfair to blame her dropping on her husband.  He has always been very supportive of Riley and I am positive that he would have encouraged her to get her Master’s had he known it was so important to her.

Riley also attempted to get her Amateur Radio License.  Her husband has been a ham for many years and she became interested in the hobby.  Riley began attending classes that were taught my Amateur Radio veterans.  But, one teacher made fun of her for not knowing an answer.  She never attended another class.  

I can certainly understand how she was feeling.  Embarrassed, humiliated, stupid.  But, all she did was prove that teacher right.  And she had numerous options than simply quitting.  

Riley could have sought another class with a different teacher.  The more terrifying option would have been to confront the tyrannical teacher and inform him that she had just as much right to be in the class as her male counterparts and that she did not deserve to be treated in such a manner.  Instead, she left and gave up on yet another dream.

While she insists that she is happy, Riley does get a faraway look in her eyes when someone mentions a Master’s degree or when I bring up taking part in a ham event.  My question to her? Why not try to achieve theses dreams now? 

Riley complains that she will be retiring soon.  She does not see the point in getting her Master’s.  I told her to do it for HER, not to advance in her work position.  This would be something that she could be proud of to have earned.  And who knows what the future holds?  She may decide to work part-time in which the degree would be beneficial.  

As far as hamming goes, it is NEVER too late to learn something new!  I purchased the official ARRL (American Radio Relay League) testing guide on my Kindle.  No class (or teacher) required.  There are even online tutorials that can be viewed for free.  The tests are given once every month, so there is no need to rush the learning process or feel like time is running out.

Too many times, we follow in Riley’s footsteps and try to talk ourselves out of following our dreams.  We fear that we are not “good enough” or that we might fail.  However, the true failure is in not trying.

While I am still nervous about the success of Theuerkauf’s Tails, I know that I need to take this risk.  Years from now, I do not want to be filled with regret about all of the things that I did not try.  I want to be able to smile about the things that I did.

*name has been changed

Marvelous Me

As I gaze into the mirror, I realize that they are right.  I am not like most people.  Suddenly, a smile spreads across my face.  Why?  I am proud of the person that I have grown to be.

I am bombarded daily with stares and comments from my fellow co-workers and administrators.  The great powers that be have decided that everyone should look and act exactly as they do.  But, when I look at these individuals, I see people who are unhappy.  Miserable, even.

They are constantly battling for power and praise.  And they are not afraid to lie their way to the top.  I cannot tell you how many times I have been thrown under the proverbial bus for mistakes that were not my fault.

I have tried to imagine myself in their shoes.  I come up with the same conclusion every time:  I would not be able to live with myself.  Knowing that I am making other people’s lives miserable and giving them sleepless nights is something I just could not bare.

The work environment is not the only place that calls for uniformity.  More and more, the entire world appears to be seeking the robot-like mentality.  To quote the movie ‘What a Girl Wants,’ “Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?”

That describes me perfectly.  And I am not ashamed to stand out.  The older I become, the more I embrace my uniqueness and cherish the special individual that I am.

Here are some of the things that I like most about myself:

1. I have a passion for animals.  I am often teased about having so many fur babies, but I would not have it any other way.  These rescued pooches and kitties have changed my life for the better.  They have helped me grow and taught me many life lessons.  This is especially true of my special needs babies.  Even though they have “disabilities,” they are able to accomplish amazing things and live their best life, which is something I strive to do every day.  My husband and I even like to “shelter hop” on the weekends where we will visit as many animal shelters in the area that we can.  We love to talk to the animals and give them the attention and affection that they deserve.  I cannot imagine a life without each and every one of my fur babies.  I have also become known as the “animal person” at my job and on Facebook.  Numerous people have sent me messages needing help in re-homing their pets.  Others have contacted me about stray animals that they have found.  I love being known as a source of information for helping animals!  Instead of dropping off pets at shelters where they will most likely be euthanized, I am able to provide resources that will see these animals in loving foster homes or no-kill shelters.

2. I am an Amateur Radio Operator (a.k.a. Ham).  My Dad has been a ham for over 40 years!  He inspired me to get my own FCC license.  I studied for the test diligently for a month and passed the Technician Class test with only 3 missed questions.  I am now able to volunteer as the Skywarn Net Control Operator for our weekly Net Nights when my Dad is tied up at work or sick.  In addition, I can use my ham skills while volunteering in our local E.S.D.A. (Emergency Services and Disaster Agency) as a shelter manager or give back up assistance to my Dad who is the E.S.D.A. Coordinator for our town.  My call sign, KC9VZR, is proudly displayed on my special Ham Radio license plates for my car.  As one of the few women “hammers,” I am excited to learn all that I can so that I will be the best ham possible.

3. I have a talent for writing.  Many people struggle to find out what their calling is in life.  Not me.  I was blessed with a talent for writing.  When I was little, I used to create my own newspapers with such captivating headlines as “Cinderella to Wed Prince Charming.”  I even drew my own “photos.”  As I grew, so did my passion for writing.  I won two Young Author Awards in grade school for two original short stories that I wrote.  I pursued my love of writing in college and earned the Outstanding Journalism Student Award at SIUE in 2006.  In 2007, I graduated with my Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications:  Print Journalism.  I was fortunate enough to then land a job as an Editor for two newspapers.  Poetry has always had a special place in my heart.  In 2010, I self-published a book entitled More Than Words, which is a collection of original poetry all about the three stages of love (it is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Borders).  Currently, I am working on my first children’s book entitled Priceless Penny, which chronicles the amazing adoption journey of my tripod dog, Penny.  Even if I never become a millionaire, I will still always love to write.  There is just something so magical about being able to express yourself with words.

4. I love to attend charity walks!  I first learned about the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s annual Light the Night Walk from a former co-worker (and lymphoma survivor).  My Grandmother was diagnosed with Mantel Cell Lymphoma in 2010.  I became the team captain of Memaw’s Mantel Mashers and lead the way on our first walk that same year.  It was truly inspiring to see so much hope and unity.  I later attended my first PurpleStride walk for pancreatic cancer and soon found myself the captain of Leonard’s Legion.  When my Dad was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes, I signed up to be the captain of Gene’s Gladiators for the ADA's annual Step Out Walk.  My love for charities also extends to animal causes such as:  Bark in the Park, Celebrate Spot, Races for Rescues and the Canine Carnival.  I wear seven rubber bracelets on my left wrist every day to show my support for these amazing causes that are close to my heart.  I hope to inspire others to become involved because together, we can change the world.

5. I have my own style.  I love to create different looks by wearing funky jewelry and makeup.  My favorite pieces of jewelry are made by Betsey Johnson.  She is so creative!  I also love how she incorporates animals in almost all of her works.  When it comes to makeup, I am not shy.  I will wear eye shadow in purple, teal, gold, etc.  And I top it all off by wearing Keds in a matching color!  I own over 22 pairs of these fabulous shoes.  While I get some strange looks for my bold statement, I typically receive compliments for not only having matching jewelry and makeup, but shoes as well.  Even my winter coat is a vibrant orange color.  Why would I want to wear just black and white when the world is filled with a rainbow of options?

6. Exercising is essential to my life.  From the moment I bought my first Jillian Michaels DVD, I was hooked.  I was vastly out of shape, but noticed that the more I did her workouts, the stronger I became.  I eagerly gobbled up her new releases and was surprised at how I was able to master the routines in a matter of days.  While I am nowhere near perfect, I am much fitter and stronger.  Now, exercising has become a part of my daily routine.  I work out five days a week.  In discovering a healthier me, I have inspired members of my own family to become proactive about their health.

Like a diamond, I am multifaceted.  When I am being true to myself, I shine.  What makes you glow?

Dona Nobis Pacem

Today, bloggers across the world are blogging for peace.  Though we may be different, we all have a common, universal hope that peace will come to our planet.  This bold movement starts with us.  Together, we can change the world!

To spread your message of peace, click here.

#blog4peace  #blogblast4peace  #peace

Selfish Sister

My husband gave me the shocking news yesterday:  His sister will be back in the states for a visit in January 2015.  I immediately began having flashbacks of previous visits.  None were pleasant.

The problem?  *Jamie cannot seem to think about anyone but herself.  As soon as the plane lands, you know that the “queen” has arrived. 

Our phones immediately begin to ring.  She wants to know what the plans are for that evening.  Plans?  We do not have time for plans.  We are busy with this little thing called life.

My husband works at a job that deals with route work.  Essentially, his departure time depends upon what time all of the routes return.  Sometimes he is home at 7:00 p.m., other times it may be 8:30 p.m. or later.  It varies from day to day. 

I am also blessed with a full time job.  This means that I work from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.  What she fails to realize is that my “job” does not stop when I leave the office.  Since Matt does not return home until late in the evening, it is my responsibility to let our fur babies outside to potty.  I also carve in time to exercise so that I can maintain my health.  Then, I have a house to take care of.  Usually, there is no down time until it is time to go to bed.

But, trying to explain all of this to her is useless. Jamie cannot seem to comprehend just how busy our lives are because hers is so much different.  Her day typically ends around 3:30 p.m. (Korea time).  That is when she heads back to her apartment where she promptly parks herself on the couch and watches TV (or surfs the web) until bed time.  Her responsibilities are very minimal.

Nonetheless, she practically demands that we put our lives on hold while she is here.  If we turn down too many invitations, she literally tells her mother.  Then we begin getting angry calls from the MIL stating that we do not care about “our sister.”  This is when our weekends get taken away from us, which is really about the only time together that Matt and I have.

Did I mention that when we do finally get together we have to do only what SHE wants to do?  And Jamie has a major addiction:  shopping!  She can easily blow through about $80 a day.  When she sees that Matt and I are not following suit, we appear to be ruining her fun.

This brings me back to that little thing called life.  Like everyone else, we have bills.  There’s the mortgage, utilities, Internet, credit cards, etc.  Not to mention the yearly check-ups for the fur babies.  And do not get me started on groceries!  Have you seen the price of toilet paper lately?

Jamie has a very interesting job situation.  She teaches English as a second language at a Korean school.  As part of the program, she is given a furnished apartment.  Her rent and utilities are paid for.  Plus, she uses the public bus system to get around.  Translation?  She has no car that can spontaneously break down and need emergency repairs.  This is why Jamie appears to have money to burn.

We have tried on numerous occasions to explain that she should be saving her money.  One day she will want to return home for good.  When she does, where will she live?  How will she support herself and her two cats?  No, living with us is NOT an option.

Aside from her constant spending, I noticed another disturbing trend.  Jamie only contacts me when she is “stressed.”  We used to chat on Skype once every month.  She would ask how we were doing, want to see the fur babies and engage us in meaningful conversation.

When I hear the consecutive “dings!” from my Facebook messenger app, I know it’s her.  Her opening remarks?  “OMG!  I am so stressed!”  At first, I would put a lot of thought into my responses and try to help her as best I could.  As these types of conversations became more frequent, I noticed that she never asked how we were.  I began to scale back and simply reply with one word answers.  Jamie would then ask if I was okay because I was not sending her Dr. Phil like advice.

One such session really put me over the edge.  Matt and I were faced with an unexpected expenditure, my Grandma was dying, one of our dogs sprained its’ leg and drama was occurring at both of our jobs.  The fact that Jamie just launched into another tirade about all of the things that were bothering her really upset me.

I decided to give her a dose of her own medicine.  I replied that I knew all about stress and listed all of the items above.  This was met with an “I’m sorry,” and then more about…herself.  What else?

Matt and Jamie were both homeschooled.  While I have nothing against this practice, I do think that it has made Jamie ill-equipped to deal with life’s many ups and downs.  She has led a pretty sheltered life.  I told Matt that she is truly blessed to just now be experiencing stress at age 31.

For me, there was high school, boyfriends, jobs, friend fights, homework, tests, interviews, car and health issues, etc.  I am certainly no stranger to the “s” word.  But, in experiencing these things, I have learned how to cope and move on.  Jamie, on the other hand, literally melts down at the slightest hint of discord.

There will always be a part of me that loves her.  Still, I do not have the time (or the sanity) to devote to coaching her through life.  I want her to find success and happiness, but, she will need to get out of her own way to do so. 

In a world that is becoming ever more narcissistic, we need to be able to see beyond the mirror.  Focusing on others says a lot about who we are.     

 

*name has been changed

Suffocating Sympathy

Three and a half years ago, my Grandma was diagnosed with Mantel Cell Lymphoma.  This is one of the rarest forms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas.  There are only about 15,000 people in the United States afflicted with this disease.

I remember getting called out into the hospital hallway with my mother.  The doctor was very blunt:  she had 4-6 months left to live.  Grandma then began to see an oncologist regularly and made the bold decision to have chemotherapy.

We were all expecting the worst.  From what we had heard from the media, chemotherapy was a horrible, almost unbearable treatment that would transform my Grandma into a frail, bald woman. We stayed with her during her very first treatment.  She received the chemotherapy through an i.v.

Where was the radiation chamber that was always shown on the cancer treatment center commercials?  Where was the doctor and team of nurses that should be huddled around her?  Grandma’s chemotherapy was nothing like what we had expected.  She handled her first treatment like a champ.  Her only complaint was that she felt cold, which is very common for the type of treatment she received.

Much to our surprise, Grandma still looked like Grandma.  All of her beautiful gray hair remained firmly on her head.  And her strong spirit was very much evident.  A fighter through and through.

At 91 years old, Grandma was still living at home by herself.  She had a visiting nurse that would come to her house three times a week.  The woman would cook, clean, go shopping, whatever Grandma needed.  But in July of this year, Grandma fell in her bathroom a week after receiving her sixth chemo treatment.  Luckily, she hadn’t hit her head or broken any bones.

She was taken to the hospital where it was discovered that she had renal failure.  Her heart condition was also flaring up AND she developed tumor lysis syndrome.  The oncologist stated that attempting to do any more treatments would be dangerous given her multiple health issues.

Without the chemo, Grandma quickly came out of remission.  The cancer was back and more aggressive than ever.  My mother called me on October 8^th to tell me that Grandma was being placed in Hospice care at the nursing home she had been staying at.

On our way to meet with the Hospice nurse, my mom received another call.  All of Grandma’s doctors decided that she would remain at the hospital for in-patient Hospice.  We had no idea what that meant at the time, but we knew it couldn’t be good.  That is when we learned that instead of having 4-6 months left, she only had 3-5 days.

Grandma continued to fight and made it up to day five.  I personally think that she hung on just to spite the one particularly nasty Hospice nurse who said she would not be around by day 3.  Grandma never was one to be told what to do.

On October 13^th, Grandma went to be with Grandpa in heaven.  I know that God has deemed her His spunkiest angel.

My family and I received a huge outpouring of sympathy and support.  Facebook exploded after I posted that Grandma had passed.  Our neighbor even baked us cinnamon rolls and a loaf of bread!

But, I have learned that there are certain “expectations” that come along with the grieving process.  Specifically the “meltdown.”  Everyone continues to ask me and my mother how we are.  Mom’s response has been “fine” and mine is “okay.”  While I certainly understand the intent of the question, it tends to get a bit ridiculous after a while.

What I would really like to say is:  “I am horrible.  I still cannot believe that my Grandma is no longer going to be a part of my life.  Some days, it even hurts to breath.  I really would like to just stay at home with my fur babies and ignore the world entirely.”

What I cannot understand is why a majority of people are still watching me and my mom to see if we are going to “blow.”  And how they are acting like it is totally strange that we haven’t yet.  My mom and I are very similar in how we grieve.  We are not going to be giving anyone a public “show.” 

There will be no crying jags or shouting outbursts.  Nor will we become quiet and withdrawn.  We both know that we have jobs that we need to do.  Responsibilities to uphold.  Grandma would want us to carry on because she knows that no one will ever forget her.  We just take it one day at a time.

This does not mean that we are not constantly hurting.  Or that we do not care.  Our silence is not an indication that we are gold diggers nor secret serial killers.  No amount of waterworks or screaming will bring Grandma back to us.  Hating the world and everyone in it will not change the fact that she is gone.

One of the attributes that Grandma always loved about me is my positive attitude.  To become a hermit or a hater would only disappoint her.  Instead, I choose to honor her memory by remaining a ray of light in a darkened room.

When we lose someone we love, we should not stop loving.  Everyone, animals included, needs love.  It is the most powerful force in this world.

While love can help to heal a broken heart, one cannot tell a heart when it has been mended.  Grieving is a natural process that is different for each individual.  We should respect each other’s process and cast off our preconceived notions about what is “normal.”

Challenging Changes

Silence filled the conference room.  My co-workers nervously fidgeted in their seats.  I proceeded to doodle on my notepad as we waited for the meeting to begin.

“Guys, we’re moving,” said our boss.

Stunned looks rapidly appeared on everyone’s faces.  This was not the type of news they were wanting to hear.  I could tell that they were tuning out the rest of conversation.

Once the meeting concluded, the grumbling began.  They already had their minds made up that the move was not going to work.  While some of their concerns were valid points, many were simply complaints about being forced to change.

To me, moving was not a big deal.  At one of my former jobs, we had to move our desks at least once a month to “shake things up.”  I have become quite the pro and packing and unpacking my desk space.

This news really got me thinking about change.  Why are such a great number of people adverse to change?  Let me be the first to admit that I am not a fan of having to switch up my daily routine.  One reason is that I feel comfortable and confident in the way that  I currently run my processes.  I love coming in, sitting down and getting right to work.  Knowing exactly how my day will go is not boring, but comforting.

I also find that I tend to second guess myself frequently whenever the administration decides to run/process things differently.  Typically, we run into issues and for some reason, I tend to get blamed if things to not turn out as they had planned.  There also seems to be a greater chance for errors, leading to more belittling by the staff causing my self-esteem to plummet.

But, I have learned that change is not always the scary monster that it appears to be.  Case in point, at one of my previous jobs, I ended up making a wonderful new friend after being forced to move desks with another co-worker.  If I would not have moved, I never would have connected with this person or developed such a strong friendship with him/her.

My 91 year old grandmother recently moved into a nursing home.  At first, she was terrified.  She worried that no one would like her and she would be all alone.  But, she is surrounded by people her own age, offered daily activities to participate in and raves about how delicious the food is.  Grandma is now quite content with her new home.

Two years ago, my dad was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes.  He was completely devastated.  Giving up cookies and cakes seemed like a horrible punishment.  However, he has since gotten his numbers under control and is now healthier than ever due to his new life style.  And he has even developed a taste for some of the gluten free foods.

Perhaps the biggest change that I have ever undergone was getting married.  I have never had a fear of commitment, so marrying my best friend was very exciting.  But, once we returned from our honeymoon, the fairytale sparkle of our new marriage began to fade a bit.  Life began to throw more challenges at us.  Suddenly, that carefree life that we lived for a week in Disney World turned into worrying about money and bills.  We began to argue, which I foolishly thought people in love didn’t do.  But over time, we began to learn what was really worth fighting about and how to deal with life’s ups and downs.  Five years later, our love is stronger than ever…because we learned to accept change.

Some of the best moments of your life can come out of change.  We recently adopted a double dapple Dachshund who was born without eyes and is completely deaf.  This new addition truly shook things up in our house!  Learning how to live with a differently abled animal was very tough at first.  And Hope had to learn the layout of a completely new house, which she managed to do in a matter of days.  This amazing little dog has changed our lives for the better.  She has made us more compassionate and continues to inspire us every day with her determination and feisty spirit.

So in the end, it doesn't really matter who gets the window seat.  You can have the best view wherever you are if you choose to embrace change.