Pets and People Who Love Them for 12/27/17

Published 5:29 pm Wednesday, December 27, 2017

It is that time of year when we all vow to lose weight (me), quit smoking, recycle, go back to school, get out of debt, de-clutter (me) and begin any number of other self-help projects that most of us are doomed to abandon sooner rather than later.

So, instead of fixating on one of these admirable goals, my New Year’s resolution is much simpler — I am going to try, each and every day, to be — intentionally and without hope of notice — kind.

I would like to think that I am generally not unkind, but I know that there are often opportunities that go unrecognized or unrealized. My resolution is to change that.

Goal: To be as patient with people as I am with animals, who don’t process information and react to situations as I do. Instead of finishing other people’s sentences, I will let them finish their thoughts in their own time. I will listen well instead of thinking of my next story or my next response. I will avoid trying to fix a situation if someone just needs me to hear what he needs to say.

Goal: To recognize my blessings by being a blessing to people and animals that need me. When I see a great deal (think buy-one-get-one-free deals), I will purchase and donate items to my local food bank for people and to my local shelter for animals. I will support, financially and as a volunteer, organizations that provide food, shelter and medical care to people and animals in need. I will honor and memorialize people who are important to me by supporting, in their names, the causes important to them. I will drop bedding and food off at the homes of pets that may need help; and without judgment, I will offer my support to their owners. And when that support is not enough, I will do the right thing and make the difficult call to report an animal that is being neglected. I will always report abuse of any person or animal, regardless of the circumstances.

Goal: To make people feel good about themselves, just because I can. I will compliment strangers on their haircuts, boots, purses and pets or on the behavior of their children in church, a store or a restaurant. I will sincerely thank my teller, cashier and waiter, and I will tell a manager when I have received exceptional service. I will send a note, email or text or make a phone call to congratulate, express sympathy or simply tell someone I am thinking about her.

As easy as any one of these things might be to do, I know that doing them consistently will be a challenge. But I also know that by making the attempt, I will receive more than I give and I will be living my best life. So why not start today?

— Pets and the People Who Love Them is brought to you by your friends at the Athens-Limestone Animal Shelter. To adopt a dog or cat, please visit the Athens-Limestone Animal Shelter at 1701 U.S. 72 (behind Limestone Veterinary Clinic), visit our Facebook page or call us at 256-771-7889. Email your questions and story ideas to me at PetsAndPeople@charter.net, and I’ll check with the experts (veterinarians, animal behaviorists, etc.) and get back to you in a future column.