Not too much health-wise to report, which, believe me, is a good thing!

I dropped off kittens, Max and Madeline at Bishop and expect they will be adopted quickly after their surgeries. Delilah is also at Bishop, awaiting her transport to the Surgery Center tomorrow. Momma cat, Trixie and her three kittens are now large and in-charge of the cat room. I’ve left their catio door open so they can explore, but only the male, Mr Jinks, seems to be interested in exploring so far. He may be only 1 pound, 2 ounces, but he thinks he’s a lion cub!

I enjoyed Thai food for lunch with Sue who updated me on the happenings in the rescue world. She has added additional colonies to her daily rounds since Ellen, who helps feed, is recovering from a hip replacement. The dedication of these women amaze me. All Kitty Korner feeds over 150 cats in various locations in Manatee County. They will be hosting Yappy Hour at Motorworks in March to raise funds. It is a fun day of silent auctions and pet friendly camaraderie. I will share more info about the event when we get closer to the date so locals can attend.

My friend, Dr. Becky, sent me a NY Times article titled “The 7 Day Happiness Challenge,” by Jancee Dunn. She reminds us that we can find happiness by strengthening our relationships. The data in the study she uses comes from 3 generations and 1,300 descendants of the original subjects and spans over 85 years. Guess what they concluded?

STRONG RELATIONSHIPS ARE WHAT MAKE FOR A HAPPY LIFE.

She writes about the benefits of the 8 minute phone call, small talk, telling others how we feel about them (the good stuff), thanking someone special (by email, text, note, whatever), engaging with work friends, and making and keeping social plans.

Personally, this journal has brought me happiness for many reasons, not the least is that I have been connected to friends like never before. Therefore, I would add to the list above that when you admit/exposure your vulnerabilities, people are inclined to do the same and a deeper connection is formed. Too often, we want to put on a brave face, a successful demeanor, a false persona and so our connections with others remain at a surface level. Not everyone wants to share, but it is important to present our friends and family with the opportunity to do so WITHOUT JUDGEMENT.