My food posts are moving to:
http://lotsayum.com
Lotsa Yum: eating, writing, and thinking about food. I hope you’ll take a minute and check out Lotsa Yum!
Garden Gate Blog is staying with insight into the search for joy and meaning in everyday life.
Watch for a new Garden Gate post on Monday…I’m taking on Glee.
Posted in Bits & Bobs, Cooking, Counseling, Gardening
I’m watching, with the rest of the world, as the 33 men are rescued from the mine. As I write this, 10 have been rescued safely and the 11th is on his way to the surface. The rescue is slow paced, carefully planned, and astonishing.
Much of the world news is bad, so many people suffer in so many ways. It is such a joy to see ’round the clock coverage of good news: happy families, loving embraces, tearful commentators.
In the next days they will return to their lives, and we to ours. But for today, let’s rejoice in the strength of the human spirit.
Cynthia
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Cynthia McKenna is a psychotherapist specializing in trauma, anxiety, and depression. You can learn more about her work at her website: www.cynthiamckennacounseling.com
Posted in Counseling, Relationships, Science
Tagged anxiety, chilean, chilean miners, Cynthia McKenna, depression, rescued, trauma, world news
It’s been an exciting time in the office. Mr. Lolly caught a mouse.
That’s not normally a remarkable thing. It’s getting cooler, mice look for warm places, and cats catch mice right?
I adopted Lolly when he was very young, probably less than 5 weeks old. He and his litter mates were rescued from the Tulsa Animal Shelter by my friend and veterinarian, Dr. Robin Johnson. Robin has a heart for rescuing, neutering, and placing as many animals as possible. Lolly could eat solid food, so he came home with me. He was such a tiny little guy, and I had a lot of fun watching him play and grow.
Zoom forward 12 years. Lolly lives in the country, with three other cats and none of them have expressed any interest in mousing. Their attitude seems to be, “that’s what mouse traps are for.”
Well, Lolly caught a mouse, and liked it so well, he caught another one (mice often arrive in pairs).
Here’s what I find remarkable. Lolly didn’t have a good beginning, he didn’t have much time with his mamma cat and he didn’t learn a lot of basic cat knowledge.
But that chilly morning, his instincts kicked in and when he spotted the mouse, he knew what to do, and he did it with skill and joy.
Lolly is such a good reminder about how powerful our instincts are. Each of us is born with strong instincts. “Instincts” are that inner knowledge that advises us – tells us something is wrong, or urges us to make certain choices.
Many people are conditioned, by family or society, to ignore instincts. For a variety of reasons, we quit listening and frequently pay the price; we feel disconnected and powerless. Getting back in touch with your own instinctual knowledge helps guide your choices and brings back that sense of personal power.
Lolly’s mousing adventure was a clear reminder that we are gifted with inner knowledge, and we serve ourselves and others by learning to trust and use our instincts.
Take care,
Cynthia+
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Want to know more about Mr. Lolly? Visit Lolly’s page and follow him on twitter!
Posted in Counseling, pets, Relationships
Tagged animal shelter, cats, Cynthia McKenna, instincts, lolly, mice, mouse, mr. lolly, rescue, robin johnson, twitter
Today is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. It’s a day to remember Francis giving up his wealth and stature to serve the poor and outcast. Francis founded the Franciscan monastic order, and is the patron saint of animals.
Lots of churches and other organizations hold services today to honor St. Francis and bless the animals. The blessing of the animals is one of my favorite services in the Church year. People bring cats, dogs, snakes, rats, horses, fish, you name it; and have their pet blessed at church.
When you adopt a pet, big or small, you make a promise to that animal – you promise good food and water, protection and care. That animal gives you trust, unconditional love, and companionship, challenges your patience from time to time, and adds so much joy to your life.
Animals give a lot and ask little in return.
If you didn’t make it to a Blessing of the Animals service this year, you might pause for a minute and say a prayer of thanks for each animal in your life. Here’s my favorite:
O God, you have made all things for yourself. Bless, we pray, this animal; that it may be a good pet, and a source of love and joy to those with whom it dwells. Amen.
Thank you for following Garden Gate Blog as it moves to it’s new home at www.WordPress.com I think I have most of the kinks out (fingers crossed.)
Happy Feast of St. Francis!
Cynthia
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Cynthia McKenna is a psychotherapist and Episcopal priest. You can find out more about her work with anxiety, depression, and PTSD at www.cynthiamckennacounseling.com
Posted in pets, Relationships
Tagged animals, blessing, cats, Cynthia McKenna, dogs, franciscan, pets, st. frances
