Creating Expectation

Photo by Linda SamuelsWhat I love about new anything is that it immediately creates the expectation that something will be different, better, or possible. Our old perspective has the opportunity to shift and change.

Our dog, Norton, who passed away years ago, was a great teacher of many things, including expectations. He was a conscientious listener. If we talked about going for a walk, Norton, who loved taking walks, would immediately go to the “leash cabinet,” and sit patiently staring at the top drawer that held his leash.  If we mentioned the word “treat,” another one of Norton’s favorites, his ears would perk up, he’d rush to the “treat cabinet,” and fixedly glare at it as strands of drool dangled from his mouth. Norton knew what to expect. He was joyful, enthusiastic, and organized.

These may seem like small things- knowing where to find the leash or the treats. However, consider the possibilities for you. What if you claimed this year to become more organized so that your surroundings supported your daily functioning? What if you were able to find what you needed when you needed it? What would that look like? What would it feel like? What would become possible? Would your days flow better? Would you experience less stress?

Shift your perspective from perpetual frustration to gradual clarity. Think about starting simply. Create a basic expectation like, “My car keys are on the hook next to the front door,” or “ The bills to be paid are in the open bin on my desk.” What small thing is not working? What might make a difference if you made a slight change?

Dogs are incredible teachers. In my book, The Other Side of Organized, I share more about Norton’s wisdom related to organizing and life balance. Each chapter begins with a “Norton” cartoon, like this one called “Norton Knows.”

It's a new year, a new month, a new day. What tiny thing can you alter? What will you expect tomorrow?

Cartoon by Richard Rockwell & Linda Samuels

Comments

[Steven]

Some pets are so loving and caring... Some are trained well also... They understand each and everything.....

[Linda Samuels]

Steven- Thanks for stopping by to share your thoughts about pets. They certainly hold a special place in our lives with their wonderful ways of communicating.

[Shelley]

I love this! And what a lovely story to illustrate the point without having to go into metaphysical jargon. What a practical and poignant parable! Yummy!

[Linda Samuels]

Shelley-

So wonderful that you stopped by to add to the conversation. Norton was a wonderful dog and he taught me so much. I'm glad that you enjoyed the post and how his actions sparked some thinking around the changes that are possible for each of us.

[Janet Barclay]

Linda, there were many factors that led me to adopting a dog in December, and reading about Norton in your wonderful book was one of them!

[Linda Samuels]

Janet- It warms my heart to know that reading about Norton was one of the reasons you decided to adopt your dog. It was right after 911 that we adopted Norton. We had been "pet-less" for a while and the drama of that time made us stop waiting and encouraged us to take action. He was one of the blessings in our lives. Even now that he's long gone, the wisdom and love he shared continues to be present.

From what I've read about your four-legged friend, it sounds like you also are experiencing the joys of having a dog. Thank you for stopping by to share that. I'm looking forward to your next Professional Organizers Blog Carnival about "Organizing & Pets." Let me know when it's up and I'll share the link here.

[Janet Barclay]

I will save you the trouble and post it here myself!
Professional Organizers Blog Carnival for February 2012: Organizing for Pets

[Linda Samuels]

What can I say, Janet? Thank you so much for being proactive and sharing the link to the current PO Blog Carnival post about organizing and pets. Fantastic!