StartingOverNow.com
Articles
The Right Rescue Dog for Me - Overcoming
Disappointment
Last night my Shih-tzu and I went for the second night in a row to an
animal shelter to visit with a very sweet Irish Setter Collie mix. We
waited 45 minutes to visit with this beauty the night before and the
shelter was ready to close when we got our turn. So after a brief
visit, I was asked to bring Coco back for another visit the next night
because there wasn’t time to process an adoption anyway. But, my
heart was already captured by this charmer with one blue and one
brown eye. She was great on the lead and not at all dominant with
Coco. After just a few minutes I knew this dog was for us and the
handlers felt so as well. When we left, I went like a new parent to
the store and proudly purchased nearly $100 worth of toys, food and
bowls in anticipation of her homecoming the next night.
Then last night when we got there for our second visit, her regal
stance along with her striking red coat and white face charmed me
all over again. As I had uttered the words, “Let’s do the paperwork,” I
was struck with the fact that through some miscommunication I
would not be able to take her because my son who lives in the
home was not with me. I had explained the night before that he was
trying out for sports and would not be able to come after work with
me for that reason. Besides he was 17-years-old and knew about
dogs, especially since we have one. I could have lied and told them
I lived alone but my honesty ended up costing me the dog. They
wouldn’t hold her even for me to go home and pull my son from a try-
out which I couldn’t do to him anyway. Someone else was in line to
see her and in an instant my dreams of rescuing this gorgeous dog
were fading into someone else’s reality. I was disappointed. I was
angry. I was hurt. I was unforgiving. I was intolerant. I was
distraught. I left there knowing that I would never again return to that
shelter.
Yes, I cried, but only until I got home and gathered all of the doggie
purchases for their return. And then I did what I always do when met
with disappointment outside of my control – I accepted that it was
not meant to be. I began to pay attention as the reasons why
became as vivid as my dream. That night when I opened the back
door to let Coco out to go to potty in 5 inches of snow in 29-degree
darkness I didn’t have to put a leash on a 56-pound dog and take it
for a walk. The next morning in the deafening silence of a 15-
degree morning as I opened the kitchen door in bare feet to let Coco
out for her thirty-five-second tinkle I did not have to dress with boots
to do some morning housebreaking training. I didn’t have to get up
early. I didn’t have to come home at lunch-time from work to let a
dog out. And I didn’t have to throw away any chewed shoes or socks.
Sure, I’d have done all of these things willingly if the situation were
right. But I accept that it wasn’t. And another dog is meant for me
somewhere. I can wait. I am patient. Situations like this teach us
about adversity, acceptance and faith. The right dog will come. And
I will be ready because it will be the right dog for me.
Sign up for Mary Lee’s FREE e-newsletter of free career and
productivity advice by emailing info@startingovernow.com.
For the FREE Worksheets: "SMART Goals," and “Are You Leading
Your Life or An Actor in Your Own Drama” go to: www.
startingovernow.com/Articles-andTip-Sheets.html
Mary Lee Gannon is a cultural turnaround and leadership expert
who went from being a stay-at-home mother with four children living
in an unpalatable marriage behind the facade of a country club life
to the reality of divorce, homelessness, and welfare. As a national
guest speaker she demonstrates turn-around strategies that
transform corporate cultures and took her from an earning capacity
of $27,000 to the president and CEO of a hospital foundation. Her
book “Starting Over – 25 Rules When You’ve Bottomed Out” is
available in bookstores and on Amazon.com.
Disappointment
Last night my Shih-tzu and I went for the second night in a row to an
animal shelter to visit with a very sweet Irish Setter Collie mix. We
waited 45 minutes to visit with this beauty the night before and the
shelter was ready to close when we got our turn. So after a brief
visit, I was asked to bring Coco back for another visit the next night
because there wasn’t time to process an adoption anyway. But, my
heart was already captured by this charmer with one blue and one
brown eye. She was great on the lead and not at all dominant with
Coco. After just a few minutes I knew this dog was for us and the
handlers felt so as well. When we left, I went like a new parent to
the store and proudly purchased nearly $100 worth of toys, food and
bowls in anticipation of her homecoming the next night.
Then last night when we got there for our second visit, her regal
stance along with her striking red coat and white face charmed me
all over again. As I had uttered the words, “Let’s do the paperwork,” I
was struck with the fact that through some miscommunication I
would not be able to take her because my son who lives in the
home was not with me. I had explained the night before that he was
trying out for sports and would not be able to come after work with
me for that reason. Besides he was 17-years-old and knew about
dogs, especially since we have one. I could have lied and told them
I lived alone but my honesty ended up costing me the dog. They
wouldn’t hold her even for me to go home and pull my son from a try-
out which I couldn’t do to him anyway. Someone else was in line to
see her and in an instant my dreams of rescuing this gorgeous dog
were fading into someone else’s reality. I was disappointed. I was
angry. I was hurt. I was unforgiving. I was intolerant. I was
distraught. I left there knowing that I would never again return to that
shelter.
Yes, I cried, but only until I got home and gathered all of the doggie
purchases for their return. And then I did what I always do when met
with disappointment outside of my control – I accepted that it was
not meant to be. I began to pay attention as the reasons why
became as vivid as my dream. That night when I opened the back
door to let Coco out to go to potty in 5 inches of snow in 29-degree
darkness I didn’t have to put a leash on a 56-pound dog and take it
for a walk. The next morning in the deafening silence of a 15-
degree morning as I opened the kitchen door in bare feet to let Coco
out for her thirty-five-second tinkle I did not have to dress with boots
to do some morning housebreaking training. I didn’t have to get up
early. I didn’t have to come home at lunch-time from work to let a
dog out. And I didn’t have to throw away any chewed shoes or socks.
Sure, I’d have done all of these things willingly if the situation were
right. But I accept that it wasn’t. And another dog is meant for me
somewhere. I can wait. I am patient. Situations like this teach us
about adversity, acceptance and faith. The right dog will come. And
I will be ready because it will be the right dog for me.
Sign up for Mary Lee’s FREE e-newsletter of free career and
productivity advice by emailing info@startingovernow.com.
For the FREE Worksheets: "SMART Goals," and “Are You Leading
Your Life or An Actor in Your Own Drama” go to: www.
startingovernow.com/Articles-andTip-Sheets.html
Mary Lee Gannon is a cultural turnaround and leadership expert
who went from being a stay-at-home mother with four children living
in an unpalatable marriage behind the facade of a country club life
to the reality of divorce, homelessness, and welfare. As a national
guest speaker she demonstrates turn-around strategies that
transform corporate cultures and took her from an earning capacity
of $27,000 to the president and CEO of a hospital foundation. Her
book “Starting Over – 25 Rules When You’ve Bottomed Out” is
available in bookstores and on Amazon.com.
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* Job Seekers
* Starting all over
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* Going through a
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* Looking for career
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Whether you are an executive who is "stuck," your company needs
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Mary Lee’s strategies from her book “Starting Over” helped her in her
own transformation from stay-at-home mother with four children living
a country club life to the reality of a difficult marriage, divorce, poverty,
welfare and then on to president and CEO. Eliminate self doubt, under-
performance, money fears, relationships woes, and negative influence
so that you may soar. Then lead others to improve their lives and your
business. Start now! For a FREE introductory coaching session via
phone contact info@startingovernow.com.
Whether you are an executive who is "stuck," your company needs
better productivity, or you are in a life transition you represent the
people and organizations Executive Leadership Coach Mary Lee has
helped. Learn how to clarify direction, create strategy, upgrade skills,
optimize your environment and wipe out fear and doubt. Make it fun =
get more done!
Mary Lee’s strategies from her book “Starting Over” helped her in her
own transformation from stay-at-home mother with four children living
a country club life to the reality of a difficult marriage, divorce, poverty,
welfare and then on to president and CEO. Eliminate self doubt, under-
performance, money fears, relationships woes, and negative influence
so that you may soar. Then lead others to improve their lives and your
business. Start now! For a FREE introductory coaching session via
phone contact info@startingovernow.com.
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Handbok 2008-09 by Bureau of
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http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.ht
m
to help you:
1. United States of America's
primary source on career
information:
www.onetcenter.org
2. Wage Estimates
www.salary.com and Bureau of
Labor and Statistics
3. Organize Your Job Search -
Post a Question etc.:
www.cvtips.com
4. Starting Over After Divorce:
www.womansdivorce.com
5. Starting Over for Women:
www.makingbreadmagazine.co
m
6. Self Improvement:
www.selfgrowth.com.
7. Job Postings, Resume
Advice and Resources:
www.careerbuiler.com
8. Templates for: business
plans, competitive analysis,
start up costs and more:
www.score.org/business_toolbox
.html
9. Federal/Sate/Local
Government jobs:
www.USAJOBS.com
10. U.S. Government's Free
online courses, webinars and
podcasts for workforce
development:
www.onetacademy.com.
11. Occupational Outlook
Handbok 2008-09 by Bureau of
Labor and Statistics:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.ht
m
| Mary Lee Gannon is interviewed on Mind Your BIZness |
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Lee's interview
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Gannon Group/StartingOverNow.com
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