By Dan Bobinski
Director, The Center for Workplace Excellence

Where I live the snow is flying and the holiday spirit is filling the air.  With all the shopping, parties, friends, snow shoveling, Christmas lights, and writing (cranking out the manuscript for my next book), I’ve not had my mind on this blog!

For those who have family coming to town (or will be visiting family), I want to recommend Chris Young’s post 10 Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress.  Here’s why: 

I have a friend who works at one of the local jails, and I’m told that during holidays there’s a huge increase in people being brought in for domestic violence. 

Another friend who works at the hospital tells me that during the holidays, the Emergency Rooms see a lot more people being brought in from suicide attempts.

Add the recent economic storm to the mix, and you can imagine the potential for a few snags in the holidays.

Omitting “the fury of hurry” can go a long way to increasing your joy. Choose to breathe a bit slower and refocus on what is peaceful and relaxing! 

Speaking of increasing joy . . . 

As an early Christmas present to me, I made a trek to the local animal shelter and adopted another dog.  I suppose it was also a Christmas present to the dog, because she was on the short list for euthanizing.  In my opinion, “Pound Puppies” make some of the best pets. 

If you’re thinking of getting yourself or someone else a puppy this Christmas, 

1) make sure you can afford it
2) make sure you’ll have the time to train it
3) make sure you can commit 8 - 15 years to having a dog

There are plenty of unwanted dogs that are bundles of love just waiting for a loving caretaker.  Unfortunately, MILLIONS are euthanized each year.  The dogs at the shelter are essentially on death row, with their only crime being ‘unwanted.’

My two pups bring me more smiles and laughter than I could have imagined – both were “Pound Puppies.” 

If you’re thinking “puppy” for Christmas, may I recommend visiting the pound or local animal shelter instead of going to the pet store?  Shelters will let you walk though and look at the pups, and even visit with them away from the other dogs. 

I took my time and visited with four different dogs before choosing one.  I also took time up front to learn how to think like a “pack leader” (free ebook and free podcast on that topic).  The result is my pups are great companions who give me lots of joy . . .

 . . . even among the hurry and the flurries.

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Filed in Opinion