By Mary Ann Faremouth, CPC
The quote “A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature” by Ralph Waldo Emerson reminds me of my dog, Athena. She’s a feisty Black Lab that recently had surgery to be spayed. As I watch her now, no longer bothered by the uncomfortable cone around her head and the painful incision, I think of how she truly is a masterpiece of nature and the lessons we can all learn from her during these challenging and changing times in the New Work World and beyond. That wagging tail and those loving big brown eyes I see when I come home after a long day at work never cease to bring a smile to my face and make me think that a dog truly is man’s best friend!
I have two dogs, actually. The other one, Brodie, is a Great Pyrenees. They both have filled my home with joy in so many ways. And much research can be found about how our pets benefit our mental, physical and social well-being.
More than ever, as an employment consultant, I am working with people who are experiencing job losses, salary cuts, low profits and physical and mental health concerns. And sometimes when I think I’ve seen it all, the metaphors and lessons I glean from my dogs’ behavior allow me to help my clients, candidates and friends in new and innovative ways.
Let’s examine how our four-legged friends impart important lessons that might allow us all to thrive and keep our spirits strong during challenging times.
1. Shake It Off
As I watched Athena bump into doors, walls, tables, etc., with that uncomfortable cone around her neck, I noticed it didn’t stop her from doing the things she did before her surgery. It was as if she could “shake it off” and continue on with the things she always enjoyed. What if we took on that mindset and kept going even with all the restrictions, changes and challenges?
2. Practice Gratitude
When I walked in the door after a long day, even though Athena was rather uncomfortable, she still wagged that tail, was grateful for our walk, even if it was shorter than Brodie’s, and looked at me with such happiness and gratitude. What if we took on that attitude instead of holding on to all the things that make our jobs and life challenging?
3. Slow It Down to Rev It Up
Athena had to slow down on her usual activities, but I knew she would rev it back up when she healed and got back to normal. What if during these changing times we slowed down on some of our usual activities to take an online class to make us more skilled and valuable in the New Work World, either to our current employer or more marketable to a prospective one down the road?
Let’s let Athena — named, by the way, for the goddess of wisdom in ancient Greece — remind us to practice our own wisdom and not let the uncomfortable changes we are all enduring hold us back. This year shake it off, practice gratitude and slow it down to rev it up in the New Work World and beyond! Emerson said it best: “A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature.”
Mary Ann’s award-winning first book Revolutionary Recruiting has been listed by Book Authority as Number #1 Best 100 Recruiting Books; #1 Best Seller, Non-Fiction, Amazon (2019); Top 20 Recruiting books, Recruitics; Readers’ Choice finalist (2019), Houston Literary Awards; Best Non-Fiction (2018), Best Cover (2019), and Best Self-Help (2018), Authors Marketing Guild. This was followed by “Revolutionary Reinvention”, a workbook for job seekers giving advice on how to rediscover your skills and passions and reinvent your career. Her most recent book is “Revolutionary Results” , a collection of life lessons about relationships, integrity and contributing to the world.
Check out more lifestyle stories here.
