1. Make yourself at home wherever you are.

Since we moved a few months ago to another city, Nutmeg had never been to our new home. After her owners dropped her off on their way to the airport, she quickly found a comfy couch and settled in for a nap.

Wherever you find yourself, make the best of your situation.

Our suggestion that you should "make yourself at home wherever you are" doesn't imply that you should start walking into the homes of total strangers unannounced.

It does beg the question of How can you make yourself feel more at ease wherever you are? (Everything's a choice remember)

2. There are no strangers.

Nutmeg is such a friendly dog that she was excited to see anyone who came to visit us during her stay. Even our mailman petted her and told us what a great dog she was.

How would our lives be different if we treated strangers as friends? What would happen if we actually looked at people who we meet throughout the day?

3. If things don't go the way you plan, find another way.

We had several friends at our home one evening during Nutmeg's stay and when it got to be 11:30 at night, it was obvious that it was Nutmeg's normal bedtime.

The only problem was--we were sitting in her "bedroom" which also happened to be our living room and sitting on her bed which also happened to be the couch.

Nutmeg did look at one woman in the hopes that she would get the idea that she was sitting in "her" spot. But
when our friend didn't move, Nutmeg found another spot on the floor to fall asleep.

Our lives don't always go the way we want them to go or think they should go. What would happen if we simply
find another way to either get what we want or maybe something entirely different--that might take us in a new
and wonderful direction?

4. Stop and smell the roses.

Nutmeg liked her morning walks--and we did too. We found that we couldn't be in a hurry though because she
liked to stop and sniff.

Many of us are in a hurry from morning to night. What would happen if we took some time to enjoy what's in front of us instead of rushing off to another thing? When have you enjoyed looking at the sky, a baby's smile, a child's exuberance, your partner's face, and anything else that is the miracle of life?

5. Have fun.

Nutmeg loves to play ball! At different times during each day that Nutmeg was with us, she would get her tennis ball and urge us to play ball with her. It was so much fun to watch her run and catch the ball, then bringing it back to us. Her enthusiasm was catching.

Playing can take on so many different meanings or ideas. When was the last \time you invited someone to play with you? When was the last time you laughed and played with someone?

6. Rest often.

Nutmeg played hard and then she came in and rested. She took frequent naps throughout the day.

Are you getting enough rest for your body and your soul? Do you need to take frequent breaks throughout the
day to recharge?

Sometimes we even need to take breaks from what's going on in our relationships. Sometimes, we just
need a quick "time-out" from the drama to really look at different things that are pressing or important
to us.

7. Connect deeply with others.

If there's anything that Nutmeg knows how to do, it's connect deeply with those around her. She not only acted
as if everyone was her best friend but she used physical touch to show her affection. She might lay close to you or put her head on your leg or a paw on your foot.

She looked in your eyes when you talked to her or when she wanted something.

How do you connect with the people in your life? Are you truly present with them? Do you show your affection?

8. Don't look back.

It's the same thing every time Nutmeg leaves when she's stayed with us for any length of time...she doesn't look
back. She's on to the next adventure.

How many of us get stuck in the past? How many of us cling to how things used to be instead of looking to what
we want for our future?

This week, we invite you to remember Nutmeg's lessons with a smile and add more love in your life.