Purrs of Wisdom ... Words to Live By

◊ PURRS OF WISDOM: Enlightenment, Feline Style by Ingrid King

◊ Paperback: 141 pages

◊ Genre: pets, animal care, essays

◊ Publisher: Passion Fruit Press (June 5, 2016)

◊ Language: English

◊ ISBN-10: 1633532895

◊ ISBN-13: 978-1633532892

SYNOPSIS:

          Ingrid King explores our relationships with cats by combining her professional expertise with compassionate insights into how cats can inspire, soothe and even help heal us. In Purrs of Wisdom, King artfully delivers pearls of wisdom celebrating all our relationships, feline, human or otherwise. You’ll want to savor each chapter and purr-haps revisit those that strike a personal chord.

This book is based on a collection of essays from the author’s blog, The Conscious Cat, that deals with lessons in conscious living. Believing that cats come into our lives to teach us, the author shares tidbits of wisdom highlighting this theory.

As you read through this charming book you can’t help but feel yourself relax a bit. There is something calming about the author’s approach to writing and sharing her insights into how felines impact our lives. Taking lessons from cats, King explains how we can help our health by stretching as our feline friends do and just enjoying the moment rather than over worrying ourselves about what might be.

The book is jammed packed with information and helpful tips, but can be read in just a short time. In addition to the advice, the author has added adorable color photographs of various cats throughout the book. You can’t help but smile looking at the angelic faces of some of these furry four-legged babies.

You don’t have to be a cat owner to enjoy the knowledge this book has to offer. Thought, the author does point out the book is best enjoyed with a cat in your lap. After reading the book you might even be inclined to add another cat or two to your life.

PURRS OF WISDOM might just help you see the world from a different perspective resulting in a more relaxed lifestyle.

Purrs of Wisdom: Enlightenment, Feline Style by Ingrid King, Passion Fruit Press, @2016, ISBN: 978-1633532892, Paperback, 141 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the author. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

WORDS TO LIVE BY: Creative Hand-Lettering, Coloring and Inspirations by Dawn Nicole Warnaar

◊ WORDS TO LIVE BY: Creative Hand-Lettering, Coloring and Inspirations by Dawn Nicole Warnaar

◊ Age Range: 8 – 12 years

◊ Grade Level: 3 - 7

◊ Paperback: 128 pages

◊ Genre: Crafts, Hobbies, Children’s

◊ Publisher: Walter Foster Jr. (March 1, 2016)

◊ Language: English

◊ ISBN-10: 1633221008

◊ ISBN-13: 978-1633221000

SYNOPSIS:

          With step-by-step, hand-lettering lessons and spectacularly illustrated coloring pages, artists of any age can create beautiful works of letter art.

Words to Live By is a unique combination of inspirational quotes, hand-lettering tips and techniques, and fun coloring pages. With easy step-by-step lessons in the art of hand lettering and illustration, artists of any age can learn to create beautiful works of letter art. Also included are 24 inspirational perforated coloring pages that can be personalized and displayed, framed, or given as gifts.

Looking at the book cover, one might think this book is a step-by-step guide to learning hand-lettering. It’s not, but it gives you the basics on which to practice and to develop your own unique style.

The book is designed to inspire you to create on your own. While the author gives some basic techniques and tips to practice, she encourages readers to develop their own unique style by practicing again and again. She urges readers to ‘just create’ as they try their hand at lettering.

The book is nicely designed with several challenges, blank pages for sketching, and a vast array of projects to try. Readers can learn to do DIY postcards, DIY magnets and DIY bookmarks to name a few. There are also numerous coloring book pages where readers can use their imagination to bring them to life with pen and/or paint.

WORDS TO LIVE BY will inspire you and help stimulate your creative side. The book may be geared toward youngsters, but adults will find their inner child coming out as they doodle to unwind after a stressful day.

Words To Live By: Creative Hand-Lettering, Coloring, and Inspirations; Walter Foster Jr.; @2016; ISBN: 978-1633221000; Paperback; 128 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I do so appreciate it. Have you experienced the adult coloring book phase yet? What about bullet journals? Do you find yourself doodling why you think? Doesn’t the cover of this book just make you smile?

A Love Affair with Torties

It’s a pleasure and a delight to welcome my friend, fellow blogger, cat expert and author Ingrid King to Thoughts in Progress today to talk about one of the joys in her life – tortoiseshell cats.

Ingrid has just released a new book, TORTITUDE: The Big Book of Cats with a Big Attitude. It’s a fascinating book I review here last Wednesday.

Please join me in giving Ingrid a warm welcome as she joins us to talk about her “Love Affair with Tortoiseshell Cats.” Welcome, Ingrid.

I’ve been owned by tortoiseshell cats, affectionately known as “torties” by those of us who love these beautifully colored cats, for the past two decades. There’s just something about these cats with their unique personalities, often referred to as “tortitude,” that appeals to me. Maybe it’s because I can identify with their strong sense of independence. Maybe it’s because they seem to live by their own rules. Whatever it is, I’m a tortie lover for life.

It all started with Virginia, a high-spirited cat who I first met during an interview for the hospital manager position at a Virginia animal hospital. Partway through the interview, a beautiful tortoiseshell cat walked into the office.  Virginia proceeded to walk over to me, looked up at me, and then dug her claws into my legs and used them as a scratching post. At the time, I wondered whether that was part of the interview – a test, perhaps, to see how I would react?  I certainly ended up using a similar technique many times when I interviewed potential staff members – seeing how they reacted to my office cat sometimes told me more about how they would be with animals than anything they actually said during the interview. In hindsight, I realized that, of course, this was the moment Virginia marked me as her own. For four years, she made my office my home away from home.  When her miscellaneous health problems caught up with her, we let her go on a sunny April morning. I held her on my lap in the office, surrounded by all the people who had been a part of her world, as she took her last breath.

After Virginia came Amber. Amber and her five kittens were brought to the Middleburg Animal Hospital by a client who had found the little family in her barn.  Despite being emaciated and scrawny-looking, Amber’s eventual beauty was evident even then.  She was a dark Tortoiseshell color, with an amber-colored heart-shaped spot on top of her head, which became the reason for her name.  Her kittens found new homes in fairly rapid succession. 

However, nobody was interested in the beautiful mommy cat.  She spent her days in the big adoption cage in the hospital’s waiting area, but with the constant inflow of homeless kittens that is typical for spring and summer, nobody wanted to adopt an adult cat.  I had recently lost my almost sixteen-year-old soul mate cat Feebee, and the grief over his loss was still very fresh.  I did not think I was ready for another cat, but coming home to an empty house was becoming increasingly difficult.

One weekend, I decided to take Amber home, “just for the weekend”.  She never left my house again until her passing in 2010 after a sudden, brief illness. Amber was a wise old soul in a feline body, and the inspiration for The Conscious Cat.

Buckley came into my life in the spring of 2005. After Virginia died in 2002, my office at the animal hospital felt empty, but the right cat to succeed Virginia in the very important position of office cat had not come along – until that spring day, when I walked into the kennel area of the hospital and saw a cute little tortie in one of the cages all the way in the back. It was love at first sight for me. After that first encounter, I knew that she would become my new office cat.

A year later, I left my job at the animal hospital to start my own business. Initially, I thought I could live without Buckley, but eventually, I missed her too much, and a couple of months later, Buckley came home with me, and shared Amber’s and my life for the next two years, before she passed away from complications related to her heart disease. Buckley changed my life in ways I never could have imagined and inspired my first book, Buckley’s Story: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher.

I currently share my life with Allegra and Ruby, two young tortoiseshell cats who came to me at seven and nine months of age, about a year apart. You can follow some of their adventures on The Conscious Cat (www.ConsciousCat.com) and on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/consciouscat). They both have tortitude in spades.

Ingrid, thanks for joining us today and sharing your love of torties with us. Having been owned by a tortie myself, I can say they are amazing creatures and will forever have a place in your heart once you’ve been around one.

Now for those who aren’t familiar with Ingrid, here’s a bit of background on her.

Author Ingrid King with Ruby

Ingrid King is the author of five books, including the new Tortitude: The BIG Book About Cats With a BIG Attitude. Tortitude is available from Amazon now, and will be in stores February 5.

For more information about Ingrid, please visit www.ConsciousCat.com.

Thanks so much for stopping by today during Ingrid’s visit. Have you ever had any interaction with a tortie? Be sure to drop by Ingrid’s website for loads of information about cats, even if you aren’t owned by a tortie.

Tortitude: The Big Book of Cats with a Big Attitude by Ingrid King

*This post contains affiliate links

Having lived with a tortoiseshell cat for almost 17 years, I was eager to read TORTITUDE: The Big Book of Cats with a Big Attitude by Ingrid King. 

The book is both reassuring and most enlightening. It reassured me some of the unique traits my late cat had could be attributed to her being a tortie. It was enlightening to learn so much more about these wonderful creatures and their ways. The biggest surprised for me was to learn that tortoiseshell is not a breed (something I should have known but didn’t).

A true cat expert, King explores why tortoiseshells are so special and characteristically different from other cats. She offers new insight into the behavior of these fiercely independent felines. In addition, she talks about her own experience with tortoiseshells including the two she currently shares her home with.

TORTITUDE features a vast array of beautiful color photographs of tortoiseshell cats accompanied by delightful quotes regarding cats. The photos vividly demonstrate how distinctly different the cats are while at the same time each one displays that tortie attitude.

The book includes a quote from Jackson Galaxy, host of Animal Planet’s My Cat From Hell, and a foreword by Kate Benjamin, founder of Hauspanther.

Cat lovers of all types will find this book charming, packed with information and a joy to read Non-cat lovers may just find themselves wanting to get to know a tortie better after reading this enchanting book. This is a must have for the library of all cat lovers.

Tortitude: The Big Book of Cats with a Big Attitude by Ingrid King, Passion Fruit Press, @2016, ISBN: 978-1633532939, Hardcover, 117 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope I’ve enticed you to check out this wonderful book. Please be sure to stop by on Monday, Feb. 8, when author Ingrid King will be visiting. Many of you will know Ingrid from her blog, The Conscious Cat. Do you have a tortoiseshell cat or have you ever had the pleasure of living with one?

Adventures in Veterinary Medicine by Ingrid King

We all strive to find a career that not only provides for our family’s wellbeing, but is also fulfilling and enjoyable to pursue.

It can sometimes be a difficult task to discover such a job. However, author Ingrid King has learned that sometimes finding that perfect career is closer than you imaged and comes from the most unusual source.

In her latest release, ADVENTURES IN VETERINARY MEDICINE, King tells how she unexpectantly came to have a career in veterinary medicine. At the time she had been employed in a completely different field and had never really considered a career dealing with animals.

This charming book also gives a behind-the-scene look at what really goes on in a veterinary hospital. King’s impressions are through the eyes of a former practice manager, as well as a pet owner. These insights are told by way of heartwarming stories about animals and incidents King observed first-hand while working in the veterinary field.

King shares delightful tales about pets, their owners and the people she worked with during her career. She explained the work was sometimes difficult, but always rewarding. She also expressed the joy, as well as the sorrow, she and the veterinarian staff encountered while working with various animals throughout the years.

If you have ever spent time in a veterinary waiting room, ADVENTURES IN VETERINARY MEDICINE is a must read. Even if you’re not a pet owner, this book will give you some insight on finding that dream job, This is a quick read that will have you smiling and probably shedding a few tears too.

Author Ingrid King’s website is www.IngridKing.com and she also blogs at www.ConsciousCat.com.

Adventures in Veterinary Medicine: What Working in Veterinary Hospitals Taught Me About Life, Love and Myself by Ingrid King, The Conscious Cat, @2013, ASIN: B00EF5X8DW, Digital Download, 192KB, 34Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

Thanks for joining me today. Hope you’re having a fun Saturday and find time to read.

Purrs of Wisdom by Ingrid King

I was delighted some time back to discover that my friend, fellow cat lover and blogging buddy Ingrid King was publishing a new book. Learning the book was compiled from work Ingrid has done through her blog, The Conscious Cat, I knew the subject matter would be both informative and entertaining.

I was right on both counts and much more. With that in mind, I’d like to share my thoughts on Ingrid’s latest release, PURRS OF WISDOM. Before I do, however, let me stress that while the book does incorporate the love cats and their actions -- it is most definitely not just for cat lovers. There is much to learn from this engaging book whether you are a pet owner, pet lover or not.

PURRS OF WISDOM: CONSCIOUS LIVING, FELINE STYLE by Ingrid King

While dealing with pets can sometimes be frustrating and nerve-racking, for the most part pets provide unconditional comfort, love and joy in our lives.

It is with the latter in mind that PURRS OF WISDOM comes to life. Author Ingrid King skillfully illustrates how pets, especially those of the feline persuasion, can enrich and calm our lives if we pay attention.

The author has compiled this book in such a way as to draw you in, relaxing your tension as you read. She relates how various cats have come into her life and helped her, sometimes taking her life in unexpected new directions.

Through short essays about conscious living, King points out how one can center themselves and gain a bit brighter outlook with a little practice. She gives examples and explains that paying closer attention to our cats and their attitude can also give additional insight to helping us feel calm.

King highlights various faucets of life from multi-tasking to lack of energy to negative outlooks and more. She gives simple, concise tips on managing not your life, but how you react to what life deals you. One example is learning to be grateful for even the simplest things amid all the ups and downs of life.

PURRS OF WISDOM is an ideal book to add to any cat lover’s library. However, one doesn’t have to have a cat or even like cats to find enlightenment in this charming book. The reader merely has to want to improve their outlook on life and how they handle life in general.

With the holiday season upon us, we are more rushed than normal trying to accomplish everything on time and perfectly. Taking a few minutes here and there to enjoy PURRS OF WISDOM might just help you survive the madness of the festivities and live a more serene life year round.

The newly released paperback edition of this book includes additional chapters and photographs.

Author Ingrid King’s website is www.ingridking.com

Purrs of Wisdom: Conscious Living, Feline Style by Ingrid King, The Conscious Cat, @2012, ISBN: 978-0988343702, Paperback, 144 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure - An eBook copy of this book was sent to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
 
Thanks so much for stopping by today. Do you take time amidst the chaos of life to give thanks for simple things like the sunshine or that delicious first cup of coffee in the morning?

Author Deborah Barnes: How Does One Become An Author

I am always amazed at the intriguing people you can meet while blogging. I have meet one such person in author Deborah Barnes, whom I meet through another wonderful friend, Ingrid King at The Conscious Cat.

Please join me in welcoming Deborah. She is the author of THE CHRONICLES OF ZEE & ZOEY - A JOURNEY OF THE EXTRAORDINARILY ORDINARY, a nonfiction book that combines a warm, humorous, and conversational style of writing with stunning photos and charming artwork. Readers are immediately immersed into the world of Zee, her lovable male Maine Coon cat, and Zoey, her high-spirited female Bengal cat, as they share their amazing relationship and bond that formed between the two of them. What makes this story so compelling, is that Deborah narrates the journey of the cats through the personal trials and tribulations of her own life and how they ultimately taught her to be a better person during a very difficult time in her life. Readers will easily be able to relate to the many moments she share with the cats – from moving, to divorce, to single parenting, to unemployment, as the story is wrapped into the general context of everyday life.

Deborah is here today to share her take on ‘How Does One Become An Author?

For as long as I can remember, I have been a writer. It was not until now, with the completion of my first book, THE CHRONICLES OF ZEE & ZOEY -- A JOURNEY OF THE EXTRAORDINARILY ORDINARY, that I could claim I was an author. My writing began in typical fashion – scribbling with lipstick on the bathroom mirror as a toddler that  elevated to a career as an Executive Assistant for over 25 years, whereby brilliant business letter after brilliant letter were crafted, only to have the credit taken by the manager in charge who signed his or her name to my words. I was also always assigned with the task in my family of writing the perfect verse for a greeting card or a signature for gifts and flowers. Granted, I was honored to be asked, but the task hardly had publishers knocking at my door.

Zee

Although I had always wanted to write a book and was encouraged many times throughout the years to do so, like so many others with dreams, I put it off thinking, “Yeah, maybe one day I’ll get to it,” without actually believing it. Well, completely unplanned, one day did come in the form of two major events – Zee, my lovable male Maine Coon cat, and Zoey, my high-spirited female Bengal cat fell madly in love and subsequentlyy had a litter of kittens together. The other event – I was unexpectedly laid off and had a lot more free time on my hands.

The birth of the Chronicles began unsuspectingly as a weekly series of emails that I sent to various family members and friends documenting the growth process of Zee and Zoey’s kittens with a humorous narrative that was complimented by photographs taken by my fiancé, Dan. These emails were sent out religiously every Friday morning and soon became a sensation, as many recipients clamored for a book. All seemed well and good, but literally seconds after I hit the “send” button on week 7, I was called into my supervisor’s office and life forevermore changed as I was out of a job. 

Zoey

The process that followed was a long and difficult road, filled with many deep, dark holes, uncertainty, and severe depression. I knew I wanted to write a story about my cats, but emotionally, I was not capable of being an author with any authority or talent. Being unemployed in my late 40’s was a lesson in humility and I found it difficult to function. I had envisioned a cute and sweet story filled with adorable kittens and humorous antidotes – being that I couldn’t even muster the energy to smile, this was a task too large for me to tackle. As it turns out, my cats and kittens were far wiser than me and were about to teach me some invaluable life lessons.

It was through them, that I began to see life through their minds eye and the personal revelation was profound. Cats live without judgment and in the moment. They do not dwell on circumstances, and, as long as they are loved, fed, have clean litter and a lap to nap one, then life is good. It was then that I realized I had a story to tell and a message to teach – I wanted to use my cats as more than a cute story about kittens climbing up a curtain. I wanted to use an honest, conversational, warm, and humorous style of writing to share a story that really explored the very real core of being a cat – how they express feelings and emotions, not just with one another, but with the world at large. I felt whether you were a “cat person” or not, that the journey of the chronicle itself, is something we all can relate to in one way or another and I became convinced I needed to share my positive feelings as they did, i.e., to “embrace the ordinary in life and dare to make it extraordinary.” 

Once I grasped that simple but profound concept, from that point on, I really truly understood how simple the message was and how rewarding, limitless, and fulfilling the possibility could be and I tried to look for those silver-lining moments all the time to help me appreciate my life all the more, despite how it seemed on the surface sometimes. If an explanation is in order – just imagine a bug walks across the floor – for a cat, in a split second, life magically transforms from “ordinary to extraordinary” as they spend endless minutes in fascinated pursuit of this non-descript moment in their lives. It’s all in how you perceive the moment. As people – take a rainy day for example. Rather than find it to be a hindrance, perhaps it is a stolen moment for a much needed nap or a chance to snuggle on the couch to watch an old movie. 

The writing began to flow with abandon after that point and I knew I wanted to immerse my readers into that simple concept. I felt by creating a heartfelt and inspirational story that was narrated through everyday events that anyone could relate to, coupled with stunning photos and exquisite artwork, that the reader would experience the very concept of “from ordinary to extraordinary.” I wanted this book to be an experience for my readers and I truly think I have achieved that goal.

I cannot wait to share this story – I know it has made me a better person today and I hope it will give people a few laughs and inspire them to think in a different way about their lives as well.
 
Authors Note: I am thrilled to announce that November 1st, 2011, is the official launch date of the book release and the unveiling of my new website and book trailer. Please mark your calendars to stop by www.zeezoey.com for a visit – I can guarantee you that I continue my vision of “from ordinary to extraordinary” as you are treated to a visual masterpiece from the moment you enter the site! I will also be on tour with “Pump Up Your Book Promotions” from November 14 to December 16, 2011 and you can find all the details at http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2011/10/12/the-chronicles-of-zee-zoey-virtual-book-publicity-tour-novemberdecember-2011/

Deborah, thanks so much for guest blogging today and sharing your journey to writing your book. It is truly awesome what our furry friends can teach us if we just take time to learn.

Now let me share a bit of background on Deborah. Born in Lansing, Michigan, and moving dozens of times in her life, Deborah currently resides in the tropical paradise of Coral Springs, Florida, with her fiancé Dan, and their seven beautiful cats that were the inspiration for THE CHRONICLES OF ZEE AND ZOEY. She has two sons - Chris, 26, and Joe, 21, - who have long since moved out on their own. She has worked as an executive/marketing administrator for over 25 years in various fields, but has always found writing to be her primary passion and true calling.

Have you learn lessons of life from your animals? If you’re a writer, do you include animals in your stories? If you’re a reader, do you enjoy stories that include pets? I hope you enjoy the photos of Zee, Zoey and their kittens. I couldn’t pick just one so I decided to share all.

Author Ingrid King Visits

It’s my pleasure to welcome author Ingrid King back to Thoughts in Progress as the special guest blogger today.

Many may know Ingrid as a fellow blogger from her blog, The Conscious Cat. She is also the author of BUCKLEY’S STORY - LESSONS FROM A FELINE MASTER TEACHER, which recently won the 2010 Merial Human-Animal Bond Award at the International Cat Writers Association’s annual awards banquet.

Writers sometimes need a way to give background on a character in order for readers to better understand why they say or act a certain way. At the same time, readers always want background and more information on the writer. Nothing gives background better than Christmas memories. With that in mind and with Christmas less than a month away, Ingrid has agreed to share some of her background with us as she talks about ‘Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree – Memories of Holidays Past.’

I love the holiday season, and my favorite part is always the annual decorating of the Christmas tree. I’ve collected ornaments for the past twenty some years or more, and inevitably, bringing out the ornaments each year leads to a lovely, if  sometimes bittersweet, trip down memory lane.

I grew up in Germany, and traditionally, our Christmas tree was not decorated until Christmas Eve. As a small child, I was not allowed into the living room while the tree was being decked out in its holiday glory. I can still remember the eager and impatient anticipation of the moment when my parents would ring a small brass bell that hung on the tree, and I could finally enter the room. It was pure magic each time. The tree was decorated with multi-colored glass balls, sparkling tinsel, and real candles – something that we can’t even imagine in these safety conscious times we live in. 

When I moved to the United States in my mid-twenties, I was introduced to the tradition of putting the Christmas tree up right after Thanksgiving. I loved this – now I could have the tree up for several weeks, not the mere two weeks I was used to from my childhood! I was also introduced to artificial Christmas trees.

At first I balked at the idea – the intoxicating pine scent of my childhood trees was such an essential part of the holidays, it was odd to think about having to give that up. But, being able to have a tree up for five to six weeks won out over not having the real thing. Not having to deal with cleaning up needles for weeks after the tree was taken down was a nice side benefit. And since having a fake tree has become the environmentally conscious thing to do these days, rather than making apologies for my fake tree, I am now politically correct. 

I’ve accumulated quite a collection of ornaments over the years. Many of them are cat themed, and I can usually remember where I got them or who gave them to me. There are photo ornaments that contain the photos of my cats, past and present. There are ornaments from places I’ve traveled to, like the shell ornament from a beach trip, the fat glass cat from a recent trip to New York City (is there anything better than New York City at Christmas time?), or the handmade wooden ornament my dad made for me the year before he passed away. There’s the white tiger ornament that reminds me of a trip to Las Vegas to see Siegfried and Roy’s amazing performance. There’s the angel tree topper that came from the world famous Christmas market in Nuremberg, Germany. 

And of course, there’s the small brass bell from my childhood Christmases, and it still brings back the memory of that magic moment each and every holiday season.

Ingrid, thanks for sharing these lovely memories. Christmas ornaments can take one down memory lane. Collecting ornaments is a wonderful tradition for the entire family and one that can be passed down from generation to generation.

Now a bit more background on Ingrid. She is a former veterinary hospital manager turned writer. Her online magazine News for You and Your Pet goes out to subscribers around the world. Her blog, The Conscious Cat, has been called “educational cat nip for the cat lover” and is a comprehensive resource for conscious living, health and happiness for cats and their humans. For more information about Ingrid and BUCKLEY’S STORY - LESSONS FROM A FELINE MASTER TEACHER, be sure to visit Buckley’s Story.

Guest Blogger, Ingrid King

I’d like to welcome Ingrid King, author of “Buckley’s Story, Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher” to Thoughts in Progress today.

Ingrid agreed to stop by and talk about how to “Choose to Live a Conscious Life.” However, before she begins I’d like to share some exciting news about “Buckley’s Story.”

America’s Veterinarian, Dr. Marty Becker, the popular veterinary contributor to ABC-TV’s Good Morning America, the author of several book, and the resident veterinarian on The Dr. Oz Show, recently commented on “Buckley’s Story.”

Here’s what he had to say, “Buckley’s Story is a true celebration of the bond between pets and their humans. This story of  “gimpy” little tortoiseshell cat with a huge heart who changed her human’s life in unexpected ways shows us how pets teach us universal lessons about living a joyful life, how caring for a terminally ill pet can deepen this special bond, and how to navigate the devastating grief that comes with losing a beloved animal companion.”

When asked how she felt about the comment, Ingrid said, “As you can well imagine, I am beyond thrilled about this wonderful endorsement.”

Congratulations Ingrid. Now tells us about choosing to live a conscious life.

It’s the beginning of a new decade, and our planet is undergoing a massive shift in consciousness. As a result, individuals are questioning the old ways of living and making new, more conscious choices about how to live their lives. But what does conscious living really mean?

The definition of the word conscious is “to be aware of one’s own existence, sensations, thoughts and surroundings.” It also means “being fully aware or sensitive to something,” “aware of oneself,” and “deliberate and intentional.” All these terms take us right to the heart of what conscious living means.

Being aware of our thoughts and emotions allows us to make conscious choices about everything from what we feel like wearing today to which career path we want to take. Thoughts are energy, and each thought has a vibration attached to it that sends a message to the universe to attract things to us that match the vibration of the thought we send out. We all have the ability to focus our thoughts, and when we deliberately focus them on what we want rather than on what we don’t want, we begin taking charge of consciously creating our lives. 

Being aware of our emotions adds power to this process – emotions are our instant guidance as to whether a thought moves us in the direction of what we want or away from it. When a thought feels good, we’re moving towards our desires. When it feels bad, we’re moving in the opposite direction.

Being fully aware is the first step to consciously living our lives. It is this awareness that allows us to tune in to our inner guidance, and the more we do that, the more we are able to become deliberate and intentional in choosing our thoughts.

Ultimately, conscious living means making choices that are in alignment with who we really are at our core. Using our emotions as guidance, we can make choices about everything from the foods we eat to the cosmetics we use to the products we buy for our pets. 

The more we make these conscious choices, the more whole our lives will become. Every choice becomes a conscious expression of our authentic selves in the world. The more we pay attention to what our inner self really wants and needs, the more congruent our lives become.

Be forewarned – conscious living is addictive. Once you live your life from that place of authenticity, you will have very little tolerance for anything less.

Some conscious choices people make can be as simple as eating organic foods, purchasing cruelty-free personal care products, using environmentally friendly products, and watching movies and television programs that carry a positive message, or as far-reaching as leaving a job that is not in alignment with their authentic self to start their own conscious business.

The important thing is to start somewhere, one small choice at a time. Make that simple choice, and watch your life begin to change.

Thank you so much Ingrid for stopping by today and sharing this informative and enlightening information with us. Ingrid will drop back by off and on today to speak with those stopping by to comment.

A little background information on Ingrid. She is a former veterinary hospital manager turned writer, she publishes the E-zine News for You and Your Pet, covering topics ranging from conscious living to holistic and alternative health. She shares her experiences with consciously creating a joyful, happy and healthy life for pets and people on her popular blog,The Conscious Cat (www.consciouscat.net). Ingrid lives in Northern Virginia with her tortoiseshell cat Amber. For more information about "Buckley’s Story" and Ingrid, please visit www.ingridking.com

Sunday Salon: Buckley's Story by Ingrid King

Have you ever not wanted to read a book at the same time you wanted to read it?

Sounds a little crazy I know, especially for the beginning of a book review. But let me explain and encourage you to read this book.

"Buckley's Story, Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher" is a book about a cat lover's journey as she watches her beloved cat's health decline. It also deals with the aftermath of losing that cherished pet and how one handles it.

This book touches on how people can and do connect with their pets on a special level. It explains how pets are not just pets, but family members.

I didn't want to read it because I knew that I wasn't going to like what happened to Buckley. I can't handle sad stories, I'm too tender hearted. In addition, I have a tortoiseshell cat (like Buckley) that is 12 years old.

I wanted to read it - needed to read it - for those very same reasons.

Author Ingrid King tells the story of how Buckley came to live with her and her other cat, Amber. She tells of how that one act - sharing her heart and home with Buckley - changed her life forever.

Working as an office manager for a veterinary hospital the author describes how she feel in love with Buckley the first time she saw her. After a number of attempts to bring the cat home, Ms. King tells how Buckley finally made the transition to her forever home.

Ms. King explains the trials and triumphs of caring for a pet as only a true pet lover could. Through her writing the reader understands that sometimes the simpliest acts bring about the most joy if you open your heart to the possibilities.

Ms. King gives voice to the frustations pet lovers face when taking their pets to the vet's office or emergency clinic. Some places work with the pet owners understanding their deep connection to the pets, while others seem to have no feelings in the matter.

The strength and positive attitute of this small, four-legged wonder of nature gave the author the guidance to start trusting your own intuition and inspiration. This lead to Ms. King opening her own business. Buckley taught her to "live in the moment" and not focus so much on the unknown future.

Despite the box of Kleenex I went through, I'd read it again and recommend it for pet lovers as well as non-pet lovers. If you have pets, you'll want to show them more attention after reading this. If you don't have a pet, it's time to adopt one.

For information can be found on Ms.King's website www.ingridking.com

Buckley's Story, Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher by Ingrid King, iUniverse @2009, ISBN: 978-1-4401-6624-2, paperback, 132 pages