From Dr. Jane's Notebook

Isn't That My Laundry Basket?

Spring is here! Yes! The weather has warmed, the leaves are exploding, the season has changed...and now it's our turn to breathe deeply, shake off the dust of winter, and once again, come alive with enthusiasm.

Everywhere nature can be seen doing "its thing." The flowers are in full bloom, the birds are excitedly building their nests, the bees are busy, and even more domesticated animals are turning to their instincts for direction. At our house, the most noticeably affected species is our dog, Zeke.

Being an australian shepard, Zeke has been searching for his flock of sheep for some time now. Since it hasn't shown up this spring either, he has taken to guarding the laundry basket. For some time, that meant never leaving the bedroom (he is incredibly loyal). Now that he's realized that the laundry basket isn't going very far, he simply insists on being the first one into the bedroom, which necessitates a mad dash to the top of the stairs several times a day. But we have a tremendous amount of respect for instincts in our family so we try not to question him too much about that pair of socks in his mouth and only occasionally must we hunt for randomly buried clothing items.

All of this reminds us that we all have instincts, whether we humans like to recognize them or not. So forthwith, I offer the following guide for tuning into your instincts so that you too may discover the "laundry basket of your choice."

Each of us is always in the process of change. Our personalities, interests, and emotions all participate in an unfolding process, much like that of the flowers and trees. With each new experience and bit of learning, we evolve and grow. And so, change is a natural phenomenon that we should value in ourselves and family members. For without change, our relationships become like re-runs on television. It can be so much more interesting to experience something new.
Each of us is the expert about ourselves. Often we rely heavily upon the judgments and critiques of others to determine if we are doing all right. But when it comes time to make decisions, call upon the real expert...your inner self. When we lose touch with ourselves, there is lots of room for indecision and self-doubt. Trust in yourself for the best results. Or as a great philosopher once said, "If I am not for myself, who will be; and if not now, when?"
There are several ways to be "right." Often we tend to think that in a contest of wills or viewpoints someone must be right and someone must be wrong. However, if you take time to consider another's perspective, they may also be absolutely right from their point of view. It is important to stand up for one's own opinion and to respect the opinion of others as a way of giving consideration to "all the possibilities" of ways to be right. No need to sell yourself short or feel combative.

In this highly sophisticated society of ours, there are indeed more than one way to build a nest, pollinate a flower or guard a herd of sheep. What's really important, is finding the way(s) that works for you.

Return to Personal Growth

Return to Table of Contents

Last Updated October 24, 1998 by Gary M. Grandon, Ph.D.