Rat's Country: Like an old sheepdog gathering lambs...

Like an old sheepdog gathering lambs scattered in the night, I begin my day by herding myself back together.

Rat's Country: Be kind to yourself today...

Be kind to yourself today, and know that you will have no trouble distinguishing kindness from self-indulgence.

Rat's Country: Whenever I come to a one-way street...

Whenever I come to a one-way street, I look the wrong way first.

Rat's Country: The sound of the truck...

The sound of the truck pulling into the driveway made her cringe: an emotional hearse loaded with sadness.

Rat's Country: When my life is going well...

When my life is going well, I become anxious. I should think like a gardener. It's okay to have healthy flowers and vegetables. It's okay to have healthy, happy adult children. It's okay to have a good life.

Rat's Country: It is pathetic to think of her...

It is pathetic to think of her putting all that effort into loving someone who is incapable of reciprocating, like a little dog mounting the leg of a chair.

Rat's Country: My Definitions:

My definitions: To be intimidated must mean “to be made timid.” To encourage yourself must mean “to give yourself courage.”