A friend of mine confided, "My cat LIVES on the counter.  She spends all day and all night sitting there.  She won't get down."  After asking more questions it turns out that after an outbreak of fleas in the carpeting of the home the cat suffered from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) - a funny feline brand - and the cat was now terrified of what he believed would happen if his paws hit the Berber.  


But the fleas were gone some time ago.  The problem didn't exist anymore.  Sadly, to this poor kitty, those fleas were alive and well - still tormenting him every minute from high atop the cupboards.  My girlfriend had tried everything, from forcing the cat off the counter - only lasting a few seconds - to gently easing the cat, a half hour at a time onto the living room coffee table.  


The cat's reality . . . "I can't go there.  Something's going to hurt me."


Don't we all do that in certain areas of our lives?  Passed trauma and hurt cause us to live funny, illogical, quirky; to avoid perceived pain.  It limits our freedom, our mobility and our view.  


What is the cost of living on the counter my friend?  Where in your life are you living in paralysis of the past?  Where are you sitting on the fence, trying to hide?


Instead of being a light on a hill, when living on the counter we are as effectual as Mr. Coffee and a baking mitt.


I'm going to challenge you to come down off the counter - even for a half hour at a time - and see what it feels like.  Acknowledge the demons of yesterday and then realize today is a new day.  


Living on the counter limits a whole lot of joy you could have.  It also limits a whole lot of joy you could offer others . . . if not today, when?


Say goodbye to Mr. Coffee and come play with the rest of us cool cats  : )