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Shelli Mader: Road to Ranching 4-30-12

Shelli Mader
Hays, Kan.

Lately I’ve been dragging my feet about this whole moving thing and I haven’t been getting much done. I have boxes that still need packed, walls that need washed and cabinets that have to be cleaned out.

Last week I got a little burned out after unsuccessfully calling dozens, and dozens, and dozens of people in an effort to find a place to live in Scott City. So, subconsciously I decided to throw myself a mental pity party. Have you ever had one of these? I hope not. But if you have, you know the feeling and really, how effortless they are to throw. Pity parties can be held entirely in your mind or they can be enhanced by using a few supplies.

Here are my 9 best tips for holding a successful one:



• Don’t invite any of your friends – remind yourself that they wouldn’t want to come anyway.

• If you chose to have food, make sure it is highly processed and fattening. Eat lots of it.



• Play the saddest, most depressing music you can find (anything with violins works well).

• Don’t get dressed or take a shower the day of the party – it’ll make you feel worse about yourself.

• Think unhappy thoughts – the more unhappy the better.

• Worry, Worry, Worry …

• Blame yourself for everything.

• Compare yourself to everyone.

• Look at farm and ranching magazines (the log home ones work for me too) to remind yourself of what you don’t have.

I hope you know that I’m just kidding! Don’t really throw yourself one of these parties – even if it is just in your mind. Having a pity party can be a temptation when things aren’t going your way, but if you’ve had one you of these know that the only thing they really accomplish is giving you a bad (or worse) attitude and often a few extra pounds.

Last week I found out that a healthy man I know was diagnosed with inoperable, terminal cancer. The doctors are giving him just four months to one year to live. When I heard the news I was stunned. Just the day before the diagnosis the man felt fine.

Hearing about him was a wakeup call for me to start enjoying every day a little bit more. Focusing on the good in life is a skill worth working on.

Next column, I’m excited to finally share my parent’s inspiring road to ranching story. If you have a road to ranching story I’d love to hear that too – contact me on my blog RoadtoRanching.com. There is nothing like a good story to bring others hope, and keep them from having pity parties!


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