Get Out of Your Comfort Zone — For the Animals

My Sammy, holding me tight with his paws! He knows he’s so loved!

You hear it all the time, from motivational speakers, “Get out of your comfort zone.”

Yes, to get to another level in life or career, we must get out of our comfort zone. But how many people get out of their comfort zones for animals? How many times have you shared a petition about animal abuse only to be ignored by your friends who turn a blind eye because they can’t take a few seconds out of their super busy lives to sign it? How many times have you rescued an animal only to have sanctuaries turn you down because they are “full”?

Yes, it’s frustrating. People say they love animals, but do they really?

Can I ask everyone today, kindly, if one of your friends shares a petition, please sign it.

For over a year now, I’ve been anti “The Dodo” because they create scenarios that put animals in harm in order to create content, and jack up their views on You Tube, Instagram, Twitter, TikToc, and Facebook.

I’ve tried to get people to unlike their page, stop following, but people do not listen. Who am I? Nobody.

But if they REALLY loved animals, they would stop following this creepy company who disguises themselves as a “heartwarming” entity.

For over a year, I’ve been reaching out to animal organizations to bring to their attention a woman who is promoting cat abuse on The Dodo (and Instagram, and TikToc, and Facebook, etc.) She teases the cat, allows her child to tease the cat, and then the cat gets all bent out of shape and hisses at the camera.

Why is this TRASH even allowed?

Well, of all the animal groups I’ve contacted, the vice president of Care2 wrote me an email that he will let his campaign team know and hopefully they can do something.

“Hope” isn’t good enough. “CAN” is better. And I let him know not to sit on this and that I will be checking in and contacting him.

If there are any TRUE ANIMAL LOVERS out there, who want to team up with me on this case and be unstoppable for this cat who is being teased and videotaped on a regular basis (which is traumatizing to the cat, a cat this woman had since it was a kitten — not a feral cat that she took in. She RUINED this cat with evil!) PLEASE email me (maryannechristiano@gmail.com) and let’s work together as a real team.

ANIMAL EXPLOITATION SHOULD BE TREATED AS THE CRIME THAT IT IS!

THE DODO EXPLOITS ANIMALS

SAY ‘NO’ TO ANIMAL EXPLOITATION ON THE INTERNET

If you liked this blog, feel free to buy me a kombucha: https://ko-fi.com/maryannechristianomistretta

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.

She is the author of the following books:

“Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Hero” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary

“I Don’t Want to Be Like You” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Don’t Want To Be Like You

Her fiction book “Love Cats” second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/

Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.

And for positive messages, visit Be YOUnique, the Anti-Bullying You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLq6J9MSvcjd-haQ30ycLWA/videos

Visit my business page, Pear Tree Enterprises, at: https://peartreeenterprises.wordpress.com/

Training Your Mind Produces Creative Dreams

Prior to performance at All About Eve Festival of the Arts a few years ago

A few days ago I wrote about clearing out my brain of junk food by no longer indulging in fun, but trashy television, which I usually watch during my breakfast and lunch meals, and matcha tea breaks, during the week when I work from home as a writer. Instead of watching garbage, I opted for positive Law of Attraction videos (which I watch in the evenings anyway), positive celebrity interviews (like Cyndi Lauper — she always has something nice to say), or simply watching music videos.

A few days later, my mind is more clear and happier. But I haven’t lost my depth either.

When your mind is clear, so are your dreams. Prior to my junk television cleanse I was dreaming about people I dislike. Why are these people in my psyche? Because crappy thoughts were. But for several days now I thought of nothing but beautiful things and have felt an incredible sense of calm, as if I’m walking on a cloud. Even at a funeral I went to two days ago. I felt peace and was even making people laugh.

This is nothing new. I’ve done it before over the years. But why do we stop and go back to reality? We don’t have to. We can live in another beautiful dimension, it’s our choice with a bit of effort. You can train your brain to stop thinking about “what if” tragedies, mean people, and negative things. Replace with love. People and pets you love. Highlights of your career. Beautiful moments. And you will continue to have all that goodness in your head. It’s the BEST way to live. And it can be done!

Last night I had an incredible dream that I performed The Smith’s “How Soon is Now” as a spoken word/poetry piece. This is no far stretch of the imagination. I am a poet. I’ve performed my poetry in front of live audiences many times over the years. In fact, this is what got me through the day before I became a professional writer. I performed in art galleries, coffee shops, theatres, and nightclubs, all over NYC and New Jersey. And I was written up in New Jersey’s Star Ledger and The Aquarian Arts Weekly.

One of the greatest times I had during a poetry reading was performing at The Shillelah Club in West Orange, New Jersey, Over 200 people were there. But the more people, the better the performance. (That goes for my public speaking gigs too). When I finished, someone screamed out, “More Maryanne.”

The host said, “You want more Maryanne? Maryanne, do you have another poem to read?”

I did. I got up and did my encore. I don’t remember what poem I did, but from time to time I did take songs and make them into poems. If I loved the lyrics, why not? It went over well.

Perhaps it’s time to do some live poetry again, as the dream seems to tell me I should–both my work, and the deliverance of other work, especially songs.

If you’d like to see one of my recent performances, check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyLorsfQig4

Or if you prefer to read, I present to you, All About Eve…

All About Eve

All about Eve?

What about me?

In a superficial society.

Trendy, Fendi,

Keeping up with Beyonce

Spending at your local foods

People are so freakin’ rude

Pushing shop carts into butts

Let their kids do what they want.

Monopolize the conversation

It’s better than a sex sensation

Demean others, even your friends

The main thing is to “win, win, win.”

Do it daily, do it loud

Do it often so you feel proud

Raise your kid the same way

She’s a princess every day

Problems in the world we see

Ignorance, sickness, poverty

Change would be nice, if only …

Yet we still chant, “Me! Me! Me!”

And, you know, it’s nothing new,

Eve was all about “me” too.

Back then it was forbidden fruit,

Now it’s Botox to stay cute.

Charlton Heston, was once the rage, uh-huh

No one cares what Moses claimed; uh-huh

And the ME goes on. And the ME goes on.

On.

On.

On.

On.

Copyright 2017, Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta

All rights reserved.

If you liked this blog, feel free to buy me a kombucha: https://ko-fi.com/maryannechristianomistretta

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.

She is the author of the following books:

“Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Hero” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary

“I Don’t Want to Be Like You” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Don’t Want To Be Like You

Her fiction book “Love Cats” second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/

Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.

And for positive messages, visit Be YOUnique, the Anti-Bullying You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLq6J9MSvcjd-haQ30ycLWA/videos

Visit my business page, Pear Tree Enterprises, at: https://peartreeenterprises.wordpress.com/

Animals Understand

This cute Bernadoodle, named Bear, belongs to our friends Rob & Jayne. He is an official therapy dog.

The photo was taken February 24, 2019, just nine days after my kitty Bennie had to be put down. It seems as if Bear understands what’s going on in my head. That I was missing my dear Bennie so much, but happy to be among friends.

How do pets know what we’re going through? How do they know who needs comforting?

If you’re sad, always go to a pet — your pet or anyone else’s. They always understand.

For more information on the great things Bear is doing, visit: https://www.jaynedigregorio.com/giving-1

If you liked this blog, feel free to buy me a kombucha: https://ko-fi.com/maryannechristianomistretta

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.

She is the author of the following books:

“Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Hero” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary

“I Don’t Want to Be Like You” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Don’t Want To Be Like You

Her fiction book “Love Cats” second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/

Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.

And for positive messages, visit Be YOUnique, the Anti-Bullying You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLq6J9MSvcjd-haQ30ycLWA/videos

Visit my business page, Pear Tree Enterprises, at: https://peartreeenterprises.wordpress.com/

Lettuce Rebel

Photo by Mae Mu on Unsplash

Don’t you hate lettuce snobs?

I do too.

They brag about eating kale, arugula, and micro greens while turning their nose up on lettuces they feel are “less.”

But they are wrong.

There’s no reason to disregard a “lesser” lettuce in your diet. I’m talking about iceberg, romaine, Boston lettuce, Bibb, and romaine. There is nothing wrong with those lettuces. They may not be considered super foods like kale is, but they are not junk food either. .

In fact, all lettuce is good for you. It’s low in calories (if you count calories, I never did, I always went by the merit of the food), Lettuce has fiber. Lettuce has vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals like beta-carotene and lutein.

Don’t get me wrong. Like the snobs, I eat kale, arugula, spinach, and micro greens on a regular basis; almost every morning in my smoothies. (Unless I run out and don’t have time to make a supermarket run). In addition to my smoothie, I may eat kale, arugula, spinach, and/or micro greens again with another meal during the day.

But sometimes a recipe calls for a type of lettuce that doesn’t overpower. For example, today I’m making a vegan Russian dressing that would not jive with kale or spinach, but romaine lettuce will be perfect!

A few days ago I was watching an old You Tube video with Cher. They showed her shopping at a market in NYC. She went straight for the Bibb lettuce.

The very next day, in my Facebook feed, there I saw a recipe that featured Bibb lettuce from Happy Healthy Vegans, a cool middle-aged couple who are also in a band I love called Lovespirals.

It was definitely a sign from the universe that the way people view lettuce is on an upswing.

I look forward to the day when we can all just enjoy our food without the snobbery that comes along with it. But for now, I’ll enjoy my Lettuce Rebel status because I am in cool company. Guilty. Not guilty. 🙂

Are you a Lettuce Rebel too? Please tell me in the comments below!

If you liked this blog, feel free to buy me a kombucha: https://ko-fi.com/maryannechristianomistretta

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.

She is the author of the following books:

“Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Hero” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary

“I Don’t Want to Be Like You” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Don’t Want To Be Like You

Her fiction book “Love Cats” second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/

Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.

And for positive messages, visit Be YOUnique, the Anti-Bullying You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLq6J9MSvcjd-haQ30ycLWA/videos

Visit my business page, Pear Tree Enterprises, at: https://peartreeenterprises.wordpress.com/

Q&A Interviews

Photo by Maranda Vandergriff on Unsplash

I’m totally guilty of enjoying the Q&A formats in journalism. It’s an easy, fast read. However, this style of an interview is lacking nutrients for the reader. It’s like reading fast food, and lacks depth.

When I used to copyedit for The Aquarian Arts weekly, I wasn’t a fan of reading the Q&A style articles. It cheapens the subject the journalist is writing about and comes across as cold and not as informative. It’s an easy way to get “holes” (missing information) that leaves the reader questioning.

This is why, as a journalist, I dislike when subjects say “Email me the questions.”

The only way that type of interview is beneficial is if your subject is a professional who is using medical terms and formulas that only other medical professionals will understand. For example, a trade publication. To chop up an article to a Q&A format so readers can look at it on their phones is not true journalism.

When journalists resort to Q&A “journalism” they think it is cute to insert “um” or “uh” into the article if that is what the subject said. It’s not cute. It’s no fair. It’s tacky. Your job, as a journalist, is to bring forth the subject in the best light possible. It’s also your job, as a journalist, to ask the subject “Is this ‘on the record?” if they get too comfortable with you and share very personal information. It’s only fair.

Journalism is a responsibility to your subject and your readers.

Perhaps the Q&A format caters to those who like to read on their phone. But writers deserve to be better. Writing is an art and shouldn’t be cut down to modern readers with short attention spans. Would you want Freddie Mercury to cut “Bohemian Rhapsody” down to cater to the those a short listening span? Well, maybe comparing music (which can be background noise) to reading an article isn’t the greatest analogy. Though I did have an aunt who read the newspaper and watched television at the same time, which was nearly genius. But you get the picture.

Yeah, I know, you can’t read EVERYTHING. A few years ago I read an article that said you can read more books if you skip over sections of a book. Perhaps that’s good for reading the Bible or a self help book. You can skip around and take in what works for you. But if you’re reading a biography or a fiction novel, you’re going to miss out.

Journalists need to take this into consideration and possibly stand up to editors and publishers who are okay with the Q&A style. Please, go the extra mile. Get your hands dirty. It may take longer but in the end you’ll have an article that you–and your subject–can be proud of. Never mind that some of the readers might think the article is too long. They can always go back to it. If a reader is truly interested, they’ll sit down with a cup of coffee and read. My late father-in-law used to sit in the living room and read The Star Ledger cover-to-cover every Sunday. We need to get back to this kind of traditional reading — and writing.

I recently subscribed to a magazine and was disappointed that all the interviews were in a Q&A style. In the long run, writers should go the extra mile. When writing an article, insert the subject’s quotes into the article. This is true journalism that is used in old school newspapers and magazines. A good reader will enjoy the article more.

If you liked this blog, feel free to buy me a kombucha: https://ko-fi.com/maryannechristianomistretta

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.

She is the author of the following books:

“Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Hero” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary

“I Don’t Want to Be Like You” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Don’t Want To Be Like You

Her fiction book “Love Cats” second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/

Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.

And for positive messages, visit Be YOUnique, the Anti-Bullying You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLq6J9MSvcjd-haQ30ycLWA/videos

Visit my business page, Pear Tree Enterprises, at: https://peartreeenterprises.wordpress.com/

Yes, Guys and Gals Can Be ‘JUST FRIENDS’

With my friend Johnny, December, 2021

In the past few months I’ve seen some disturbing comments on the internet. Yes, in this day and age, people are STILL saying that men and women can’t be “just friends.” People say a guy is only friends with a woman because he wants to screw her. I couldn’t believe reading that! But I’ve read it more than once, spoken by both men and women.

It’s such backwards thinking, and I pity people who are stuck in that ancient mindset.

Since I was a teenager, I probably had more male friends than female friends. Sure, some probably wanted to date me. But is it wrong to have a healthy sex drive? Big deal. And sure, you have guys who say, “I have enough friends, I’m looking for a girlfriend.” Okay, that’s immature, but that’s the exception, not the rule.

The rule is, guys make great friends. Sometimes even better friends than woman. (Ladies, don’t get down on me, please hear me out). For me, while I dress like a girl, wear make-up like a girl, buy shoes like a girl, I find that stuff boring to talk about. I couldn’t care less about make-up tips, or talking about hair (other than saying, “She has cool hair!”) or worrying about breaking a nail. BORING!!!!!

Then women tend to get on a tangent complaining about their looks and weight. That’s not me. Not to say I wouldn’t prefer looking like someone else, like say, Cher, or Angelina Jolie. But I’m not going to waste my life dwelling on it. I can appreciate myself and be confident in myself. Women have gotten mad at me for my confidence. They scold me and say, “You’re like a guy with your confidence.” No, it’s draining to bitch about what you look like. Sorry ladies!

And, yes, clothes shopping together is super fun, but I don’t want to spend hours discussing fashion — or worse, gossip. I want to talk about deeper things like music, philosophy, animals, career. And it seems like guys want to talk about those things more than women. In my experiences.

Not all men are idiotic yahoos who sit around bonding over Sunday football drinking Bud. What an ugly cliche. But from what I’ve read on the internet, many women BELIEVE that! WEIRD!!!

I also joke around … a lot. I can carelessly throw around the F word and say things to men that I dare wouldn’t say to women (except maybe my sister who has a similar sense of humor). Like, I’ll joke about periods, for instance…And women get their knickers in a twist over it.

I guess, what I’m trying to say is men are not as literal. You can say something crass to a guy and he won’t think you’re a bad person. Whereas a woman will twist it around and become mortified, and probably hate you.

Over the years I’ve stayed friends with guys who were once a romantic interest. But today, I’d like to share some great stories about men who were strictly platonic. (There’s a ton more, but this is all off the top of my head).

1. Johnny (pictured above) is one of my favorite male friends. He’s my husband’s friend. My husband dated Johnny’s younger sister when they were in high school. When I first started dating my husband, his friend Johnny quickly became one of my favorites. He loves cats. He’s into music. And he helped me move in with my husband a year after we began dating. When Johnny and I get together, we laugh so hard about just anything. He’s a super fun person. I adore Johnny.
2. I had another friend named Jon who I had a falling out with, but I will never forget the time I was very sad about something and he wrote me a beautiful poem. Jon and I were always “just friends.” He was a deep person and we’d go for long drives and talk about interesting things. I was so happy for him when he finally got a girlfriend he adored. She was a sweetheart and I have a photo of us hanging out, stashed somewhere.
3. A friend named Rich. … I worked with Rich in a music store when I was young. He was a great guy and we found each other on Facebook. He endorsed my upcoming book.
4. Husbands or boyfriends of my girlfriends. I have quite a few friends who married, or are with amazing guys. Double dating is super fun and it’s great when everyone gets along. All these guys adore their ladies, so I highly doubt they’d want to be with me, let alone anyone else. Aside from double dating, some of my favorite male friends on Facebook are those who are happily married. Men who have wives really know how to be a good friend to a female. That’s why they are married, they’re what a grandmother would call “a good catch.”

So, no, not “all” men are these sex-crazed monsters who want to hunt down women and score with them. Men are human beings. And if any woman is lucky enough to find a man she could have a platonic relationship with, it’s a true blessing!

Do you have a platonic friendship with the opposite sex? Tell us in the comments below! Let’s praise men! They are great!

If you liked this blog, feel free to buy me a kombucha: https://ko-fi.com/maryannechristianomistretta

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.

She is the author of the following books:

“Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Hero” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary

“I Don’t Want to Be Like You” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Don’t Want To Be Like You

Her fiction book “Love Cats” second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/

Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.

And for positive messages, visit Be YOUnique, the Anti-Bullying You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLq6J9MSvcjd-haQ30ycLWA/videos

Visit my business page, Pear Tree Enterprises, at: https://peartreeenterprises.wordpress.com/

My Brain is Officially On a Diet

Photo by  Milad Fakurian (from Unsplash)

I’m been on a spiritual quest almost my whole life. As a kid I wanted to be closer to God by being good. I wanted to go to church because it wasn’t something my parents did, so I went a few times with my Aunt Sophie. Shortly before my 25th birthday, I befriended a proofreader where I worked, who became a spiritual mentor of sorts. Thanks to him I studied eastern philosophy and religion for several months.

Following that incredible experience, I was told by a fortunate teller, that I was too spiritual. That I needed to be more grounded, more down to earth. I took her advice and came back down to earth. After so many months of being somewhat of a hermit, I was back out in nightclubs, dancing and seeing bands, with spirituality on the backburner. Then years after that a different fortunate teller said I wasn’t as spiritual as I should be. Little by little, I grew more spiritual, and it felt like home.

Balance between the heavens and the mundane is hard, but I believe I’ve achieved it in recent years. I’ve gone on in my life, with my spiritual journey. I’m big on Law of Attraction, Jesus, and the work of Joe Dispenza (who I call a modern-day Gurdjieff). In addition to regular work outs, I love yoga and qigong, beautiful workouts that are an asset to my journey. (I swear, when I practice qigong several days in a row, I can get a crazy sense of “the giggles.” You truly can live like heaven on earth with these practices!)

And I’m a vegan, which I believe is a result of my spiritual practice. It was going to happen sooner or later. That’s just how it was. I felt closer to the source and decided it was the way to go.

However, I have a confession. I still clogged up my brain with junk. What kind of junk may you ask? Junk television.

No, not the news–I got off that years ago. It’s worse. It’s a certain television series that ran from the late 1990s until 2006 and is very popular with women. I won’t name the show, you may be able to figure it out. And I have a severe addiction to it and I want to stop.

I didn’t watch this show when it first aired. I made fun of it without knowing anything about it. It was a popular show, and I wasn’t a fan of popular stuff. When I heard women giggle about it, I rolled my eyes. I had better things to do than watch it. I was living my own life with a similar storyline, working in NYC as a writer.

But then the show accidentally snuck into my psyche. It caught me by surprise. It was a few years after the show ended and shown in re-runs. I was under the weather and lying on the couch with the television on. Then my subconscious heard it. I was intrigued. Dreamy-eyed, I awoke. I sat up to watch. Then I realized….Oh, it’s THAT show.

I became hooked instantly. I binged on every episode like it was a drug. I watched and re-watched and re-watched. Then I learned some of my friends liked it too. I talked to them about it, but it was never enough. I joined various groups on the internet to talk about this series. I’ve spoken passionately about this show, had great discussions and bonded with women I didn’t know.

When the face of the lead actress showed up in my psyche during one of my meditations, it dawned on me, this can’t be good. How can a television show seep into my spiritual journey? It wasn’t right.

I thought long–and hard–about the show and why I watched it. I had nothing in common with these characters. I remember a friend telling me she went to see one of the show’s movies with her boyfriend. He asked her, “Why do you like this? You’re nothing like these women?” The same could be said about me. Why did I watch it? It had so many negative boxes to check — ageism, man hating, Brooklyn-shaming, slut shaming, body shaming, homophobia, infidelity, bisexual-phobia, class shaming, racism, and friends who treated each other badly. There were also way too many generalizations that could mislead young women into thinking negative things like men and women can’t really be friends; that love isn’t exciting unless there’s a “chase” and you have to settle to be happy. WRONG. WRONG. WRONG.

This show is so un-me, it’s the anti-me!

It also seemed like the producer of the show had a shit fetish because there literally was shit in so many episodes, like a character stepping in dog shit, another character accidentally getting baby shit on her face, another character shitting in her pants while on vacation in another country, a dog having diarrhea, and even the producer making a cameo appearance yelling, “Feces! Feces!”

But, like a drug, there was also cool stuff to pull you in, like sex, career, independence, relationships gone right, stylish women, and super cute shoes. And occasionally a relatable storyline, but not too often.

Next thing you know, you’re so far in, you can’t get out. Since I work at home most of the time, I have lunch and a tea watching television. I’ll watch snippets of this show every day. Or YouTube videos about the show, or about influencers who make fun of the show or dissect the characters.

It all seemed so harmless. I didn’t take the show too seriously. It was just “camp” to me. I didn’t take the trip to see where the show was filmed or eat at any of the restaurants that were featured in the show. I could care less about the shoes the main character made famous (they were ugly to me, like witch or granny shoes). But the reality is — I was in deep, and I caught myself. When I watched this supposedly “fun” campy show or talked about it online, something happened inside me. I wasn’t as happy as I was when I first got up. The show was a downer, as were many people who followed it and participated in online groups. It’s all a bitch fest I could no longer get down with. It’s as if the “real me” gets abducted by aliens when I watch it.

Perhaps I’ve grown so much in my spiritual journey and this is what I’m getting, I can now see an ugly television show for what it really is. I refuse to waste any more of my downtime watching this show or talking about it.

If you know the show I speak of, please enjoy it. It’s a great show despite the flaws. Just know, that when you eat a ton of junk food, your body won’t be the same. If you watch a lot of junk television, your brain won’t be the same either. My brain is bloated and overwhelmed. It’s time to get off the “crack.”

Today, I went cold turkey. My brain is officially on a diet. No more junk food for my brain – yay!

Instead of watching THAT show today as I snacked on tempeh faux chicken salad and had my matcha tea with almond milk, I watched a Ted Talk. I returned to my computer feeling inspired. My brain feels lighter already.

If you liked this blog, feel free to buy me a kombucha: https://ko-fi.com/maryannechristianomistretta

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.

She is the author of the following books:

“Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Hero” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary

“I Don’t Want to Be Like You” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Don’t Want To Be Like You

Her fiction book “Love Cats” second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/

Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.

And for positive messages, visit Be YOUnique, the Anti-Bullying You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLq6J9MSvcjd-haQ30ycLWA/videos

Visit my business page, Pear Tree Enterprises, at: https://peartreeenterprises.wordpress.com/

The Writer’s Life

The writer’s life!

Through the good, through the struggles, and through the devastating, we just keep writing.

On this day, 2014, I was working on my book “Love Cats” which came to me in a dream, and I was struggling! This is what I wrote on Facebook:

This fiction novel, I’m struggling with, but I have to write it because the idea came to me in a dream. The thing is, struggling is good for the mind and soul. Be happy, but never be complacent.

“Love Cats” was not only published shortly afterwards, but made it’s way to a second printing!

And on this same day, 2019, my friend Darlene Foster took the photo for my book, “Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways To Become Your Own Hero.” This was the day after my beautiful cat, Bennie, had to be put down because he had brain cancer. It was my worst nightmare come true. Having my next writing goal lined up put my life into perspective. When “Be ExtraOrdinary” was published later that year, I dedicated the book to Bennie.

Sweet Bennie, now an angel

If you liked this blog, feel free to buy me a kombucha: https://ko-fi.com/maryannechristianomistretta

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.

She is the author of the following books:

“Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Hero” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary

“I Don’t Want to Be Like You” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Don’t Want To Be Like You

Her fiction book “Love Cats” second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/

Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.

And for positive messages, visit Be YOUnique, the Anti-Bullying You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLq6J9MSvcjd-haQ30ycLWA/videos

Visit my business page, Pear Tree Enterprises, at: https://peartreeenterprises.wordpress.com/

Brown Hair is Not Boring

This is a photo of me, nearly 10 years ago, age 49 or 50, with my natural brown color hair. (Nope, no grays, and now I’m nearing 60 and still do not have gray!) This was before a sweet hairdresser convinced me to get highlights. Then the next 10 years was a wild ride, doing all kinds of things to my hair, from super short bobs to every fantasy color under the sun. My hair was fire engine red, cherry red, plum crazy purple, violet, eggplant, magenta, pink, chocolate brown with icy blonde underneath — you name it.

Last April I had my hair colored magenta. While I loved the color, I decided, it was the last straw. I wanted my natural brown back. Since I didn’t have gray, I figured it was a great time to grow my hair out to it’s natural state. (And in the recent blogs, you can see my hair, how it looks now — it’s half grown out and looks a lovely ombre).

When a female client complimented my ombre, I shared that I was growing my hair out to its natural color.

She looked at me and in a sassy tone asked, “Boring?”

I just shot her a look back. No, brunette. “Boring” is not a hair color and brown hair is NOT boring.

This wasn’t this first time I heard someone say that brown hair is “boring.” I think I heard it three times in my life, twice from older women who didn’t seem to like themselves much. And once from a self-absorbed bad boy I liked as a teenager. When he wouldn’t give me the time of day, I dyed my hair bleach blonde. It was worth it to hear him say, “Wow!” when he saw me in passing, and I just acted stuck up about it and then didn’t give him the time of day.

Yes, blonde, red, and fantasy-colored hair is fun and exciting. But that doesn’t mean brown/natural hair is boring. The most beautiful women in the world have brown hair — Angelina Jolie, Penelope Cruz, Selma Hayek, to name a few.

When my hair is dark, that is when the compliments about my eyes come! For some reason, dark hair enhances eye color.

Dark hair is mysterious and vampy. As a kid I always thought Jennie’s evil twin sister, also named Jeannie on “I Dream of Jeanie” was prettier. It was a double role played by Barbara Eden, and while she’s known as a blonde bombshell, I can’t help but love her more as a brunette. The same goes with Elizabeth Montgomery who also played a double role as Samantha’s evil cousin Serena. The shorter, darker hair looked sassy and so bad ass!

I’m so psyched to be going back to dark hair. I figure it will fully be grown out by this time next year. In the meanwhile, I’m enjoying the ombre, and with each day and haircut, I am one step closer to becoming a natural brunette.

If you liked this blog, feel free to buy me a kombucha: https://ko-fi.com/maryannechristianomistretta

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.

She is the author of the following books:

“Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Hero” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary

“I Don’t Want to Be Like You” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Don’t Want To Be Like You

Her fiction book “Love Cats” second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/

Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.

And for positive messages, visit Be YOUnique, the Anti-Bullying You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLq6J9MSvcjd-haQ30ycLWA/videos

Visit my business page, Pear Tree Enterprises, at: https://peartreeenterprises.wordpress.com/

Do People Love Animals, or the IDEA of Animals?

My kitties, Happy and Nicholas bonding (Nicholas has his ears back, but he’s not really scared, he just doesn’t like anything near his head, so he flinches, but they were cute together).

PEOPLE LOVE ANIMALS.

Or, so they say. (And don’t worry, even though I am vegan, this is not a vegan post. In fact, not once do I mention veganism, so read on…)

Don’t get me wrong, I’m positive most pet owners love their pets like family. In fact, statistics say that most pet owners would agree that pets are part of the family. And then there are pet lovers who take it to the next step and they do something for animals, like start a sanctuary, or become a vet.

But do they REALLY love animals? Or just when it’s convenient for them?

I tend to go with the latter and I’ll tell you why.

Of course I won’t name names, but let’s just say I know some people who have run a sanctuary for a very long time. They are well known and loved by many. People give them money for their non-profit and they do plenty for animals. But what animals? The animals in their area.

Last summer my husband found an injured bunny near our home. It was a baby and a feral cat nearly skinned him alive. Immediately, he wrapped the bunny to keep him warm. I called the above mentioned sanctuary, got one of the gals who ran it, who told me to contact the other gal. Both were on my Facebook page. I contacted the second gal, she saw my message but did not reply. (You can tell on FB who sees your message because an icon of their face appears at the bottom of the message when they viewed it). This sanctuary is a mere 40 minute ride from where we live, and we could have taken the bunny to them THAT NIGHT.

HOWEVER, since no one replied, we called dozens of sanctuaries and all were filled to the brim, unable to take on one more little bunny. Now, that doesn’t sit right with me, but whatever. Finally a friend of mine told me about a sanctuary that was over an hour away. And they were closed for the evening, as it was a Sunday. They opened the next day at 10 a.m.

After a restless night, where the bunny stayed in an outdoor shed (because we didn’t have a wildlife permit and we’d be breaking the law if we kept him in a room in our house, plus we have three cats) we headed to the sanctuary the next day. An hour and 10 minutes later we arrived.

“This doesn’t look good,” they told us. Two days later the bunny passed.

I truly felt one of the other sanctuaries could have helped and the bunny could have a fighting chance. But, truth be told, no one could be bothered.

In another instance, a year ago I saw a cat being abused on that frigging The Dodo YouTube, which has a Facebook page. I reported it to Facebook countless times, and they did NOTHING. I begged my friends to PLEASE stop supporting The Dodo because they are all about money — not animals. Yet, la-di-da, friends continue to follow this FAKE animal page.

Another time I wanted people to sign a petition about a cat who was tattooed in Russia (where it seems to be legal). It was like pulling teeth to get people to sign and share.

This is why I call bullshit on so-called animal lovers. You don’t love animals. You love YOUR PETS. And you love animals when it’s convenient for YOU. And when people are giving YOU money for YOUR causes to make YOU look good.

Stop calling yourself an animal lover because you’re really not.

If you liked this blog, feel free to buy me a kombucha: https://ko-fi.com/maryannechristianomistretta

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.

She is the author of the following books:

“Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Hero” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary

“I Don’t Want to Be Like You” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Don’t Want To Be Like You

Her fiction book “Love Cats” second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/

Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.

And for positive messages, visit Be YOUnique, the Anti-Bullying You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLq6J9MSvcjd-haQ30ycLWA/videos

Visit my business page, Pear Tree Enterprises, at: https://peartreeenterprises.wordpress.com/