You’re a Princess and Everyone Loves You

The way I see it, you can live your life one of two ways:

1. Like a crazy yappy dog.
2. Like Skyla.

For those of you who don’t know, Skyla is my 2-year-old boxer/pit bull mix. She also happens to be the most loveable puppy in the whole wide world.

Anyhoo, it’s come to my attention that there are two different kinds of dogs living in our apartment complex. Those like Skyla who think everyone loves them, and those yappy dogs who think everyone is out to destroy their lives.

Some lovable mutts just want to smother strangers with slobbery kisses. And some aggressive ankle-biters will rip you to shreds if you don’t get the hell away from them. Yip! Yip! Yip!

In other words, there are princesses and there are peasants.

A princess believes the world is mostly good, and she expects wonderful surprises, love, and kindness from everyone she meets.

A peasant believes the world is mostly bad, and she expects rotten luck, misfortune, and anger from everyone she encounters.

Being a princess or a peasant has nothing to do with how much money is in your bank account, mind you. I know plenty of middle-class ladies who act as if they’re wearing invisible princess crowns.

It’s all about your mindset.

Skyla is clearly in the princess camp. When we meet someone while walking around the neighborhood, she’ll scurry up to the stranger with her eyes gleaming and her tag a-waggin’. And 9 times out of 10, the person will say, “What a pretty dog!” and give her lots of pets.

She fully expects everyone to be madly in love with her…because after all, she’s in love with everyone too. The world is full of belly rubs.

Recently, Skyla has even taken her princess attitude to a whole other level. We have to walk by a small parking lot to get back into our building. Sometimes there will be people hanging out in their cars, probably waiting for their friends to meet them.

But according to Princess Skyla, those people in the cars are waiting for her. She’ll stop on the sidewalk, look longingly at the driver, and wag her tail meaningfully. No amount of tugging will get her to move until her loyal subject acknowledges her presence.

I know I’m not much of a drill sergeant when it comes to obedience training, but in my defense, strangers let her get away with her princess behaviors.

More often than not, the people will see her and get out of their cars to pet her. I swear this really happens. It has only increased Skyla’s belief that the whole world exists solely to love her.

Do you have the attitude of a princess or a peasant?

An easy way to tell is how you feel when you get up in the morning. Are you happy and excited to start your day? Or are you tired and wondering what else could possibly go wrong today?

Since your life is an experiment, why not see if you can change your luck by changing your mindset?

My challenge for you is to put away your yappy dog tendencies and take a lesson from Skyla. As you go about your day, imagine that the people you meet love and care about you.

Do a mental dress rehearsal and picture how you would act if you were a princess…during your commute, at the office, eating your lunch, doing your work, spending time with your family.

Princesses always expect the best possible outcome in any situation. Think about what you would do if you knew you could not fail.

I’ll bet you’ll find the world wants to give you the royal treatment. That is, if you’re willing to play your part.

And if Skyla can pull off this whole princess thing, I know you can too!