INTRODUCTION
Have you ever tried to train a puppy?
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They are the definition of “all over the place.” Wild, uncontained, jubilant, anxious - you name it, they will shred it, eat it, and poop on it. They are exhausting. The human mind is an uncontained puppy, a tyrant of nonstop judgment, worry, fear, commentary, criticism, and complaints.
HOW TO BE A GOOD DOG
Learning to Sit, Stay, and Heal is your field guide to training your “puppy mind.” Follow the methods in the book and transform the little terror between your ears into an ally and reliable companion—using a relatable framework and hilarious stories from my personal experience.
MEET THE AUTHOR
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The most important thing you need to know about me is that I was born in Philly, the fourth of six children in a loud, loving first-generation Italian family. This will account for all the “F” words in the book and my obvious aversion to quiet, hemp-wearing spirituality.
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I’m mouthy and direct, and it took me so long to just sit my ass down and meditate that I wanted to make it easier for other people because I know lots of us are in a bad way.
A single mom of three boys (yup, you heard me), I was a litigation attorney for a decade, a job that required extra showers at the end of a day of yelling, arguing, and being lied to, mostly by white guys who thought they knew everything.
Three days after my youngest son graduated high school, I quit my job, sold my house, and gave away most of my stuff. At 48, with everything I needed in my Honda CRV, I headed to Colorado to be a cowgirl. That was a hilarious adventure until I married a wanna be cowboy and lost my way. I did that a LOT with men until I got breast cancer and realized I better figure stuff out.
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Since we define ourselves by work, I’ve also been a high school teacher, EMT, ski bum, and writer. As an ordained Zen Buddhist chaplain, I worked as a hospital/hospice chaplain, but being the “spiritual person” in the room is unsettling. Too many people have been wounded by religion. Besides, I’ve been married three times, have a huge chest tattoo (after breast cancer, instead of new boobs), swear like a sailor, and I am not a church lady. ​
I’m back from Colorado because I genuinely love the East Coast-in-your-face culture, and all that Western niceness makes me nervous. I live barefoot at the Jersey shore, and I’d love to help you find peace.
When you train your mind to sit, stay, and heal, you unleash a powerful force you never knew you had. Your mind will respond to every blow, joy, and sorrow with openness, humor, and peace. Once your mind is a good dog, there is no going back to the chaos of puppyhood. If you want to heal the world, begin with yourself. Your healing will radiate to your family, loved ones, and communities. Train your mind through meditation, and life will become a walk in the park.