Tail Talk - with Erik and Classical Conditioning

Hello! I’m Erik. Lisa’s husband, chief cook and dog whisperer. It’s exciting to finally be welcoming the milder Spring weather and to be helping Lisa launch this amazing new venture.

I should start by saying that my background is mostly in the Arts. I was an Illustrator/Cartoonist for more decades than I care to count. Lots of newspaper cartoons (does anyone remember newspapers?) and book illustrations. I've also dabbled in painting and I’m hoping to complement Lisa’s blog posts with some of my artistic efforts. She just has to agree that she actually likes the way that I draw her. Wish me luck!

Being married to Lisa has been an adventure in itself. I’ve lost toenails on hikes with her and then gone ocean kayaking with her the next day. Two of the most stimulating and thrilling days of my life. However, I have to add that I think we’re both looking for less excitement than that these days. A nice, calm walk through the woods with our dogs is more our speed today.

Lisa's interruption: My goal is, and always will be to live life to the fullest. So, yes there will still be lots of exciting adventures! I do agree with Erik though, ocean kayaking on a very windy day may not have been the best idea... we trusted the guides. My coach would remind me at this point that a person is either 'at cause' or 'effect' and that no one forced us to get in the kayak and paddle across the ocean, we chose this for ourselves.

Speaking of the dogs…. Around four o'clock in the afternoon I become the most popular person in our household. I try to explain to them that they need to wait until 4:30 to be fed, but lately, they haven’t shown much inclination to agree with that. They keep pushing for 4:15 or even earlier. And like the sap I am, I’m starting to give in. Makes me wonder who’s really in charge around here.

In the pic are Left to Right - Czario, Bamboo, Paddy, and Erik.

Lisa's connection to her practice: When I receive Erik's blogs, I don't exactly know what he will be writing. Each week I am going to integrate it with my practice at Journeys Unlimited. The dogs are demonstrating Pavlov's theory of classical conditioning. Basically, they started by drooling every time Erik gets out that can of food because they know it means they will be fed. Eventually, other things also anchor to being fed. Erik, getting out of his chair, the time of day, the way the light comes in the window, the shadows. Who knows exactly unless we are in their cute fuzzy heads.

What anchors do you have? What automatically triggers a response from you? Think about what makes you smile, remember a lost loved one, or feel all warm and cozy inside? Anchors can be changed and strengthened through Neuro-linguistic programming. Email me if you would like to talk about anchors and triggers more.

I will leave today’s post with this quote from the late, great American humorist Will Rogers who once said, "We are all ignorant, only on different subjects."

We are all ignorant, only on different subjects. ~ Will Rogers

This is certainly true in my case, in fact, Lisa will vouch for the fact that I know almost nothing about a lot of things (happily, under her watchful eye, my cooking is improving), but, if you want to know the words to the opening credits of Gilligan's Island, I'm your man! 

Lisa's response: Oh, I agree. Erik and I are definitely opposite sides of the coin and see the world from completely different perspectives. And yes, Erik does know the words to the Gilligan's Island theme song! And it is definitely an anchor, every time he sings it lots of reminders of happy times with family and friends come storming back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akzzy2G-ve4

To learn more about classical conditioning visit https://www.verywellmind.com/classical-conditioning-2794859.

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