Treat me like a dog

Goldie is half greyhound. Greyhounds are notorious for being emotionally sensitive (when they aren't running down rabbits and tearing them limb from limb, that is).

My dog pays attention to every mood, and while she doesn't care so much if I am happy, but if I am upset, SHE gets upset.

I can't swear around her. If I drop something and yell "G*dd*mn it!" she cowers as if someone is going to be killed. (I know, you're thinking "Suebob drops things and swears? And I thought she was the Perfect Picture of Grace and Composure!")

So I generally speak to her in calm, soothing tones. The sentence I say to her over and over is "You're a good girl." I alternate that with "You're a pretty girl," and "You're a GOOD dog."

Compare that with what goes on in my own head:
"You are SUCH a freak."
"I can't stand myself."
"I'm an idiot."
"I'm so stupid."

It's like I have an abusive committee of mean high school girls in my head, making horrible comments all day long. I don't know why I do it, either. It really does become wearysome. When someone else criticizes me, I think "Really, you don't have to -" because I have undoubtedly told myself worse things than they can ever think of.

Here is my new plan for the week: try to talk to myself as kindly as I talk to Goldie. Just for one week, I'm going to treat myself like a dog, because I'm a GOOD girl.