Seems like a gal always learns something out on the farm! Yes, its a farm tale and Im going to change the names of the animals to protect the guilty!

I spent last weekend down in Lower Alabama where my friend from high school owns a farm. On the neighboring property there lives a donkey well call Jake. On my friends property there lives a dog his dog well call Spot.

Okay, not too original, but it serves the purpose.

So as night falls, the evening ritual is to go out and feed the animals.

Out we go, 3 large carrots in hand well, his hand. His wife and I are just watching. My friend calls to Jake who, having 5 acres to roam, is nowhere in sight. Spot is circling around my friend, jumping up, spinning around. Im sure youve seen this. Spot has been trained not to bark, but hes doing every other thing he can to attract attention, and acting ecstatic. Over a carrot'

Jakes so jealous, hell actually eat a carrot, says my friend, as we walk along.

Now, Ive owned a couple of dogs in my day. You probably have too. Never did I have one who would eat a carrot. In fact it was a family fun time to watch one dog called Shy Nell when we would put vegetable soup in her dog dish for a treat Campbells, canned. Shed dive in and 2 seconds later walk away with nothing left in the bowl I mean not even a lick of gravy except for the carefully out-selected squares of carrot.

Pretty discriminating tongue, Id tell my son. Imagine being able to select out those bits of carrot without fingers!

I hate carrots too, he would reply.

We can hear Jake making his way through the underbrush, and hear the breathing. Then my friend starts raising his voice, calling, and Jake starts his braying, to answer. When the three meet my friend, Jake, and Spot, Jake gets his head and back rubbed, and lots and lots of marvelous attention. And there sits Jake, even willing to eat a carrot in order to be included.

Take home points for you?

• Paired-conditioning is powerful

• If youre eating a carrot make sure what youre doing it for is worth it

• Youre a person, ask for what you want, dont accept the substitute

• Remain mindful, lest the carrot become the only reward, and something you dont want, you just dont want someone else to have it!

The Golden Handcuffs, of course when youre working for the money, but the rest of it just isnt worth it.

Or when youre competing for a girl, a job, a promotion, a house ... and get so lost in the competition, you arent mindful of whether the catch is what you really want. Dont end up working for your ego, not your heart.

Be mindful!