Today I'll share some animal communication tips by telling you a little story.

My calico cat, Molly, is well known to participants of my animal communication workshops and she stars in many of my articles. Our latest development is our big move in September from Whidbey Island, WA, to Portland, OR.

Since moving to Portland, Molly misses the richness of living on acreage, of communing with bunnies, voles, mice, and snakes. She used to spend hours napping in tall grasses and navigating blackberry bush mazes. Once she arrived home with two blackberry thorns lodged in her nose. She looked like a tiny rhinoceros!

OK, let's all agree, it won't cure cancer. And it probably won't lower your cholesterol. Oh, and don't expect it to make you as fit at Lance Armstrong. But being a dog owner can mostly definitely improve your physical and emotional health. With very few side effects. We'll start with the physical benefits. For most of us, working out isn't at the top of the ''favorite things'' list. It's tiring, it's time-consuming, it's difficult at times, and it takes energy, which many of us have less and less of as work commitments build up. Yet, it's been proven that exercise is crucial to cardiovascular health and weight control, and can decrease your blood pressure and lower your cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Do you like blueberries? ME TOO! Oh, wait… that's not what we're talking about? Are ya sure? Right! The "bluebonic" plague. So sue me if it reminds me of blueberries. So remember when all those peeps got dissed by the kitty fairies that be, because they tried to kill 'em all. The kitties that is. Sheesh didn't they know how important pets are? I mean all pets, not just of the cat persuasion. I mean, it's easy to love them, and they love you unconditionally. How's that for bringing peace, love and joy into your life