“Hey John” Advice Column: Two for Flashback Friday

John is on vacation this week, but he left behind two of his favorite letters for y’all to muse over. He will return with bells on next week.

Hey John,

I don’t write a lot, so I will make it short. I am unhappy because LIFE SUCKS. Will it always suck?

Dear Suckee,

Your question is too short to figure out what the issues are, so I’ll have to guess. Dead broke, no job, fights all the time at home, car trouble (or no car), living with your parents, her parents or with friends? If you are totally dependent on others for your survival, life usually does suck. Many people I know blame everyone else for their woes, thus lessening the burden of personal responsibility for their own lives. I try not to base all my counseling advice on the million songs rattling around in my head, but sometimes I can’t help it. I refer you to George Thoroughgood (of “Bad To The Bone” fame):

♫ Get a haircut and get a real job

Clean your act up and don’t be a slob

Get it together like your big brother Bob

Get a haircut and get a real job ♪

In other words, make a reasonable plan to improve your life and begin. A positive, and hopefully not overwhelming plan may involve: finding a job, getting affordable housing, get transportation, including a bicycle, don’t smoke or drink up your moola, be a loyal and loving mate and work consistently at improving yourself would help to de-suckify your existence. Or do nothing and you’ll always have lots to complain about.

Hey John, 

My next door neighbor has a small yappy dog. I like dogs. I just don’t like someone’s dog, particularly right next door, barking many many hours of the day (and sometimes night). What’s wrong with people? Why would you not have some consideration for other people? What would you suggest doing?

Yappville, Tx.

Dear Yappie,

I used to think people had some sort of selective deafness in regards to “family” noise. We’ve all seen it in the store when a child is trying to get his mother’s attention while she’s talking to someone else. “Mom? Mom? Mooooooooooooooooom! Mom mom mom mom mom mom mom mom mom?” While she has her child-hearing ability turned off, you are contemplating a small tranquilizer blow dart to the neck of junior. In the case of Foofoo the dog, it’s possible the dog is in the back yard while the oblivious owner is many walls away with the TV continuously on. Or, it’s possible they think it’s their right to annoy whomever they want. If you are comfortable enough to go next door and politely inform the neighbor their dog has been barking non-stop, it’s possibly the right first step. Or, if you are not comfortable doing that, you can call either the humane society or the city’s code enforcement person to register a complaint. I would expect compliance within a couple of days. If no change, call until there is a change. Most communities have a dog-barking ordinance. Or, like many folks, you can do nothing and angrily be bullied by a yappy little dog forever.

To submit questions for “Hey John” please email: JohnSommerCounseling@gmail.com