I have a theory – unscientific though it may be – most typically sane and somewhat normal people fit into one of two categories …. those who prefer cats and those who must love dogs. Similarly as a designer, I have also developed a compatible theory about color – those who gravitate toward the green family and those who sang according to the blues – green people tend to be more physically active, outdoorsy, ambitious and even driven by nature. Conversely, they are also more prone to mood swings and flights of fancy while blue people have for the most part successfully managed to pass through that phase and arrived at a place of greater serenity, where they are more settled and thus feel more confident in who they are as human beings. As a result, they naturally lean towards passivity rather than aggression. More reflective and studious by nature, they have developed stronger decision-making capabilities, which can make for the ideal client/designer relationship should you be fortunate to forge a relationship with a designer who recognizes exactly where you currently reside with respect to your color choices and why. Depending upon where you are on the scale of your own life experience, it is entirely possible you have already evolved from one color spectrum to the next, and if so you might be looking around you to discover your surroundings suddenly feel outdated, because they no longer suit your personality …. but I digress.

When it comes to our domesticated animal preferences, I’ve never really met the person who resembled their pet – or vice versa – however, I do firmly believe there’s a science at play behind the choices we make when it comes to our pets. While dog people tend to be much more magnanimous, out-going and extroverted in their overall demeanor, they – like their pets – tend to be the people-pleasers, destined to crave – if not downright need – the love and adoration of those they serve. Thus when praise is withheld or when they’re being scolded for having committed an error, they immediately drop their glance and assume a non-aggressive position, exhibiting visible signs of remorse in the form of an apology. Therefore, maintaining the constant approval of those they care most about most is vital to their feelings of well-being, making it stand to reason that neglect in any form is perceived as abuse.

Unfortunately, unlike their feline counterparts, dogs – like dog people – will stay. Ever hopeful of securing the approval they so covet, they will endure mistreatment over and over again, retreating only during brief interludes to lick the wounds they receive in the process. Perhaps that’s why we love them …. because they not only accept who we are as human beings, they refuse to stand in judgment when it comes to our shortcomings. They don’t care if we’ve had a bad day or if we look dreadful from having been ill. They draw their happiness from being near and have thus been known to grieve themselves to death upon losing their master.

The same simply doesn’t apply to cats or cat people. Cats – unlike their canine counterparts – make you work for their love and affection, therefore cat people are what I consider high maintenance. Never quite satisfied with where they are in relationships, they always want more, and when they feel the slightest bit neglected, they will exhibit their displeasure in any number of adverse reactions from relieving themselves inappropriately to abandoning their home altogether in order to opt for another.

They are best known for two things …. extreme narcissism – in that they are mainly concerned with either eating or grooming – and absolute independence. They do not seek to please, but rather expect to be catered to on a continuing basis. On the plus side, they are highly intelligent, as well as accomplished hunters and survivalist, even going to the effort of laying their prey at your doorstep as if to say, “There, see what I’ve done?”

Don’t get me wrong. I am not damning cats. Having been born on August 12th, I am a Leo, and as such my astrological sign is represented by none other than the regal lion, king of the jungle, which probably explains my natural tendency toward leadership, undying loyalty and fierce protectiveness. Like the cat, I am fastidiously neat, organized and into personal grooming. I don’t suffer fools very well, and I don’t expect to please all the people all of the time - and in terms of those I can’t possibly make happy - well let’s just say they don’t rate at the top of my list; however, I will ambivalently tolerate those that I must.

In terms of survival, I guess it’s fair to say I have survived my fair share of life’s ups and downs to the point that of late I feel as though I must be nearing my 9th life. On the heels of a recent break-up, I have found myself – much to my displeasure – behaving very doglike in my reaction. Through months of neglect I have remained loyal, even steadfast in my pledge to remain faithful and true, to the point that it became mentally and physically debilitating …. and still I hung around, waiting for the approval, the validation that never came – or that came in brief spurts designed to instill false hope before quickly returning to status quo.

Yesterday was a bad day …. at my lowest point, I remained motionless for the bulk of the afternoon, curled up on a chair in my bedroom watching one sad film after another in an effort to exhaust my supply of tears. By day’s end I was whipped, beaten down to the point all I could do was stand out on the patio, close my eyes and draw long deep breaths, hold them for as long as I could and then exhale slowly, reminding myself that life was a gift and that there were so many others who would happily change places with exactly where I was in exchange for fighting a losing battle against cancer or some other terminal illness.

I had behaved like a dog in the relationship, willing to endure things that I shouldn’t have for far too long a time for the singular benefit of not having to face my future alone. Shame on me …. for having squandered my time and all the gifts I was willing to give to the relationship on someone who had proven himself unworthy. As an animal lover I have owned my share of both cats and dogs and have adored each for different reasons, but as woman it’s high time I subscribe to the benefits of my birthright by becoming more catlike in the future, thus showing a willingness to invest in those who treat me deservingly, while maintaining the strength to walk away from those who do not.

I’ve come to the conclusion there are worse things than being alone and single. According to the U.S. Census, there are approximately 60.3 million married couples residing in the United States, while there are an additional 124.6 million adult singles. Therefore, if I have to be a charter member of any club, it’s good to know I am in such good company where there is strength in numbers and the continued hope of connecting with at least one more fish in the sea.