One of the things I’ve found in working more and more to develop anti-burnout tools is this:

An astounding number of people are workaholics precisely because it keeps them from thinking about or dealing with what’s really wrong in their lives.

In other words, they’re running from something.

They run so hard and so fast that they eventually run out of steam.

After careful thought and consideration, I decided to bring back the most powerful, most gentle resource I could think of to help with all this: Effie the Elephant.

(If you haven’t already seen it, she is the author of The Elephant Manifesto).

Effie is tanned, rested and ready. Her Manifesto has been reformatted and updated, although the content is the same.

In its pages she wisely pours her little heart out to help you.

Where has Effie been?

Now, you should know that Effie took some time off. Her message “went viral” a couple of years ago, which kind of took both her and me by surprise.

She soon found herself having to deal with paparazzi and fans. I even went to a dinner party where a woman I had never met became hugely excited that I lived with Effie.

Things got a little too intense.

So, like many stars, Effie went on hiatus. She spent much of her time going places for sleepovers, making sure my oldest daughter’s new sheets and pillows were properly broken in, and probably playing Boogie Superstar on the Wii when no one was home (tho I can’t confirm that last one).

There was also a nasty instance in which my youngest daughter elephant-napped her, took her behind the couch, and tried to figure out what filled her trunk — that was thankfully repaired, although it took a long time for Effie to recover from the stitches.

Effie’s role

Now that Effie is better, she has agreed to once again assist here at the blog. Sadly, she is no longer able to consult with Missy The Cat, but she seems to have found a suitable colleague in The World’s Longest Living Guppy (fondly known as LLG).

I have set up an “about” page for Effie, and she will be contributing as much as she can. She’s a little nervous about re-entering the spotlight, although we did get her some pink sunglasses that give her a Jackie O look if she needs it.

Like anyone recovering from an intense experience, she needs to take things slowly and carefully right now.

I hope you’ll join me in welcoming Effie back. If you have any messages for her, or wish to offer hugs and squishes, please do so in the comments below.

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