The OYsters, the Scammers & the Squirrels

Bethanne Weiss
Aug 12
4 min read

I haven't written a blog in a while.

But apparently, the OYsters have been waiting for me and I just had to share:

While I've been quietly working behind the scenes on something I am REALLY excited about—Adventures With Butchy: You Can't Chase Two Squirrels at Once—I've also been dealing with something much less fun:

Scammers

You know the type. The official-looking emails, snail mail, texts, phone calls that make something sound URGENT, suggest you've done something wrong, and then want you to pay MORE money for something you may not even need.

Nice try, OYsters.

Fortunately, I have two things going for me:

A lawyer husband who can sniff out a questionable legal-looking thing pretty quickly...

…and Chat, who can help me investigate the digital OYsters before I hand over a dime. 😂

One recent solicitation even came from a third party in Tallahassee, in the mail (see exhibit OY) that looked official enough to make me stop and look twice. They wanted additional money for something related to one of my creations.

The old me might have thought, “Oh no…seriously? Am I supposed to do this?”

The newer, slightly wiser Pause Pace Ponder (aka pro-act before you re-act) me thought:

“Hmmm. Let's investigate that first… after kvetching out loud to absolutely no one, of course!”

And THAT is the Tiny Tweak™...

Exhibit OY: A squirrel imposter in an "official" disguise

Pause. Don't panic. Ponder.

Because here's what I've realized while navigating trademarks, websites, book production, illustrations, deadlines and all the behind-the-scenes stuff nobody sees:

When you create something you believe in, there will always be distractions.

Some are legitimate. Some are booboos. Some are simply people trying to make money off your hard work.

And some are those darn squirrels.

And I'm learning NOT to chase every single one.

Adventures With Butchy is coming

It's taking a little longer than I originally anticipated. There are illustrations to create with my amazing illustrator, Diane Vivian, pages to pull together, trademarks to protect, websites to build and approximately 1,247 little details that apparently come with publishing a children's book.

But that's okay.

Good things take time.

Diane, Butchy and I are working hard behind the scenes because we want this book to be something special—not something rushed just to meet a date…it was originally supposed to launch on September 1^st, Butchy’s 9^th b’day.

My goal is to have it ready before the holidays, and I truly believe it is going to make an impact. Because Butchy, our

4-legged life coach, has some pretty important things to teach all of us:

Slow down.

Look around.

Try something new.

Move your assets.

Choose JOY.

And perhaps most importantly:

You can't chase two squirrels at once.

That lesson applies to more than squirrels.

It applies to distractions, OYsters, scammers and the noise of the views—oops, I mean the news.

So, if you're working on something that matters to you—whether it's a book, a business, a relationship, a new adventure, or simply becoming a little healthier and happier—keep going.

Don't let the OYsters convince you that you aren't making progress just because the finish line isn't here yet. Protect your ideas. Protect your time. Protect your energy.

And when something smells a little fishy...

Pause. Pace. Ponder.

Because sometimes the biggest Tiny Tweak™ isn't doing MORE, it's simply learning what NOT to chase. And around here, we're keeping our eyes on the prize...and our squirrels (and OYsters) at bay.

Adventures With Butchy: You Can’t Chase Two Squirrels at Once is coming soon!

And I have a feeling Butchy would say:

“Good things are worth the wait. Now where's my yum yum?” 🐾💙Luv, Butchy

More JOY. Less OY. One Tiny Tweak™ at a time. ~💙 Luv, Bethanne (aka Cha Cha)

"As Bethanne Wellness — the Queen of More JOY and Less OY — I enJOY teaching Tiny Tweaks™ to your eats, your moves, your brain, and your life so you can move, feel, and look (even more) amazing while aging safely, healthfully, and JOYfully in your own home — or wherever you choose to plant your fabulous self.

I’m certified in fall prevention, balance, posture, ergonomics, behavior-change, nutrition and I’ve helped prevent thousands of people (including myself) from starring in the “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” commercial or scooting through life at two miles per hour. I don’t just teach this work — I live it. Having navigated dizziness and balance challenges for most of my life, I understand firsthand how powerful the right Tiny Tweaks™ can be."

Bethanne Weiss, B.S., is an American Posture Institute posture ergonomist and balance expert, motivational speaker, author, host of the More JOY Less OY podcast, FUNIQ® Fitness Founder, ACE-certified fitness and nutrition professional, ACE-approved CEU provider, and ACE-certified behavior change specialist with 40ish years of moving assets, changing brains, bodies, and booties — and preventing falls.

Her Tiny Tweaks™ will have YOU moving, feeling, and looking amazing in less than 30 minutes.