My daughter always wanted a dog. Me? No way. Too much work. However, when my daughter was going through a rough patch, she asked for a puppy. Her happiness outweighed everything, and now we have Piper. Adorable, playful and mischievous. She eats socks btw and a variety of other inedible objects! She has taught me the importance of taking breaks, the power of play, and best of all – she has the same birthday as my late father-in-law – May 24.

When she came into our lives in July, Piper brought levity and joy to our heavy days. We had just lost my dear, sweet father-in-law to Parkinson’s a month early. I admit she has stolen my heart, and that is perfectly fine.


Adapted from Janeane’s forthcoming book, Get the Funk Out! %^&$ Happens, What to Do Next! © 2019 by Janeane Bernstein. Published by Post Hill Press

Author(s)

  • Janeane Bernstein

    CEO/Founder | Journalist | Mental Health Advocate

    Outside the Box Institute

    Janeane Bernstein, EdD, is a journalist, author, and mental health advocate on a mission to tackle loneliness and help people reconnect—offline. She founded the Outside the Box Institute, a nonprofit driving research, education, and advocacy around isolation, and Outside the Box Series, a student-focused initiative with panels, workshops, and creative programs that spark connection, compassion, and creativity. She’s the author of Better Humans – What the Mental Health Pandemic Teaches Us About Humanity and Get the Funk Out! ^&*% Happens, What to Do Next!, offering hope, practical strategies, and a human perspective on navigating life’s challenges. A member of NAMI Westside Los Angeles, Women in Film, and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Bernstein also follows her own “social prescription:” riding her Can-Am 3-Wheel motorcycle across Southern California, finding connection and joy along the way.