Thought Provoking Questions

I can see the ?

I've been following a blog/website that focuses on practical tips for productive living. It's good stuff. I came across a post that lists 40 questions to refocus your mind.

Just for exercise, as I could use a little refocusing tonight, here are a few of the questions.

What are you capable of today that you were not a year ago? My answer to that is: right now I can appreciate who I am; assets and character defects all in one package. It is strangely comforting to come to that realization, I'm ok and I actually like myself. :0)

What word best describes the way you have spent the last month of your life? I'm working an honesty program here... stressful. Not how I would want to spend the last of my days. But I need to take a deep breath. Keep doing my part and realize things will work out. Realizing the results may not be how I had hoped, but they will work out the way it was suppose to happen.

In one sentence, who are you? I don't think I fit into one sentence. :0) I'll have to ponder this one for a while.

What do you want to be known for? That I found peace with myself. Also known to live a life of attraction rather than promotion.

If you had to move 3000 mile away, what one thing would you miss most? That's easy, my family.

What are the top three qualities you look for in a friend? Integrity, honesty, and acceptance

I want to remember in any situation how to live a life of serenity.

What has fear of failure stopped you from doing? I feel that is a loaded question. For me, there are many layers to this response. It's easy for me to cuddle with that fear and stay in my comfort zone. Whether that comfort zone is pure chaos or not! There is a long list of personal and professional things I allowed the shackles of fear to hold me back from taking that step forward. Still today, I can hesitate to take the bold step over the comfort zone line. Being filled with fear is a reminder to me that perhaps I've lost my faith at the moment. That's when I have to stop myself, take a deep breath, and reconnect with the Higher Power of my understanding. Then I can try to find the courage to take a shaky step forward into that unknown that can so easily paralyze me.

If you could go back in time to tell a younger version of yourself one thing, what would you tell? Ohhhh altering the path we were meant to walk! I would tell myself to keep my chin up, and look within myself first for love and courage instead of seeking it outwardly from others. It would be fasinating to see where I stand today if I had taken action on that advice. Interesting thought.

I hope I can share something along these lines: "Thank you for this beautiful life and opportunity to live! I look forward to the next journey!"

"Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction." John F. Kennedy

Now it's your turn! Perhaps start with just one question? :0)

Time Killer

A dear friend sent over the article, The Equinox and the Tyranny of Modern Time, yesterday. What in the world are we doing!!! We are killing ourselves, over what?! As the article says, "Your time — almost entirely divorced from natural cycles — is a new time." It is so true there has been a huge paradigm shift in this new direction. As a society we ignore our surrounding natural time changes and what effect that has on us. I know I'm guilty of chasing the clock and living within those seconds, minutes, and hours of each day. I don't know any other way to live, I've been programmed to function this way. I like being "on time" to work, events, or meeting up with a friend. I grew up with an example of someone that did not function well on the "on time" mentality of time. She was late quite frequently to my frustration. Looking back I would be quite angry and frustration with this person. Today I realize a couple things. One I had no control over her actions and two perhaps she was rebellion against the tyranny of modern time?!

The author asks what would your response be if you were asked, "What time is it right now?" Again, I'd have the programmed response, 5:27 pm. Why not respond with early evening or just before dinner? What does that 5:27pm really mean to me? I find it all fascinating and love the different perspectives!

I'm looking forward to the rest of the series by this author!

A Dog's Purpose

I received the book "A Dog's Purpose" by W. Bruce Cameron a little over a year ago as a gift. I just recently had a chance to pick it up and read it. Let me tell you, I couldn't put this book down! Mr. Cameron did an amazing job creating a loving and compassionate story from the point of view of a dog's life journey. If you have loved a dog in your life, I highly recommend reading this book.

"What if your dog never dies? What if dogs live multiple lifetimes, and remember all of them? What if every animal has a purpose, and your pet’s purpose is intimately bound to yours? A Dog’s Purpose tells the story of a dog who finds himself reincarnated and decides there must be a reason, a purpose he must fulfill, and until he does so, he’ll continue to be reborn. The story is narrated by Bailey, a wise and funny dog who is very much...a dog",
from the Official Website for A Dog's Purpose .

"A Dog's Purpose" was a very uplifting tail that I thoroughly enjoyed. I'd like to share a story of one of our dogs, Baby. I can only image her story before she walked into our lives March of 2003. She was just a puppy that was skin and bones when she walked into our garage one afternoon. At the time we had a couch in the garage, she jumped up on the couch my husband was sitting on, curled up next to him and laid her head on his lap to take a nap. That is how Baby's story began with us.

I believe dogs sense that we have a special place in our hearts for dogs, because over the years many dogs have showed up on our door step simply needing a kind word, help finding a new home, some water from our pond, a cool shady spot under our trees to lay, or just a moment of hope that human kind isn't completely cruel.  Baby was searching for all of these. We posted signs and reached out to local organizations hoping to get the word out for this adorable lost puppy. However, in our gut, we knew her previous home most likely abused her and didn't want her anymore due to her current condition. We made the effort as we didn't want to assume. Needless to say, nobody stepped up to claim her. So we promptly took her in for shots and tags.

The next step my husband took was having many conversations with Baby to figure out her name. Yes, we talk to our dogs, they LOVE it! She had to have had a name, right? Well, those two had that conversation for several days until he asked her if her name was Baby. She responded with a wiggle of her tail and a tight hug to his leg. There you go, Baby named herself or got tired of my husband guessing. To this day, she has stars in her eye for my husband, he saved her. In relation to the book, I strongly believe Baby was placed in our lives to help fulfill one of her purposes in life. She provides my husband with unconditional love and they share an untouchable bond together. Over the years, she has created quite a bond with me, as well. I'm very grateful for all that Baby has taught me and the devoted time she has spent by my side with a kiss, hug, or bark to remind me of what was important at the moment.

Baby struggled when she first came to us, because she was in survival mode. There was no such thing as playing, it was do or die. We already had two dogs, who are both still with us today along with Baby. Sadie and JJ loved to play and wrestle through out the day, in fact we spend many mornings and afternoons as a favorite pass time watching the dogs play. It took a long time to help re-program Baby's brain that it was ok to "play". To this day she usually will dictate if it's play time or not. Generally, she will initiate a play session with the other two. Although, Baby feels she is the Queen of the house, our little J-man is the man of the house and reminds the girls, as needed.

Over the last eight and half years, Baby continues to touch our lives and anyone she comes in contact with. We love her very much and cherish each day we have with her. You can feel and see the history in her eyes. If she could only share her other lives and what her search has been for her purpose. We hope she will forever remember us and how much we love her!

I've uploading Baby's photo into the "Dog of the week" section of the website, please take a moment and vote for her! Let's put her on the top 20 list. Thanks!  Vote for Baby Here!