Monthly Archives: March 2014

Something Good

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ericpinksky041. New Architectural Watercolors by Maja Wronska on Colossal. These make me want to get on a plane, immediately.

2. Brightly Painted Stairway in Turkey Starts Revolution Against Drab Gray.

3. 5 Things to Do Before Breakfast for a Happy Day on Elephant Journal.

4. Beck’s new album, Morning Phase. I’m not a crazy Beck fan, but I am in love with this album, although it at first made me super weepy (it’s quite melancholy).

5. 30 Cats And Dogs Losing The Battle Against Human Furniture on Bored Panda.

6. What I’ve Learned as a Writer on Zen Habits.

7. Permission To Be Hungry by Meg Worden. Such an important message.

8. “What stands in the way becomes the way.” ~Marcus Aurelius

9. On Messing Around from Lisa Congdon.

10. Old stories from Kat McNally.

11. Treasure Hunt: Color Collecting is Andrea Scher’s new photography ecourse. It looks so fun.

12. 18 Things Highly Creative People Do Differently on Huffington Post. There are things on this list that I regularly criticize myself for doing. That stops now.

13. Wisdom from Chögyam Trungpa

People have difficulty beginning a spiritual practice because they put a lot of energy into looking for the best and easiest way to get into it. We might have to change our attitude and give up looking for the best or easiest way. Actually, there is no choice. Whatever approach we take, we will have to deal with what we are already. We have to look at who we are.

14. How to Find Body Compassion on Magpie Girl.

15. On Desire and the creative kindness of limits from Hiro Boga.

16. 33 Ways to Be Childlike Today from Tiny Buddha.

17. Wisdom from Rumi, the poem “The Guest House,” a reminder I need again and again.

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

18. This wisdom, a Note from the Universe. I need to hear it at the same time I don’t want to hear it, don’t want to believe it even though I know it’s probably true.

Protocol Clarification: Jill, in the adventure of life there are no “brownie points” earned for suffering, sacrifice, or tears. Nor for anguish, altruism, or selflessness. In fact, you don’t even get any for generosity, gratitude, or compassion. In time and space there are no “brownie points,” period. Might as well just do what makes you happy.

19. The True Cost vs. Benefits of a Dog. {Infographic} on Elephant Journal. I love this, although in my case the cost has been much higher, and it says nothing of the emotional cost, of having your heart broken in the end.

this one has already cost me plenty

this one has already cost me plenty 🙂

20. 7 Questions I Asked Myself from Executive Coach Michele Woodward.

21. Shared by Susannah Conway on her Something for the Weekend list: What You Learn in Your 40s and “What should I write about?” 33 prompts to unlock new blog posts + stories that need to be told …

22. From Positively Present Picks: “The best journeys answer the questions that in the beginning you don’t even think to ask” (image) and 8 Things To Do Alone… For A Change.

23. To That Guy Who Made a Fat Joke about Me to My Boyfriend from The Militant Baker.

24. 18 New Life Hacks from viral Nova.

Day of Rest

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ringocouch03

Just a few days ago, I hit a sort of rock bottom. For the past two months, this weekend was the goal, the light at the end of the tunnel, the weekend Ringo would get his final puppy shots. We’d be cleared to walk him and take him to daycare. We could invite other dogs over to play or meet them for a walk at the park. We could sign up for a basic obedience class. This was the weekend things would shift. The hardest part would be over.

Then Ringo came down with a cold, maybe even a mild Kennel Cough even though he’d been vaccinated (thus the “mild case”), which is contagious and can turn to pneumonia if it gets bad enough. To be safe, our vet put him on antibiotics and told us to keep him home. We rescheduled his final round of shots for next weekend. It felt like such a blow. Even though it looks on the surface like it only bumped us ahead one week, I know myself well enough to guess that I might want to wait another week or two after that until trying daycare, just to be sure.

At the same time, I was struggling with some training issues with Ringo — biting, counter surfing and jumping, and chewing on his leash and harness. I’d gotten lots of advice, did research and lots of reading, and have raised three other puppies, but for some reason I wasn’t finding the exact approach that would work with Ringo. And I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I suffer from black and white thinking and can immediately go from “this isn’t working” to “this will never work.” I started imagining Ringo turning into the Cattle Dog cautionary tale you hear so much, a dog that nips and bites and barks and is bossy, a disaster.

I asked for help. I posted on Facebook, asking for suggestions, and even called Ringo’s “grandma” (she has his mom and dad). I got some really good advice, but more importantly I felt better, trusted myself about what to do for MY dog.

And then, weirdly, without me really doing much of anything, a shift happened. Maybe it was because yesterday was a gorgeous spring day. Maybe it’s because I got so much done yesterday but still felt relaxed and calm. Maybe it’s because Ringo is feeling so much better and even Sam is doing better (and if he caught Ringo’s yuck, it never went beyond a few sneezes). Maybe it’s the natural outcome of Ringo getting just a bit older. Whatever happened, it further reinforces the mantra that’s been on repeat with me lately: don’t give up.