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Posts tagged ‘Samoyed’

Jan 23

Like Never Before or Ever Again

“Animals praise a good day, a good hunt. They praise rain if they’re thirsty. That’s prayer. They don’t live an unconscious life, they simply have no language to talk about these things. But they are grateful for the good things that come along.” – Mary Oliver

“Today is life-the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live today with gusto.” – Dale Carnegie

I take the girls to the dog park almost every day.
A few blocks out, Abby starts groaning with anticipation.
If no one is around, I let them off leash at the top of the hill and they barrel down the wooded path as if arriving somewhere new for the first time ever.
Every single time, enthusiasm overflowing, fresh and new joy.
We can make the ordinary daily activities extraordinary by entering them through doors of wonder and windows of awe.
Seeing the same from a different angle.
Like we’ve never been here before and that we won’t ever be in this day again.
One is in our control and the other is not.
Time is moving swiftly.
We slow it down when we savor and celebrate it while we are in it.
No where to be but here and now.
Like never before or ever again.
Praise this good day.
Hunt well.
Plenty to be found.

Jan 2

Great Triumphant Joy

“Happiness is a choice that requires effort at times.”― Aeschylus

“What was love but a lifetime of conversations. And silences. Knowing when to be silent. Above all, knowing when to laugh.”― Bernard MacLaverty, Midwinter Break

May you partake in laughter often
Opt in to lighten up
Frolic and dance in silliness
Take life serious enough to not be so serious.
Gratitude. Grace. Joy.
Life, to the fullest extent.
In simple delights.

“It is the experiences, the memories, the great triumphant joy of living to the fullest extent in which real meaning is found. God it’s great to be alive! Thank you. Thank you.”― Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild

“Listen, whatever you see and love—
that’s where you are.”― Mary Oliver, Dog Songs

Dec 10

Under Our Feet

“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.” — Henry David Thoreau

“When it comes to the beauty of nature, time stops, the space becomes silent and the soul falls asleep while awake!”― Mehmet Murat ildan

After an off-leash romp in the woods, Abby returned wearing the woods.
And a big grin.
Sasha came up behind with the same delight.
Coats of joy.
Evidence of frolic.
A big mess to brush out.
Worth every stroke.
A release of energy and enthusiasm to generate even more.
Go off leash every day.
Untie from tasks, rushing, shoulds, have-tos, busy work, transactional.
Unbound, untethered, free-falling into felicity.
Nature invites all to the playground of expanse and exploration.
Breathe. Drink. Taste.

“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.” —Henry David Thoreau

“To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves.” —Mahatma Gandhi

Nov 23

Plant Seeds, Cast Light

“Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.”― Leonard Cohen

“Empathy is the most mysterious transaction that the human soul can have, and it’s accessible to all of us, but we have to give ourselves the opportunity to identify, to plunge ourselves in a story where we see the world from the bottom up or through another’s eyes or heart.” – Sue Monk Kidd

The holiday season triggers a slew of emotions.
Loss of a loved one(s), recent or years ago, yet still ever present.
Childhood memories – both wonderful and difficult.
Family dynamics, fractured relationships, and the dreaded political pontifications.
We can keep going through the same door and write off the next six weeks. Endure.
OR, we can find the wonder woven in the season of hope and light.
Receiving and giving the gift of grace, kindness, empathy, forgiveness, making way for laughter, joy and peace.
Invite and allow a new story to born within this year.
One seed, one day at a time.
May this season feed and fill your heart with the healing power of love.
Plant hope, cast light.

“You will learn a lot about yourself if you stretch in the direction of goodness, of bigness, of kindness, of forgiveness, of emotional bravery. Be a warrior for love.”― Cheryl Strayed, Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar

Oct 30

Catching Joy

“Every day is a good day. There is something to learn, care and celebrate.”― Amit Ray, Walking the Path of Compassion

“Life is a dance. Mindfulness is witnessing that dance.”― Amit Ray, Mindfulness Living in the Moment – Living in the Breath

Joy is a verb, an action, a decision.
May you dance with it daily.
Inhaling and exhaling, deeply.
Celebrate and keep opening this wonderous gift of life. 

“Breath is the finest gift of nature. Be grateful for this wonderful gift.”― Amit Ray, Beautify your Breath – Beautify your Life

Aug 20

Soul Health

“Give man a dog for the health of his soul.” – Hildegard of Bingen

“Make haste to Love.”― Hadewijch

Feed your spirit with…

Rest
Fun
Joy
Delight
Laughter
Curiosity
Companionship
Exploration
Discovery
Awe
Praise
Gratitude
Love

“Everything we watch, read, and spend our time doing is feeding our spirits in some way, whether good or bad.”― Steve Bremner

Jul 9

The Smallest of Things

“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”— Winnie the Pooh

“From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere.” – Dr. Seuss

May you live today twice.
Once being present and awake, weaving it with joy and delight.
Twice in memory, discovering simple moments, the smallest of things fill the heart.

“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” – Dr. Seuss

Mar 21

Signs of Spring

“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.”― Margaret Atwood

“The deep roots never doubt spring will come.”― Marty Rubin

Softening earth.
Dirt on the forehead.
Long days.
Warm sun.
Awakening.
Unfolding.
Crossing the threshold into new.
A foot on each side, leaning forward.
Tipping point almost tipped.
As the transition from winter to spring arrives yet again, see the signs, join the dance.
Seeds planted ready to break ground.

“My appointed work is to awaken the divine nature that is within.” – Peace Pilgrim

Mar 15

Surprise and Celebration

“Surprise is the greatest gift which life can grant us.” – Boris Pasternak

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” – Oprah Winfrey

A surprise visit from Jeanne with toys and dog ice cream to celebrate Sasha’s 5th birthday brought the day to a fun close. Abby joined in the celebration too. Thoughtfulness, kindness extended. All in our power to offer to others daily.

Connection, generosity, celebration and gratitude, powerful actions to change a day. Text, call, connect with others today. Be kind, change the world one surprise at time. Cast light.

“It takes a long time to become young.” – Pablo Picasso

“A gift consists not in what is done or given, but in the intention of the giver or doer.” – Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Feb 18

Unleashed Joy

“Because of the dog’s joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift.” ― Mary Oliver, Dog Songs

“But I want to extol not the sweetness nor the placidity of the dog, but the wilderness out of which he cannot step entirely, and from which we benefit. For wilderness is our first home too, and in our wild ride into modernity with all its concerns and problems we need also all the good attachments to that origin that we can keep or restore. Dog is one of the messengers of that rich and still magical first world. The dog would remind us of the pleasures of the body with its graceful physicality, and the acuity and rapture of the senses, and the beauty of forest and ocean and rain and our own breath.” – Mary Oliver, Dog Songs

Off leash.
Break trail.
Into the adventures of a romp in the woods.
The adventure of a ball pursued and captured.
Companionship.
Joy.
Pulling us out of self to play and frolic.
Sheer simple delight given without reserve.
Both family and friend.
The gift of unleashed joy.

“Come with me into the woods where spring is
advancing, as it does, no matter what,
not being singular or particular, but one
of the forever gifts, and certainly visible.”
― Mary Oliver, Dog Songs

“Or maybe it’s about the wonderful things that may happen if you break the ropes that are holding you.”
― Mary Oliver, Dog Songs

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