Stop and Smell the flowers...

Walk, work, clean, drive, dig, rush, do, push, hope, went, gone, run, go, late, eat, drink, laugh, solve, help, fix - all words that can consume our ENTIRE day....whatever you're doing, whatever word best describes where you're at this very moment, just STOP. Take a moment, look around, see the colors, and smell whatever flower is around you...no flowers? Then just take a minute to breathe.

I am a true example of someone who doesn't always take time to 'stop and smell the roses," but I certainly try - even if by reminding myself of this - I can't find my superball...I immediately panic, Superball is stuck...I immediately bark, I have a cookie that remains unhid...I feel anxious about finding the perfect spot. Once I get in touch with these feelings, and can stop to take a minute to just breath and relax, eventually it all works out. Not only does it work out but I have remained calm and taken a moment to appreciate the beauty of the flowers as well...

Take a minute, slow down and smell the flowers - let the aroma fill your heart and body, let the colors calm your mind and spirit...

Magic Carpet

A tale of an impoverished boy who falls in love with a Princess being unable to suit her because he himself is not a Prince. The boy, Aladdin, becomes tricked into helping an evil sorcerer retrieve a special lamp in turn for wealth and riches - Aladdin must travel into an unknown cave and retrieve this lamp without knowing it's full powers. After the sorcerer attempts to double-cross him, Aladdin finds himself trapped in the cave with the lamp and a magical carpet to sweep him around. Aladdin eventually rubs the lamp himself and is granted three wishes to escape the cave and make attempts to win the Princess over.

The story goes on to have Aladdin wishing for riches and status to which he believes will help him gain the heart of his princess when all along he would have won her heart ultimately by being himself. While trying to court the Princess, Aladdin shows her the world on his Magic carpet.

Was it really a magic carpet?? Or would showing the world to her be an expression of loving her unconditionally, offering her a life of imagination, fun, laughter, hope and more? My belief is the latter...We don't need a magical carpet to fly us around the world, but instead we can do so through the use of creativity and imagination in our own mind - living beyond the everyday limitations we can sometimes feel.

Close your eyes and step onto your "Magic Carpet" let it swoop and sore you around letting your mind wander, twist and turn...opening up a whole new world from the everyday reality we get caught up in - doing so keeps our puppy alive within all of us...

Kick back

It's easy to get overly excited about things we're looking forward to, or feel anxious because the time between wanting something to happen, and it actually happening is not as speedy as what we would prefer. We cannot control everything and the more we try, the more we loose sight of what's important and the joy of 'the wait' passes us by. It's easy to say 'I just can't wait until... or things will be better when...." and build expectations of what is to be. Instead of living in the future of what you're waiting for, focus in on the now.

For example, about a month ago, we could still see bare trees, dead grass, and grey life...we want desperately for leaves on the trees, our flowers to emerge from the ground, soft, green grass to be under our feet. But, what if you sit back and take in the right now, the signs of new life, little buds that grow each day, the slow progression of flowers out of the ground and grass becoming full and plush, and the building sound of birds as they multiple in their song. Experiencing the miracle of life coming out of a long winter, so that when summer does come and the world is in full bloom, you can know that you were apart of it, engaged every step of the way...

Sit back, relax and take in the now, only then will you truly appreciate what's to come!

Get your Paws Dirty...

Have you ever tried to do the dishes without getting your hands wet? Have you ever tried to clean something without getting a little dusty or exercised without breaking a sweat? How about tried to get somewhere without actually moving? All of these things seem difficult without really getting in there, letting the water cover your hands or the dust fly in your face, taken a brisk walk to increase your heart rate or gone the distance to get to where you need to be.

Point is that we need to get in and get our paws dirty, to really apply ourselves and get involved in order to bring us closer to goals, meet our expectations, or accomplish that as which we would like to. Visualize your plan, see the dirt, plan out your steps and where you need to direct yourself, then get in there, get your paws dirty and drudge up what's underneath...

Get your paws dirty, you can always take a bath and get clean again later...

Before and After

Sometimes when I'm in line for the grocery store, I get distracted by the magazines on the rack. Lots of headlines and pictures to look at but the ones that get me th most are the ones that say "Before...and...After" combined with pictures pre / post weight loss, plastic surgery, baby delivery, etc. What was different before then from after? It's funny how we can depict before as being the worse picture, or the lesser, and after being better - or vise verse. What if we didn't look at before or after and just lived in the in between?

Makes me think about what it is that happens in between the before and after. For example, yesterday I had my superball...I was sitting int he chair and enjoying the sunshine - then, I didn't have my superball...it fell off of the balcony and into the leaf-less bushes down below. What happened in between? Was I distracted? What was I doing? Why wasn't there a picture to capture what the process was in between.

Take a moment to think about before and after - to then focus in on what happened in between that time to create a difference. Let's try to live in that moment, not looking forward or back but again, living in the present.

Bow your head and Reflect...

This weekend is a very religious holiday that calls apon any and all religions to take a moment and reflect. It does not matter what you call yourself, or where you celebrate your form of worship, it's a time for all to take a moment and reflect. Reflect on the sacrafices others have made before us to shape the path we walk on a daily basis. To take a quiet moment and think about things in the past, cookies we've taken from others without asking, barks that weren't necessary or things we could have done better.

You are a good puppy...remember puppies who have gone before you and appreciate their efforts as well...

BUBBA DAILY

Due to a change in management, Bubba will now be taking over Hagar Daily...I will be writing on daily occurrences in Bubba's life, instead of what Uncle Hagar usually talks about. Although Hagar Daily is very helpful for most people, Bubba will be funnier and have better stories for you.

SURPRISE...YOU'VE JUST BEEN FOOLED...

April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day is a day celebrated in various countries on April 1, which is today! The day is marked by the commission of hoaxes and other practical jokes of varying sophistication on friends, family members, enemies and neighbors....or sending them on a fool's errand, the aim of which is to embarrass the gullible.

Have fun today, play a little bit and watch out for pranksters!