The right thing to do...

What is the right thing to do? Who determines what "the RIGHT" thing actually is? Is it our faith? Our parents, history, neighbors or a committee we belong to? Does our job define what is right or wrong for us? If you are having a big party, and there are certain people who have hurt you, have and continue to do wrong by you, make you feel bad, do you have to invite them? Is that really "the right" thing to do? And says who?

The right thing to do is based on our own truth. What your parents might think is the right thing does not mean that it is right by you. If you are hosting a party to celebrate something important to you, the right thing to do is to include those who are going to celebrate with you, who cherish who you are and whom you have developed a sound relationship. Our parents, friends, family members are influenced and follow their own truth. And what is right for us, can be based on our upbringing, our faith, our daily practices and self worth, but the bottom line it is right for you!

Only you can define what the right thing to do is, don't let others influence you into believing what they might think is the right thing...

Keep the Puppies in a Box...

I've often heard the phrase "Make sure you keep all the puppies in the box," during times of planning, organizing, getting ready for a big meeting, or an event. At first I wasn't really sure what it meant, but now I get it. If you were to put 4-5 newborn puppies in a box, chances are with their energy and excitement for life, they will try to jump out. If any one of the puppies jumps out of the box, it then becomes your responsibility to chase and capture the escapee while trying to make sure the remaining puppies stay in the box - that can be a lot to handle. Can you imagine if all puppies were to escape? You'd be running all over the place.

If you think about it, each and everyday we're really trying to keep the puppies in the box. Trying to juggle a lot of responsibilities or tasks, all the while keeping calm, organized and at peace in our daily lives. If a puppy gets loose, it's up to us to stay relaxed, avoid anxiety and instead work on retrieving that puppy. One could say it's all in a days work, but it's the internal believe system and philosophy that will help ensure success and avoid what could turn into a chaotic situation. We know we need to recenter ourselves when we find all puppies out of the box running rapid and wild, causing terror everywhere while WE have crawled into this small space and into the fetal position as a way to avoid it altogether.

Today, stay calm, evaluate your surroundings and your space, your tasks and responsibilities. If a puppy gets away, it's easier to retrieve with a sound mind and if all else fails, you can always cheat and throw a cookie or toy into the box to distract the puppies!

Attachments

What are you most attached to? What do you feel the most connection to? What do you need day after day or do you feel most passionate about in your life? Is it your home, your family, your car, any material possessions or is it some sort of routine that helps keep life in balance and in check for you, is it medication or supliment, a food or a bad habit?

Having an attachment to things can be both good and bad. If we are so attached to something that we react in a negative way when outside circumstances alter that attachment, then it is time to build some healthy distance between. If you are attached to something that keeps you motivated and strong, or has a powerful meaning and keeps you centered, then this could be a healthy attachment for you. Having a healthy attachment to a loved one or material object is keeping you close enough to it that you take care of it and feel joy, any feelings of jealousy, anxiety, fear or anger could lead to an unhealthy connection to that same thing. The bottom line is that we want to look at the things we feel attached to in our life and then evaluate whether it is a healthy attachment or an obstacle to furthering our daily growth.

Take a look at the things in your life that you're currently attached to and evaluate the the level to which you are connected. Take steps to build distance between yourself and unhealthy attachments, and cherish those that keep you healthy and centered.

Mobility

If we look at a loose definition of what 'Mobility' is we might see that it is a state in which one is capable of moving readily from place to place, able to change quickly from one state or condition to another and change levels, all with fluid ease. If you ask me, this truly means being able to go with the flow. To accept change and being open to the physical or mental demands it may call for.

Are you someone who resists being mobile? When you are required to change quickly from one state or condition to another, how do you react? Are you stressed or feeling anxious, do you create a tense atmosphere for others as a reaction to the uncertainty that might arise within you? Do you find mobility easy? Are you so mobile that you cannot even sit still for a moment?

If you answered yes to the questions above, it's time to take a deep breath and tune into how we react to changing environments, relationships, feelings, emotions, state of minds, etc. If change is difficult, create a safety zone for yourself, or take steps that allow for a time of recovery and acceptance during your mobility - small doses will ensure you remain relaxed and in a good status of mind. If you're so mobile you can't sit still, it's time to slow down, to take a moment and enjoy each step along your journey of change.

Find a balance in your mobility, a place that feel comfortable to move but yet allows you to enjoy each step.

Do I have to?

So many choices, so many options, so many things to consider. If I like one thing, should I try the others because they are there? What if I would like something differently than this one, but never tried it so I don't know. If I want to play with the duck right now, should I try playing with the ball because maybe I would have more fun with it? But I'm happy with the duck right now...do I have to?

We could spend hours weighing out every decision that comes along our way on a daily basis. From ordering something to eat, shopping for groceries, choosing and outfit, to selecting just the right gift, there are so many options and things that we could do. Sometimes we already know what we want but are constantly tempted to keep on looking. They say that when you have found the "right one" as it can pertain to anything, you will "just know" - I for one truly believe that. The problem is that we get swayed to continue a search based on outside influences, opinions or just having too many options.

Trust your gut...listen to your intuition and you will just know - when you want to ask yourself, do I have to keep looking, going, choosing, thinking, trying? The answer is NO - you know what you want...you know what's right for you.

Recover!

Push, push, push. How many times do we talk about pushing ourselves to the limit to going above and beyond what our bodies, our nerves, our scheduled allow for and taking on too much. For as much as you work, train and push yourself remember to RECOVER. To give a minute for the mind, the body, and the spirit to bounce back from whatever it is currently engaged in, to take a step back, to pull back from all of the pushing.

In regards to fitness, you should plan a recovery plan during and after your workouts. Take 15 minutes to work hard toward a running or cycling goal and right when you hit it, give yourself 2-3 mintues to let the body recover, ease up on the resistence, speed etc - recover.

In regards to eating, take a few bites and allow the body to take in, absorb and utilyze the food for the nutritional value - recover.

When it comes to friendships and relationships in trouble, allow some time to recover - space to think something over or rethink a choice or decision - recover.

In work, give yourself downtime or a minute to step away from a project or internet to let your mind and patience unwind - recover.

When you sleep - recover.

Whatever you do each and everday, plan your recovery sessions accordingly. Sometimes it's even ok to take a full recovery day.

You DESERVE the best

Last night I had the opportunity to visit one of my very favorite restaurants. They have a great atmosphere and amazing food - the head chef is phenomenal. It was a Monday night, nothing too crazy or special happened, but it was a great no-good-reason to go out on the town for a date night. A night, a nice dinner to celebrate us, our life and our love, being alive and the gifts we are given in our daily lives.

The chef made a personal visit to our table and fed me some of his finest cheese. At first I was reluctant to eat the cheese, was I THAT special to get all of this attention? I mean, what did I really do to deserve this special night and this Executive chef visit and all of this positive attention. The answer is nothing....I really didn't do anything unique or out of the ordinary to be rewarded with, but instead I just deserve the best always... just like you do! It is up to us, to believe with all of our hearts that WE deserve the best life has to offer - to have confidence and appreciation for who we are in order to always receive the best there is! Defining what is the "best" can be subject to the circumstances, or what's available, but regardless we deserve it.

Believe in you. You deserve the best always, and nothing less will do!

A place to call Home

How would you best describe your 'home?' Whether it be a house, a condo, an apartment, or a bedroom that you currently rent out, what sort of characteristics help define this place as your home - is it the decor? The candles you light with music in the background, is it where you entertain people, or drop your bags at the end of the day?

Home is where the heart is, or so the saying goes and it should be a place that is the best representation of who you are, what makes you happy, where you find safety and security. Even when we are bogged down with payments, the task of cleaning the house, or keeping up maintenance, we feel the send of importance or accomplishment of doing so. We don't need anything huge and lavish to do this. We can find that same feeling of 'home' in a moment or in a relationship, maybe even in our own skin, treating ourselves with that feeling pride and ownership.

Open your heart up, open up your mind and feel the sense of feeling at home no matter what the situation.

DO your Best.

Do your best - that's all you can do. It doesn't matter what others might define as being "your" personal best, because that's their issue, not yours. If at the end of the day, you can honestly say - well, I did my best... then there should be no regret, guilt, there should be no self-doubt, sadness or a feeling of lacking. It is easy to get caught up in the society standards or of what others might think our best should be, what, how and to which level we should complete something.

Sometimes even when we don't feel at our full potential, maybe we're operating at a level that might be affected by outside curcumstances, sickness or new challenges we're not familiar with. If even in the face of challenges, we continue to do and accept what our best is, we will not think any less of ourselves. Happiness comes from learning to just be, to roll with things, and knowing that you did your best...

Be honest with yourself, be true to yourself and always do your best...

So you think it...

So it is...our mind is a very, very powerful thing. Sometimes our mood is not so much dependent on outside circumstances and is more a materialization of what our mind has projected. For example if on a Sunday night, you start to think about Monday morning, all of the work you have ahead of you, the work week, responsibilities, tasks and the days ahead of you, your mind begins to actively feel anxious, a feeling of "I don't want to" comes into effect. All of a sudden Monday rolls around and you feel groggy, tired, annoyed to be at work. This feeling isn't a result of the day of the week or your responsibilities, but more of what your mind has willed for you.

As a little puppy I used to think of the way I would most enjoy spending my days, and now as life progresses for me, the thoughts I generated have become a reality. I get eggs on Thursday, I have a nice home and a wonderful family. I listen to nice music all day long while I play with my superball, nap and gaze out into my surroundings. Had I thought about anything else, or worried about where I might be someday, chances are I could be out on the streets or a pound puppy.

Think of what you want most, how you want to live each day and what makes you happy - these thoughts will become a reality - be patient and keep the thoughts strong in your heart.

Make a Memory Last forever

Nothing lasts forever, we all know that - people move, relationships change, experiences fade, years go by and things just change. The school year ends, a class concludes, your living arrangements fade, a baby comes, a parent goes - things just don't remain the same always. It's the natural progression of our spiritual, mental growth, strength challenges and life experiences.

I personally feel the most impact of change when a friend moves. It makes me sad knowing that they won't be just a few feet away to talk to or go visit, to grab a bite with or spend time with on a random night of the week. It can be difficult not to make the situation about you, feel bad for you or feel like you're the victim that's being left behind. Each person has their own path. It is our responsibility to walk our own path to the fullest as we allow others to walk theirs - to embrace our meetings, cherishing any and all relationships we establish, learn the lessons meant for one another and to always keep the memory alive. It is our duty to work at keeping any sort of distance put between us and another as just a challenge to keep our relationship strong and to work harder to overcome.

As people, situations, things and the world continues to change around us, it is the relationship that stays strong and the connection that is important. Capture each event and make it a memory lives in your heart.

Perceptions

Sometimes it's easy to perceive things in a way that is true to what your standards and beliefs are. You may look at someone and make a judgement to the style of their hair, the style of their clothes, the way they walk or talk based on what you are used to or what is right for you. We may even disregard someone based on their looks because they do not match what our personal code requires. For example, you may look at Hagarboy and think he's messy and needs a haircut, but I personally think that my personality can come out with my poofy hair - I AM the Hagar boy warrior...until I get my summer puppy cut of course that is.

By doing this, judging people right off the bat from our perceptions, we rob ourselves the chance and opportunity to make a new connection, to learn from someone who is different, and to enhance our knowledge of cultural differences. People march to the beat of their own drum - the same way you learned to conduct yourself in your daily life, so they have in theirs. Just because it may appear different from our personal code, does not mean we should disregard the chance to experience their beauty.

Give people a chance...perception can be a very limiting practice...