Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

 I wanted to write you to tell you, you see,
That Koda and I are grateful pups, she and me.
We love our life, friends and kitty bros,
We consider them part of our pack, and so,
What do I ask you for Christmas this year?
Well, I have a list that's near and dear.

I'd like for all pups needing a home,
To find a family and not need to roam.
I wish for all those scared, cold and hungry,
To be safe, warm and have a nice full tummy.
My hope is for all pets with no family,
To have one of their own, like me, finally.

For those afraid of some of us pups,
I'd like them to learn and shed their prejudice,
Realize that when they label us bad,
It's not always us, and it's very sad.
Help folks realize that breed doesn't matter,
It's the people that raise them, not all the chatter.

Help all the children to learn how to be,
Aware of how to love us, it's really key,
For great friendships with us all of their lives,
They need to understand us, so together we'll thrive.
Help their parents teach them how and to know,
The best ways to be with us, as we both grow.

And to those that keep way too many of us,
Let them know they aren't helping, they need to adjust.
They're making things worse, that's all they're doing,
They continue and continue, their constant pursuing.
We get hungry, angry, sick and can't thrive,
In conditions where we barely survive.

Watch over the pups who help humans each day,
That guide, search and rescue and calm those at bay.
The work that they do is very admired,
They save lives and help with skills they've acquired.
Please give them a special treat in their stocking,
And send them some love when you come a knocking.

For pups that are sick, please help them get well,
We'd be lost without them, we're under their spell.
And if they are old and it's time to go,
Help them make the transition, don't make it slow.
And help those who have lost their very best friend,
Comfort them and share, they'll see them again.

Can you tell folks who are way too mean,
That hurt us, scare us, and keep us too lean,
That they need some help to understand,
We can be their best friend, always at hand.
We'll love, admire and be more than expected,
If only we're loved and highly respected.

Another request that we have for rover,
Is to stop those who breed us over and over.
It's cruel and sad for pups to live that way,
They rarely get care and can never play.
We want to end horrific places like this,
Where only a fat wallet concern exists.

Help people understand, that whenever, and if
Their pup is bad, and starts getting in a riff,
That the pup needs a job, just like all of them,
To be the best they can be, a shining gem.
Training and working is what helps us behave,
It stimulates our mind, it's what we crave.

Please help those who think fighting us is fun,
It's heartless, horrible and something to shun.
While robbing us all of a wonderful life,
The pain and cruelty cuts like a knife.
Share info with all, tall and small,
We're pets to be loved, not to brawl.

I ask that you pay particular attention,
Give a pat on the back and a special mention,
To all the folks who rescue and shelter,
They care and feed and find us an adopter,
Over and over, they never think twice,
They give so much, to be very precise.

That's all I ask for my Christmas gift,
For you to bring these on your evening shift.
Thanks, Santa for listening, it's wonderful to know,
That you grant all our wishes and continue to bestow.
We wish you and everyone a great holiday,
With peace and love - it's the only way.

Loves and licks,
Dutchess & Koda


(Poem Borrowed from: http://blog.johannthedog.com/2009/12/my-letter-to-santa.html

Winter wonderland outing

After the first major snow of November ( we have majorly been spoiled here!!!) I took the dogs out for a walk. It is unreal how much they LOVE the snow, running through it, eating it, playing in it.

Here are some pictures from our outing.

Koda is my little winter warrior - loves the snow!

Always running - LOVES her ball.

We play a fun game. I throw her ball over the baseball fence and she runs around to get it -makes more exercise for her and a bit less walking for me :)

Action shot as she is running to bring the ball back.

My girls - Dutchess has some snow whiskers :)

A day at the "park"

I took my dogs for a walk yesterday and we had an awesome time. The weather here has been surprisingly nice the last few weeks and we enjoyed the weather as the sun was going down. Here is a few pictures from our outing:

Here is Koda bringing her favorite red ball for me to throw....no matter how many times I throw it,
she will bring it back to me and wait for more!

We found a hay bale and I was surprised that they could both climb it really easily!

~Koda's look of pure joy~

Dutchess enjoying the scenery.

Dutchess and Koda relaxing for a second - I love my girls!

There is nothing like a dog enjoying the simplest things in life to put a smile on your face
and make you thankful for all that you have.

My Tattoo

I do this post only to document one of my life changing events. Me and my sister swore we would not post any pictures on facebook etc. of our tattoos that we got together because it's tacky and in the words of someone wise that I used to know:

A tattoo should be a perk that people get for seeing you without clothes on. Don't brag about them. 2/3 of the world seems to have them.

I do agree with this however:

1. Barely anyone reads this blog.

2. I want to document and remember always how I feel about his tattoo.

Ok I know this is a pooor pic but my camera isn't working so I had to take in the mirror with my BB. You can't tell from this picture but this is on my ribcage on my left side. It says:

LOVE

Live with Passion.

Breathe. Smile.

Inspire. Be Free.

My sister and I came up with this quote together. Love is something that is extremely important to both of us and the way we want to live our lives- full of love. The tattoo in total is a reminder of how to live life. We got them together on a February evening in Brandon and I can tell you right now, I never wanted a tattoo but our love and the bond we have......well I get teary eyed thinking about it and anyone who knows us or one of us (as we both will blab on and on about this topic if you give us the chance) will just understand.

No matter where I am it will always be with me and I tend to look at it in the mirror EVERY SINGLE DAY. I think of her and the amazing relationship we have and how I need to strive for the best life possible. LOVE

Quotes for the moment

I found an interesting application on FB that analyzes your FB status. How many posts, average length, average posts a day etc. You can actually take a look at your statuses from previous months. I found this interesting because I went through some tumultuous times this time last year and I was really sad reading through some of them. I pulled out 4 quotes from that... and they still mean a lot to me.

~Life does not travel in straight lines. Life is meandering and messy, full of surprises, confusion and unexpected moments of struggle and beauty.~

I would rather be hated for who I am.... then loved for who I'm not...

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind

~The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.~

I have made some big mistakes in my life. I am far from perfect and don't expect others to be. I hold on to things WAY past their expiration date and even though I move on for the most part....I often rehash the past (typically happens after a few glasses of red ;)

I realized today how unhealthy I was at this time last year and how must healthier I am right at this moment. Am I always strong and smart? NO. I have struggled with so much in the past year, but it's all part of a bigger journey.

Try and try as I might...there are certain things that will linger and I won't be able to let go of. And that's ok. My biggest problem is I haven't received closure for a few things... but I don't think I ever will. And life goes on. It is what it is. And I'm going to focus on living my life the best way possible. I'm going to focus on living: One. Day. At. A. Time.

Cheers :)

Operation Beautiful

Watch this video:

Sister & her BF

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

The enemy ;)

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Game face

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Riders vs. Eskimos - Sept 26, 2009

Well me and the hubby made the trek to Edmonton once again this year to see the Riders play the Eskimos at Commonwealth stadium. Saturday started out as a semi-nice day so we made the trip to the game via the LRT forgetting to bring coats or cold-weather wear. BIG MISTAKE. It was very windy and raining at certain points of the game. I darn near froze my butt off and was thankful for the lounge and some alcoholic drinks. We enjoyed the game, I cheered like crazy and the outcome was a big W for the Riders - 23-20 much to my husbands dismay.

It amazes me how many people strike up a conversation with the Rider/Eskimo couple. I had one drunk say "man that's so cool" as we walked by and several people comment on how "that must be true love". I always thinks it's hilarious, and we have had our many fights over football but we have come to a place where we both try not to take it TOO seriously and have some fun with it.

All and all a great weekend and it was very nice to see Kevin's Sister and her boyfriend and do a bit of shopping in the wonderful city of Edmonton!

The Great Sandhills!

My parents came to visit this past weekend and we took a trip out to the Great Sandhills near Sceptre, SK. Here's the Sandhills Museum website: http://www.greatsandhillsmuseum.com/

My parents were really impressed with the museum and we really enjoyed the Sandhills. Here are a few pictures from the trip:

Here's a picture of Koda resting a bit between playing...she's 6 and 1/2 months here and still growing like a weed. We got her spayed last weekend so she technically should have been "recovering" still, but I couldn't keep her from running around and enjoying the hills with Dutchess.

It was awesome because it wasn't busy and we were able to let the girls off leash. They enjoyed chasing each other in the sand and got a goood workout. They slept well that night!

We had a great visit with my parents and I was sad to see them off this morning. I really wish I lived closer to all my family! Maybe someday :)

Living, Learning, Letting Go

I hold grudges. I have a tough time letting go of the past and moving towards the future. Anyone who knows me well knows that I am extremely passionate, will pick a fight just to argue a point that might not even be my own and I love drama. Well maybe not LOVE drama but I seem to attract it and even thrive on it. I'm human :)

I have had a major life change recently and I've realized I just want all of that to go away. Do I want to have passion and a zest for life - yes. Do I want to fight, create choas, have drama in my life. Not anymore. I found this quote and right now in my life more than ever it speaks volumes to me:

♥ Maybe the truth is we hide because we want to be found, we walk away to see who will follow, we let our hearts get broken to see who cares enough to fix them, this is when you start to realize who matters, who never did, and who always will ♥

I turn 27 tomorrow, and right now in my life I'm ready for change. In a sense I'm starting my life in a new light. I'm excited for the future, ready to really let go of some things and make my life the best one possible.

28 by 28

I'm quickly approaching my 27th birthday and I wanted to make a list of things I must accomplish in the next year. Here goes nothing:

28 by 28

1. Lose 15lbs.
2. Let go of the past.
3. Pay off 2 of my credit cards.
4. Save more.
5. Walk my dogs at least 3 times a week.
6. Cut back on my Internet time.
7. Read more, watch less.
8. Visit T in Winnipeg.
9. Find a new hobby.
10. Complete a triathlon.
11. Get gel nails. Never had them, don't really care to have them but would like to try it once.
12. Take a weekend to go to Saskatoon JUST to visit the boys and Ryder.
13. Finish writing my book. Maybe let someone read it :)
14. Host a party in my home.
15. Take a trip somewhere (not Sask/Mb/or AB)
16. Get my passport.
17. Get myself the perfect "little black dress".
18. Take an HR course.
19. Eat more vegetables.
20. Drink more water.
21. Buy a pair of designer shoes.
22. Buy a designer purse.
23. Spend a week camping or at a cottage.
24. Take a full week of holidays.
25. Take a walk in the rain.
26. Get a massage, pedicure, manicure all on the same day.
27. See a Rider game at Taylor field.
28. Talk less, listen more.

This is the truth!

Doing things to gain respect or approval from others is a useless pursuit. No amount of praise will satisfy when we are feeling empty inside.

Today, be honest. Are you doing things to please yourself - or to please others? Forget about what people think about you. Do it because you know it’s right for you…and for your soul.

Regrets...

Regrets, I’ve had a few …

How many of us are stuck in ruts because we cling to past slights, traumas, missed opportunities, and betrayals? The best way to let go and move forward is to acknowledge and accept those negative things you did (or had done to you) as steps on the path that brought you to where you need to be today.

Today, recall the pain of your past. Allow yourself to get to the point where you can accept that they were blessings; the perfect things that helped you build a new you. If you can release your grip on the anger, sadness, and regret, then it will be easier to spot the Light in the darkness.
Article from: http://blog.kabbalah.com/yehuda/2009/03/09/regrets-ive-had-a-few-2/en/

Since doing my "letting go" exercise last week I have felt amazingly light and positive. I am trying to live each day in the moment and enjoy life. It's working well!

Puppy update...

Koda bear - 13 weeks - 24 lbs

On Saturday I took Koda to the vet for her final round of shots. She is now officially immunized!

I was a bit shocked to know that she weighs 24 lbs. The little pup sure has an appetite. Here are her official weigh-ins since we got her:

March 27 (7 weeks old) - 11.4 lbs
April 18 (10 weeks old) - 16.8 lb
May 9 (13 weeks old) - 24.0 lbs

Steady weight gain is a good sign and it's amazing how different she looks from the day we brought her home.


She is doing very well and I am happy to report that I think she will be a swimmer. Swimming is something that Dutchess isn't super excited about. She doesn't mind getting wet but has a look of fear when swimming unless I am in the water with her. Koda swam on Sunday without a second thought. I'm thinking that because we introduced her early enough it was just a instinct reaction.... I hope that with her positive reaction to swimming she will influence Dutchess to enjoy swimming more. There is nothing better than watching a dog swim out to retrieve something from the water!


Koda has also developed quite a fearless nature, she plays hard and bites Dutchess often. Dutchess has been very gentle with her but you can tell that Koda can wear on her nerves. Dutchess has only "put the puppy in her place" once or twice. I have a feeling there won't be much of a contest for who is boss though - Dutchess is very submissive.


(pictured here sitting on the "dog couch" she doesn't look like a little demon does she? Don't let the puppy eyes fool you :)

(Dutchess in her favorite chair...this is the look of - jeez I'm tired - when will this puppy quit! Koda gets up every morning at about 5am. This is generally the look Dutchess gives me - she comes outside with us but looks like she wishes she could sleep more! )
I am very blessed to have both of these dogs in my life and I am happy to report that it hasn't been that much extra work. Also I can really see the amount that Dutchess's life has been enriched with a second dog!

(Even though Dutchess doesn't look very happy here!)

Puppy joy! This is the look on Koda's face every time she gets excited. Typically accompanied by her whole bum and tail wagging ferociously!

Life is so damn crazy...

I'm in an amazing mood right now and I wanted to write it down and capture it.
I have been really struggling with life lately, holding onto anger, resentment, heartache, jealousy.... and I decided today to let go of the past and my mistakes and focus on my bright future. It was an cleansing process, I wrote down a letter of exactly how I feel, why, all my emotions and then I burnt it and read and re-read this poem:

To let go doesn't mean to stop caring;
It means I can't do it for someone else.

To let go is not to cut myself off...
It's the realization that I can't control another...

To let go is not to enable,
but to allow learning from natural consequences.

To let go is to admit powerlessness,
which means the outcome is not in my hands.

To let go is not to try and change or blame another,
I can only change myself.

To let go is not to care for, but to care about.

To let go is not to fix, but to be supportive.

To let go is not to judge,
but to allow another to be a human being.

To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes,
but to allow others to affect their own outcomes.

To let go is not to be protective,
It is to permit another to face reality.

To let go is not to deny, but to accept.

To let go is not to nag, scold, or argue,
but to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.

To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires,
but to take each day as it comes and cherish the moment.

To let go is not to criticize and regulate anyone, but to try to become what I dream I can be.

To let go is not to regret the past,
but to grow and live for the future.

To let go is to fear less and love more.

I have a blessed and amazing life, but I wasn't living it. I was focusing on the past and not living in the moment. And I now feel so light and so lifted from that terrible place that I had put myself in.

The strange crazy thing about today is the only person who would truly understand all this and truly get what I'm going through - but is thousands of miles away and who I cannot reach, called me. My damn cell service often doesn't work at work so I missed the call but just hearing the voice of a loved one and someone who gets me more than anyone made it all OK and solidified how I was feeling. I think this was the universe telling me...."your on the right track".

Life is short and so precious - live it...
And the phrase that I will be telling myself over and over these next few days:

I will love myself. I will learn from the past and not make the same mistakes. I will move forward, respect the past but not dwell on it. I will focus on the future and being present in the moment. I will fear less and love more.

I love this article....

Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside them was superior to circumstance. - Bruce Barton

I can do this.

Some may think it's impossible, but I know I can do it.

I couldn't have done it in the past, but I can now. I didn't have the knowledge, the strength, the skills or the courage. Now I have more than enough.

Others wouldn't dare to try it, or wouldn't think of it, or wouldn't put the effort into making it happen if thay did, or they just couldn't figure out how. I can.

I am better than I was yesterday, much better than in the past. Others may not see me as different, but that's because they think of the old me, before I grew. Before I knew.

I won't ask why, or whether, or when. I will ask only how to do it.

I will welcome the cooperation and assistance of others, but I won't depend on them. I'm the only one I can depend on 100 percent of the time. If I put my will into it.

When I complete my task, my quest, I will share what I have learned with others. With those who want to learn the easy way what I have learned with my sweat and toil, with my thought and effort, with my courage and devotion from the core of my being.

I will become my goal. I will be my objectives. I will be there in thought long before the reality around me catches up.

When I reach my goal, I will not expect others to accept it readily. As it has taken me much time and effort to change into a new reality, it will take others a while to join me.

The new me that results from this quest will be much more than I am today. As my body aches with effort and creaks with age, my mind will be better than others around me if they allow their minds to atrophy with their bodies.

I will not consider myself superior to them. They had their chances, made their choices and must live with the consequences. I made mine and will glory in my achievement.

I will be different. Not just different from the me of my past, but different from those around me. They will know it, I will know it. That will not daunt my courage or effort.

They will get used to the new me. If not, I will associate with them no longer and begin relationships with those who appreciate me as the new me.

I will know that I am who I am because of what they did or neglected to do in the past. That will not entitle them to own me then any more than it does now. I will not refuse to acknowledge the good they did for me, nor will I hold their neglect and their misguided attempts to mold me to their will (with good intent) against them.

I will be the person I want to be, now, so I can grow into that person rather than twisting and bending to what others who want something different of me. They may not like my independence. That will be their problem, their cross to bear, because I have cast mine off. I will not adopt a cross they formed for themselves as if it were my own.

I can be more and better each day. I will learn from my mistakes, improve and gain wisdom along with my other achievements.

Stick around for the change. Watch it happen. Join me if you dare to live beyond who you are today. I will assist you if you wish my help. I will not cease my quest because you want to quit. If necessary, if you prove that you can't keep up, I will leave you behind.

I will grow each day.

I can do this.

Life...

Been thinking alot about Life and how I am not taking advantage of it. I feel as though I am just going though the motions and not really living life and I want to change that. Anyone have any advice on getting the most out of life? I would love to hear it. I found this article and wanted to save it in hopes it will help me on my journey to a healthy, happy, peaceful, fulfilling life.

********************************************
Everyone Gets the Same 24 Hours
Life — it’s what we do between the time we get here and when we go. We only get one, and despite what other folks might suppose, it’s ours to determine what to do with it. We don’t measure life in hours and minutes. We measure life in memories and moments.

What do you think of when you read this sentence?

It was the time of my life.

We don’t say that often enough.

The Top 10 Ways to Start Living Your Life

Life either happens to us, or we take hold of life and live it. Here are 10 Ways to get a life and start living it.

1. Give yourself permission to claim your life. That’s right — permission. You’re the only one who can decide you are in charge of your life. Even though it feels like you’re not supposed to do so, turn off the internal editors, the old tape recordings, the “shoulds, have tos, and musts”, and the rules that didn’t come from you.
________________________________________

2. Define what living means to you. It’s not as hard as it sounds. Just picture yourself at the end of your life looking back. What words would you want to describe how you lived your life and who you are as a person?
________________________________________

3. Stop living in the future. Every time you think “someday” or “when I have time I will,” stop. Ask yourself, “Why not now?” Think about this sentence, “I always wanted to, but never did.” Start doing the things you always planned to do. Choose your life every morning. Plan one thing you will do that day to feel alive.
________________________________________

4. Surround yourself with people who enjoy living. They’ve obviously discovered how to have a life and live it. Why not hang with the pros?
________________________________________

5. Lay down your pain and your anger. Carrying them around makes living harder and less fun. It doesn’t bring anything, and it steals a lot.
________________________________________

6. Let the losers win. Don’t argue about things that you don’t care about. Unless there’s some real threat, let the folks who have something to prove, prove what they need to. Why waste your living time trying to fix what’s wrong with them? ________________________________________

7. Create energy. Jump to forgiveness and love, then figure things out. Most conclusions we jump to are not only wrong, they’re negative. Negative conclusions lead us to prepare a defense. Being on the defensive isn’t living. It’s hiding from life. ________________________________________

8. Learn the physical symptoms of when your head and heart become disconnected. We know when we’re having a knee jerk reaction, when we’re feeling sorry for ourselves, and when we’re being blind to people’s feelings. We can remember how it felt physically while we were behaving badly. Get to know those symptoms, and you can stop the behavior. Living life will feel a whole lot safer because you won’t be in danger of shooting yourself in the foot. ________________________________________

9. Take small risks that push your boundaries in every way. The joy of life is packed in learning that matches our skill set. When we stretch just a bit intellectually, physically, emotionally, we grow. Living is growing. Even your cells know that. ________________________________________

10. Value and protect the people and the places you care about. A job isn’t a life. It’s just a part of one. Let the people you care about come first, and let everyone know that you do.

Re-read numbers 1 and 2. We come into life with whatever we’ve got. It’s ours to do with. It took me a while to figure that out — that my life isn’t just what happens to me, that I could take hold of it. I want to have the time of my life.

You’ve already got a life too. Are you living it?

Written by: “Liz” Strauss

Loves of my life....

Well the new addition to our home - Koda the 12lbs Husky/Shepherd cross is doing well.

The introduction to Dutchess went a little rocky to start, but they are getting along great now...

She is a bundle of fun, and plays hard and then crashes hard....

The first night was a looong one. She didn't like the kennel and being alone, but when Kevin laid on the floor with her and Dutchess she did sleep, and her second night she slept for a full 5 hours in Dutchess's bed with her.

I love Dutchess to pieces but I realize now what a bond raising a puppy creates. Laying with her while she sleeps.....I'm sure this is what it feels like to have a baby :)

And to end the post, I took this pic today and I think it's pretty darn cute!

Koda!!!!!!

I finally convinced Kevin that it was a good idea to get a 2nd dog. Lot's of people call me crazy - but animals make me very happy and I can't wait to get our newest addition - Koda!

We took her to the vet on Friday and she is a happy healthy 11.4lbs. We will be picking her up Friday afternoon and after that our lives will be forever changed. Puppies take a lot of work, and I'm prepared for that. Between her, my husband, Dutchess, my cats, and training for a triathlon I'm going to be BUSY!! But I'm looking forward to it. Cause it's my happy, crazy little life and I wouldn't want it any other way!

My sister is in AFRICA!

Wow....I never thought I would say those words....I have spent the last couple days worring and thinking about my little sis who is embarking on the adventure and journey of a lifetime. I was very happy this morning to see that she has posted on her blog and is doing well.

I share some words from the blog post of hers before she left:

Ubuntu is an African concept basically standing for kindness towards other human beings, for caring, sharing and being in harmony with all of creation. It promotes cooperation between individuals, cultures and nations, an ideal founded on the concept of unity, collective work and responsibility, and empowerment through discipline and common purpose.

What a delightful time for me to come across this powerful, powerful mindset.

For the individual, it means something like, "I am who I am because of who we all are."
I know, that I am who I am, because of who you all are. Thank you to everyone, from the bottom of my heart, for helping me to grow to be the person who I am right now, getting ready to leave Saturday morning on this adventure.

I am who I am because of my sister Tamara. I am sooo proud of you sister!!

Daily Kabbalah email....

I get a daily inspirational email from a Kabbalah site and I had to share this morning.....

There's this force inside of us that wants to destroy everything that is good in our lives.

It especially likes to seep into our relationships and wreak havoc there because it knows herein lies the greatest potential for our happiness.

Today, find one relationship where there is discord and do what you can to make peace.

I have tried my hardest in the last year to make amends and apologize to people from my past where our relationship has ended badly or there are hard feelings on either side. It is an amazing and cleansing feeling when you say I'm sorry. Even if the person still harbours bad feelings you are able to let go of the ones you have. It's not healthy to stay angry.

I also agree that everyone has a part of them that wants to destroy everything good in their life.

On another note, my baby sister is getting ready for the adventure of a lifetime, she leaves at the end of this week for Africa. I am extremely proud of the journey that she is going on and very happy for her, but sad at the same time due to the fact that there will only be small amounts of contact...... I'm used to talking via email everyday and on the phone normally once a week. My heart and spirit will be with her though...........even with her thousands of miles away all I have to do is look at the tattoo on my ribcage and feel the LOVE.

The Darkest Evening of the Year.

I just finished reading the book "The Darkest Evening of the Year" by Dean Koontz.
It was a pretty good read and there were a couple parts that really help define in words some of my feelings:

Golden Retrievers are not bred to be guard dogs, and considering the size of their hearts and their irrepressible joy in life, they are less likely to bite than to bark, less likely to bark than to lick a hand in greeting. In spite of their size, they think they are lap dogs, and in spite of being dogs, they think they are also human, and nearly every human they meet is judged to have the potential to be a boon companion who might, at any moment, cry "Let's go!" and lead them on a great adventure.

(this describes my Lab exactly).

Amy believe that dogs had a spiritual purpose. The opportunity to love a dog and to treat it with kindness was an opportunity for a lost and selfish human heart to be redeemed. They are powerless and innocent, and it is how we treat the humblest among us that surely determines the fate of our souls.

The geometry of judgement is a circle. Hate is a snake that turns to consume itself from the tail, a circle that diminishes to a point, then to nothing. Pride is such a snake, and envy, and greed. Love, however, is a hoop, a wheel, that rolls on forever. We are rescued by those whom we have rescued. The saved become the saviors of their saviors.

Milk

Academy award winner Sean Penn stars in the movie Milk.

I would rate the movie a 6 or 7 out of 10. If a person can get over the amount of gay kissing (which happens a tad bit more than needed I think)...it's a touching movie. I had an extremely hard time watching Sean Penn and James Franco kiss, they just seemed tooooo into it.

It really got me thinking though about how much inequality there was and still is for people that are "different". It showed the struggle that most gay people go through and the fighting it took to get them equal rights.

I HAD a limited opinion about being gay that I'm not proud of. I am ashamed to say that I once argued that gay people should not be able to marry because it destroys the sanctity of what marriage is. My view has greatly changed since that day. What person would choose a life of ridicule and harassment???? I believe every person has the right to be happy and live freely and if that means two men being married - why not?

I wouldn't say the movie Milk was GREAT, it will definately not be most people's cup of tea....but Sean Penn played a convincing role. Was it good enough to have won best Actor? I haven't seen all of the other roles that were nominated so I don't feel I can fairly say yes, but I will say.... like EVERY role Sean Penn takes on - he committed 100% of himself and then some!

Crazy...

A question that sometimes drives me hazy: am I or are the others crazy?” Albert Einstein

This week was an unusual one, and it ended with someone calling me crazy and about the 4th person that week to look at me with part amusement and part pity maybe....The topic was that fact that I'm looking for a second dog. You are either a dog person or your not, and I understand that many people don't understand my love for animals and my dog Dutchess. But to be quite honest - I like dogs alot more than I like people for the most part. They are simple, giving and caring and just not complicated. What you see is what you get. I have spent 9 weeks of the last 3 and 1/2 months alone due to the fact my husband was working up north. My dog Dutchess is always excited to see me and always up for a jog or a game of catch. I can rely on her to be there for me no matter what. And honestly I don't care if people don't get it. The people that matter to me and that have met Dutchess get it.

So the hunt for dog #2 begins. And this is as much for Dutchess as it is for me. She home during the day and I would love for her to have a companion that likes her (the cats - not so much)... I really want a German Shepherd and I'm not sure if it will happen as the breeder we know doesn't think the litter they were expecting is going to happen, we are trying to find another breeder but I would be happy with another lab....they are a loving, affectionate, playful breed.

The reason for the love of German Shepherds? Well they are beautiful, powerful, smart dogs that are extremely loyal. One of my favorite movies - I am Legend has a wonderful Shepherd Sam who demonstrates how smart and loyal these dogs are.

Honestly each to their own. If I want to have dogs - I'm going to and I don't really see why people feel the need to judge. It's my life!!

Bill Cosby....

I came across this quote a while ago and it is SOOO true:

I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.
Bill Cosby

Here is another Cosby quote that I find interesting:

The heart of marriage is memories; and if the two of you happen to have the same ones and can savor your reruns, then your marriage is a gift from the gods.

I'm looking forward to this weekend, I have to come into town on Saturday to take my pooch to the vet, and I think we will enjoy the scenic Chinook pathway as well. I'm glad the weather is finally going to be NICE!!

Had to share this....

One of the mysterious processes of spirituality is sometimes things get so dark we're required to become broken in order that we can completely let go of our old belief systems. Old vessels need to be traded in for new ones.

This process is called 'exile' and it's the period before a huge revelation of Light.

Today, don't fight what you are going through. Now is the time all your study and efforts are being put to the test.

Early Riser...

I have struggled the last few years with getting up early. I used to be an early riser but love my sleep and got trapped in the cycle of sleeping too much. I read an article yesterday and realized that I am missing out on some things that when I get home I am just to tired to do, so I figured, lets wake up at least 1/2 hour earlier and see what happens...I woke up at 5:30am, and have already exercised and am going to be ready for my day at 7am....when usually I'm rushing around still at 7:30am when I should be leaving for work. This is drastically going to change my productivity because I will be at work early, get stuff done in the am I was just simply missing out on and feel energized for the day....

Here's the article: Early Riser...

Dreams....

I dream....A LOT.

Sometimes I have good dreams...really good dreams. Sometimes I have nitemares. Lately its been more bad then good. Last night I had a unbelievable REAL feeling dream that when I woke up I really felt like it had happened. I HATE THAT cause I end up thinking about it for the rest of the day. I've learnt though that it's probably best not to tell the person you dreamt about, about the dream.

He's just not that into you....

I have been reading the book turned major motion picture: "he's just not that into you".
All I have to say is GENIUS. The concept is dead on and I really wish I would have come across this book about 9 years ago when I was in college. May have saved me much heartache!

The concept is simple:
"if a (sane) guy really likes you, there ain't nothing that's going to get in his wayk. And if he's not sane , why would you want him?"
"All the years I'd been complaining about men and there mixed messages; now I saw they weren't mixed messages at all. I was the one that was mixed up. Because the fact was, these men had simply not been that into me".

The book goes on and breaks it down by the type of guy....examples:
He's Just Not that into you if he's not calling you.
He's Just Not that into you if he's having sex with someone else.
He's Just not that into you if he's Married (and Other Insane variations of being unavailable).
He's Just not that into you if he's a selfish jerk, a bully, or a really big freak

I'm only part way through the book but it just made things make sense when looking back on many of my pre-marriage relationships...and all I have to say is THANK GOD I AM NOT DATING! I plan to keep it that way!

Quote

The only thing you own is your story...I'm watching the movie Australia and this quote stuck a cord with me. Material possessions come and go. All you truly have is yourself and your life experiences!

I was in a sad mood today and looking through my previous posts to find some inspiration...I came across this one and it really spoke to me today. These life lessons are so true and I often stuggle in many of these areas. I love this list.

Here are some thing that I believe/have learned...let's call them My life lessons:
-I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.
-I've learned that no matter how much I care some people just don't care back.
-I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.
-I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.
-I've learned that it's not what you have in your life, but whom you have in your life that counts.
-I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
-I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
-I've learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you.
-I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.
-I've learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.
-I've learned that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
-I've learned that no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
-I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.
-I've learned that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And, just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.
-I’ve learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief.
-I’ve learned that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt, and you will hurt in the process.
-I've learned that heroes are people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
-I’ve learned that you can keep going long after you can’t.

Confidence vs. Ego

If you let your head get too big it'll break your neck.- Elvis Presley

Having confidence vs. having an ego
Having confidence in your abilities is an important part of life. But how do you know when you're crossing the line into building an ego? Someone who is always bragging about himself not only sours the relationships with those around him, but also develops his actions into a pattern that is hard to reverse. Do you alienate people around you with your ego? Have you crossed the line of confidence to egotistical? Instead of bragging about your accomplishments, discuss how you got there or the people that helped you along the way. This way you can share your success in an endearing way without making it all about you. Take the focus off of yourself for a moment and think about how your success can be a tool to help others achieve the same.

I love the quote, and know many people that fit into this "ego" category. I just feel sad for these people, can you ever truly feel emotions if your only looking out and thinking about yourself??

Things that make me smile....

I have been a bit "down" lately, maybe it's the weather, or the fact my husband is away working up north or just the "winter time blues". I thought I would put together a miscellaneous list of things that and make me smile....

1-Peanut M&M's.
2-Rain
3-The look a dog gives you when they are not sure what your asking, the head tilt makes me smile every time.
4-The touch of a loved one on the small of your back. Nothing makes me melt more.
5- My tattoo, every time I see it I think of my sis and the love we have for one another.
6-The feeling you get after a hard workout.
7-Red wine, specifically Naked Grape because that is what we served at the wedding and it always makes me think of that day.
8-Gerber Daisy's in all sorts of colours...who needs roses??
9-Being warm, I'm always freezing, I especially love the feeling of getting home and putting on sweats and a huge comfy sweater - nothing cozier.
10-Showers with the lights off........ This might not make sense but it's the most amazing thing ever.
11 - Rest stops.
12 - late night dance parties.
13 - Hot chocolate on a cold day.
14 - Fortune cookies
15 - Lengthy conversations over wine about life, love and everything in between.

Lightness and Darkness

Life appears complicated, but it's not. We complicate our own lives. We create chaos out of order. We mess things up, continually making matters worse because we just don't understand what life is about or how it works.

The first thing we need to understand is that life is as simple as darkness and Light. I am not speaking metaphorically when I say Light. Only two things exist in this world: darkness and Light. Life appears complicated because darkness has a nearly endless variety of shades, and Light comes in countless colors.

Nonetheless, at the heart of all that exists, you will either find darkness or Light.Today, put your tasks and thoughts into two columns: darkness and light. At the end of the day, see what you can do to eliminate those things that fall into the 'darkness' category. And do less 'darkness' tomorrow.

I really like this concept. I think about it in the way of Positive and Negative. There are tons of Negative or "darkness" that I allow in my life when I really don't need to. I need to focus on the positive "light" and tread less in the negative things that bring a person down.

10 Rules for being Human...

1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it's yours to keep for the entire period.

2. You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, "life."

3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The "failed" experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately "work."

4. Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.

5. Learning lessons does not end. There's no part of life that doesn't contain its lessons. If you're alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.

6. "There" is no better a place than "here." When your "there" has become a "here", you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here."

7. Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.

8. What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.

9. Your answers lie within you. The answers to life's questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.

10. You will forget all this.

What an interesting day...

Thought for the day:
When we forgive, we can look at the person who hurt us from a whole new angle. Maybe this person is here to show us we are not open as we thought, maybe they are here to push us to go to a new level, maybe they are removing judgment from our life.

Whatever the reason, forgiveness brings empathy, it brings understanding, and it brings us out of the inner-dialogue of blame and regret.

Today, put the scales of justice away and say "shush!" to the vengeful voice in your mind. Just forgive. Because from a kabbalistic point of view, you can never know how the Light feels unless you know forgiveness.

Nightmare....

I had the most awful dream last night...I woke up feeling so shaken, like every detail from my dream had been true. The sad thing is, what I dreamt about is a truth that I failed to see a couple months ago...I wish I would have had this dream then - it would have saved me some pain - at the same time I believe everything happens for a reason and there is a lesson to be learned from everything.

Dreams are an interesting thing aren't they?? My sister wrote about this topic not too long ago and I wanted to share her words:

Tap Into Your Dreams
There are so many uncertainties in life.

One of the beautiful things about Kabbalah is it teaches us how to tap into another world where there is certainty, where there is an answer to every question. It's called asking for a sign.
The best technique I've found for getting signs is asking for an answer to a specific question before you go to sleep (ideally after scanning a portion of Zohar .)

Not, 'show me who my soul mate is' but rather, 'is so-and-so my soul mate?'

You might see the answer in a dream, or wake up with one, or get an obvious answer during the day. However it comes to you, you can have total certainty about the situation because you downloaded the information from the 99% while you slept.

Practice tonight before bed.

Be clear about our question and trust your soul to guide you to the truth.

I have tried this a couple times, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I believe it's all about timing and maybe some of the questions you are asking aren't meant to be seen now but if you keep asking, when the time is right the answer will come to you.

I also wanted to share an article about change.....right now change is the focus on many people's mind. The new year has many people thinking about what they want to achieve. I know right now there are many "resolutioners" at the gym working hard on changing their bodies...I thought this article was quite true and maybe why so many people struggle with change?

Do you want to change? Really?

Ok. Here's a top secret Kabbalah secret. Do this and you will change whatever it is that needs improving. No more running to ask people what to do or reading the quick fix books or however else you're spinning your wheels while not changing. Here it is, one word that will change your take on change: disgust.

When you can get to the level where you are disgusted with the behavior, when you see how filthy it is making you and your soul, you'll no longer have to try to change. You just will.

Pick one thing you want to change. Mull it over. Take in the stench. And when you're disgusted, you know you're ready to change.

This is a very different way to look at change, and I can see places where this wouldn't work. But it's an interesting concept that could help someone to get the motivation to finally change.


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On a happy note my hubby is home today, after spending 3 weeks WAY up north. People take many things for granted..... the little kiss goodnight before going to bed, the way sleeping feels with another person in bed, someone there to help feed the dog for a change, coming home to a house that isn't empty, the wet towel on the bathroom floor, talking about nothing at all.......

All the things you don't really think about but that bring a smile or in some cases a grimace to your face. And it makes you realize that if tomorrow came and that person was no longer, life just wouldn't mean the same thing anymore.

I take so many things for granted and always push and strive for more, more, more.....but I'm starting to accept the beautiful things I have in my life. To find comfort in them and realize that any dissatisfaction I feel is unwarranted and that I need to refocus on the wonderful things I already have.....contentment is a hard thing for most people. "The grass is always greener" type mentality seems to plague our society. That is why when you stop looking for satisfaction in material things and start finding it within yourself....life seems to take on a new brighter meaning.

This picture to me is cozy contentment :)

When the rest of the world runs screaming from a painful occurrence, the kabbalist goes towards it with a knowing smile, there is Light in this darkness ... .Rav Ashlag, founder of The Kabbalah
Centre in 1922, taught this: when going through pain, be happy about the process. It means your capacity for everything is being expanded. But, you must be happy about the process in order to let in the Light your pain revealed. Otherwise, it's just never-ending. And that's when pain turns into suffering.

Today, when faced with uncomfortable thoughts, emotions or sensations, pay attention to any avoidance behaviors and allow yourself to resist. Know that it's happening to help you expand. Just keep chewing until the bitter becomes sweet.

Triathlon

I started Day 1 today......which really means nothing because the program I have really eases you into it. I'm actually going to be doing just bike/run for the first month and then add swimming in.....I really hope we move to Swift before that - but it's unlikely to happen. Either way I'm committed to this journey, and I hope at the end I will be in the best mental and physical shape of my life. I have dreams of running an Ironman someday....

What do you believe in???

This is straight from the book I'm reading:

Taking refuge is the first step on the Buddhist path to inner freedom, but it is not something new. We have been taking refuge all our lives, though mainly in external things, hoping to find security and happiness. Some of us take refuge in money, some in drugs. Some take refuge in food, in mountain-climbing or in sunny beaches. Most of us seek security and satisfaction in a relationship with a man or a woman. Throughout our lives we have drifted from one situation to the next, always in the expectation of final satisfaction. Our successive involvements may sometimes offer temporary relief but, in sober truth, seeking refuge in physical possessions and transient pleasures merely deeps our confusion rather than ending it.

WOW......does this paragraph ring true with you?? For me it does. Everyone I know has struggled with some sort of addiction or expectation of satisfaction. But it truly can't come from external things. Satisfaction must come from within a person's being.

Treading the Buddhist path should lead to a transformation in the self: a continuous refining of both thought and action, of the way we relate to others and to the world we live in and finally of our self-understanding.

I'm not the type of person to jump headfirst into anything or believe something to be the be all end all. But I am finding there are many concepts and ideals within Buddhism that I really agree with.

Longing for a simpler being...

I have been reading a book recently on Buddhism and so far there are many thoughts, beliefs and feelings that I agree with.

One of the biggest things that I want to work towards is living a simpler life. A life that is not as distracted by material possessions and the outward need of approval etc. I want to feel calm, simple and at ease with myself.

Buddhism talks about the Three Poisons: Desire or Greed, Hatred/Anger, and Ignorance

I wanted to share this article I found as I think all of us could do some good by ridding Greed, Anger and Ignorance.


How to turn "Greed, Anger, Ignorance" into "Precepts, Deep Concentration, Wisdom"

Buddhism teaches Kruna (compassion), but it also focuses on prajna (wisdom), which is inherent in everybody and it can only be manifested by eliminating ignorance by self-cultivation. By using prajna, one is able to turn "greed, anger, and ignorance" into "precepts, meditation, and wisdom".

"Greed, Anger, Ignorance" together are known as the Three Poisons . These are sources of all illusions and desires. These three poisons continuously pollute people's lives, and are obstacles of Enlightenment.

GREED
Greed is a DESIRE or lust; one tries to get hold of something and to get more and more of it. Greed is one of the causes of thefts, some people steal because they're greedy, and they are not satisfied with what they already have. There was a story about a very greedy man who loves candies. One day, his wife bought a jar and organized all his candies in the jar for him. However, when he put his hand in the jar to get candies, he could not pull his hand out again! No matter how hard he pulls, his hand is still stuck in the jar. The wife was so worried that she called the firemen to help break the jar open to free his hand. When the jar was broken, they found that the reason why his hand was stuck in the jar was because he grabbed a hand-full of candies and refused to let go, but the jar opening was too small for him to pull the candies out all at once. If he had taken one candy at a time, the firemen wouldn't have to break the jar open to free his hand. Desire, as Tanha, is considered as being one of the Three Daughters of Mara as well.

ANGER
Anger arises when there is rejection on one's wishes; one becomes displeased. It comes in many forms: HATRED, jealousy, abuse, and cruelty. Anger is basically caused by a false belief that the illusory self has loss control over something that is important. When I was in high school, I had a friend who doesn't know how to control his anger. Once he was angry because his teacher would not accept his homework that was handed in late. He was so angry that he started hitting everything in site (i.e., lockers, walls). And as he was walking and wasn't looking where he was going, he hit his hand right into the glass of the fire extinguisher unit and his hand started to bleed right away from the broken glass. From his behavior, we could learn that when we are angry, we are very vulnerable to dangers because we do not have a clear mind and we become very aggressive. However, in the end, we are the one who gets hurt, mentally or physically. The Meditation on the Three Contemplations Sutra states:
If anger rises and you desire
to harm another being
already you have harmed
yourself far more than him.

And that is why you must
often think on compassion;
for compassion keeps from rising
all thought of anger, evil, and pain.

The Buddha said that anger was one of the Five Hindrances , which are state of mind that make us difficult to learn dharma. Therefore, anger causes the loss of all goodness.

IGNORANCE
Ignorance or delusion is a wrong perception of the world. There is a parable from the Scripture of One Hundred Parables. The story is a about a woman who only has one son, but she wanted to have more sons. The woman's friend told her that she has a way to help the woman to pray for more sons but she needs to make a sacrifice. The woman was told that she needs to kill her only son as a sacrifice to get more sons. When the foolish woman was about to kill her only son, a wise man approached her and stopped her and told her how foolish she is giving what she has now to hope for something that might not happen. Some ignorant people do not realize that they're doing something harmful to others and to themselves, and furthermore hope to born to the heaven. These three poisons circle around our world, poisoning our souls, blinding us from seeing the true path to enlightenment. They are poisons that prevent us from leaving the cycle of birth and death. All the worries we get sprung from the three poisons. However, the three poisons can be arrested through "Precepts, Meditation, and Wisdom".

"Precepts, Deep Concentration, Wisdom" are known as the "Three Pillars". They are the guidelines to our lives. When we practice the "three pillars", we'll be walking further away from the "three poisons".

Precept is the training in moral discipline; it prevents wrongdoing. There is the Five Precepts which is no killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no lying, and no intoxication (see Sila , moral conduct in Buddhism).

Deep Concentration is achieved through meditation (see Shikantaza as well as Samadhi ). It is the training of the mind. It eliminates the scattering characteristic of ordinary mind and allows it to look directly at itself.

Wisdom is the training in clear perception. A verse from the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch, Hui-neng states:

If your mind is in balance,
What need is there to work at morality?
If your behavior is correct,
What use is meditation to you?
If you understand mercy,
Then you still naturally care for your parents.
If you understand faithful conduct,
Then all society will be in order.

Respect of others and ourselves is the key to balancing the mind. If you know how to respect ourselves, we would not be as anxious, therefore our mind would be balanced and practicing morality would be a natural process. We need to free ourselves from thinking that practicing morally is a stiff confinement. Morality is actually the key to our liberation. Deep concentration is from practicing meditation, however, meditation cannot be practiced well without morality. Once we have a balanced mind, and understand morality, our lives would be in accord with the deepest level of meditation. From deep concentration, we get wisdom. By meditation and wisdom, one cultivates one's mind, clearing the clouds of ignorance that is blocking the road to enlightenment. Therefore, it is very important for us to practice the "three pillars" all the time in order to prevent ourselves from being "poisoned" by "Greed, Anger, and Ignorance".

Thought for the day...are you or have you recently felt greed, anger, ignorance/avoidance about something? Let it go.....it's poisoning your well being!

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. Barack Obama

I'm have hope and dreams for the US and the world.....Barack has a lot of work ahead of him though and I truly believe it's probably only going to get worse before it gets better. What an inspiring man though!

Too often we try to find change or ourselves in others. Everything we need and are looking for is within ourselves. Only then can others compliment our lives, enrich and fulfill us!

Someone once told me...I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody... I'm a people pleaser and I struggle with failing because I'm always trying to please and do for others. This year will be the year of ME, and not caring so much about hurting or pleasing others. That said I have the biggest heart and I know that part of me will always have the struggle to care. I will find that balance and hopefully enjoy life and others MORE because of it!

People Come into Your Life...

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become.

You never know who these people may be - a roommate, a neighbor, a professor, a friend, a lover, or even a complete stranger - but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way.

Sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.

Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved straight flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become. Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are sometimes the most important ones.

If someone loves you, give love back to them in whatever way you can, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.

If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart.

Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and listen to what they have to say.

Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you.

You can make anything you wish of your life. Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets.

And if you love someone tell them, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store.

Learn a lesson in life each day that you live!

Today is the tomorrow you were worried about yesterday.Think About it? Was it worth it?

Looking forward to the weekend...

The weekend is here and I have big plans to go visit friends in Moose Jaw. I am very excited!

Here is my thought for today...

“Instant Karma's gonna get you
Gonna knock you right on the head
You better get yourself together
Pretty soon you're gonna be dead
What in the world you thinking of
Laughing in the face of love
What on earth you tryin' to do,
it's up to you, yeah you…”
"Instant Karma" by John Lennon

I am really not a religious person nor a superstitious person but I do believe in karma.

You can’t hurt other people intentionally and expect to be showered with rewards and good lucks. That’s not how karma works. Don’t expect to get away with murder. You can’t. You can run but someone or something will eventually catch up with you. Don’t expect yourself to be happy and your life smooth-sailing when you’ve just cheated somebody and cruelly stepped on his/her face.

Pull somebody down and somebody will not only pull you down but throw you off a ravine. Scheme to make someone fail and others will scheme for you to not only fail but lose your sanity. Steal something and other people will steal not only your property but your soul. Treacherously break somebody’s heart into two and somebody will break your heart into a million pieces.

What you sow, you reap.
What goes around, comes around.
Every action has a consequence.
Don’t think your bad deeds and past sins won’t haunt you and torment you.

It will.

Right, John?

"Yeah, yeah, yeah!"