There is a certain kind of joy that comes along with being independent. I don't mean independently wealthy (but really who wouldn't be joyful with that), or not responsible for (or to) others - but I mean being confidant in your own capabilities, and being able to judge and make intelligent and proactive decisions.
It seems like a strange thing to be joyful about, independence, but there it is.
Since my start in Arbonne I think I have learned the most about independence because of my business, and not through life lessons. Right here I am going to tell you the most educational thing about Network Marketing: You get out EXACTLY what you put in!
Originally I chose Arbonne because I liked the products and I wanted to get them at a great discount. Nothing wrong there right? But the crucial thing that I missed was that I had stumbled into a BUSINESS! I thought it was fun, I had parties, and I earned some money, but I didn't think of it like a business. I guess it was kind of like holding handfuls of gold coins and thinking of them like tokens for skee ball!
Over the last year here in Hawaii I came to realize what I was holding. The team I am a part of (since my joining) has promoted three times! From District to Area, and now to Region - for those of you not familiar with network marketing - that's the difference between a part time fun job and career pay with a company car! That is the possibility and power of network marketing, but you need to look at it like the powder keg for change that it can be.
When you are independent you gain an objectivity about your life. You can step out from under the protection of familiar places and people, and see your life for what it really is...not necessarily what you think it is. You can see where you are dependent on other people (emotionally, physically, or financially), thinking you are being pushed about by circumstances beyond your control, or allowing yourself to be pushed or led by others. You can also see your own failings a lot more realistically without the added melodrama of self critique and negative reinforcement of a life not living up to our expectations.
When I stepped out from under my umbrella I realized that my life wasn't being helped by me parking it under a deluge of universal run off. I realized that I had put myself in a mindset of expecting the worst instead of the best. At the same time I was being irresponsible with everything that I did have because I was always so focused on what I DIDN'T have. The combination of mindset and action yielded a life I didn't recognize.
Now I'm not saying that the move to Hawaii solved all of my problems - quite the contrary actually. When we moved I saw really how much of a disservice I was doing to myself and my family with my thoughts, actions and reactions! But what I did realize, was the potential I had been shuffling around in the back of my mind. These past months have been a gradual opening of my eyes to the life I could have if I decide to go out and make it happen!
The empowerment that has come from this little baby streak of independence I am cultivating has been incredible. Now, in many ways I still have no idea what I want my life to look like, and even less of an idea of how to bridge the gap between my life presently, and the life I want to have. But I now understand that I can't stand still and wait for it to show up! The only way to get it...is to MAKE it!
If I put in the effort to shape my own life into what I want it to be, the odds are greatly in my favor of having a life I want.
...Nature girl
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Nature girl vs. the speed of life
Anyone ever notice that time is not perceived at a constant rate? If you haven't noticed it, think about a long workday as opposed to a day with friends. How much faster does your day out go than your workday?
It seems right now that life in general is tripping over itself! Days fly by and nights seem too short to be real, but at the same time I feel such a wealth of time. I have been doing all sorts of training with Arbonne, and getting back to reading things that not only feed my fun requirement, but also nourish my heart and mind.
I checked "The Secret", and "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff" off my list of things I should probably read, add to that "Leader With No Title", and I'm putting little dents into "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" - it's a tougher read. Having a library so close has put me back into the mindset of the summer reading programs that I did as a kid. I still can't believe that I would read SO many books in such a short time!
There is a certain joy, almost an epiphany, that books can give you. It's like talking out your problems and hang ups with someone you are never going to meet, and has no reason (or ability) to criticize or judge! They offer only solutions, or escape, and fulfill that need to become bigger than who you currently are.
The creeping, speeding, and yet strangly open perception of time I am experiencing has been really enlightening as to how much time I have...and waste. I sit at work and space out, or stalk Facebook, or write, but I'm easily distracted by anything and everything else. Over the last few weeks I have really tried to limit my to do list so that I can focus on what is important - and it's working! Even though I feel the crush of speeding time, I am able to focus and achieve tasks much more efficiently, and I feel like I'm actually DOING more without the harried feeling. Major bonus.
Now if only I could make the nights a little longer, and be a little more rested, I would be unstoppable! Just wait, I'll figure out a way to make it happen.
...Nature girl
It seems right now that life in general is tripping over itself! Days fly by and nights seem too short to be real, but at the same time I feel such a wealth of time. I have been doing all sorts of training with Arbonne, and getting back to reading things that not only feed my fun requirement, but also nourish my heart and mind.
I checked "The Secret", and "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff" off my list of things I should probably read, add to that "Leader With No Title", and I'm putting little dents into "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" - it's a tougher read. Having a library so close has put me back into the mindset of the summer reading programs that I did as a kid. I still can't believe that I would read SO many books in such a short time!
There is a certain joy, almost an epiphany, that books can give you. It's like talking out your problems and hang ups with someone you are never going to meet, and has no reason (or ability) to criticize or judge! They offer only solutions, or escape, and fulfill that need to become bigger than who you currently are.
The creeping, speeding, and yet strangly open perception of time I am experiencing has been really enlightening as to how much time I have...and waste. I sit at work and space out, or stalk Facebook, or write, but I'm easily distracted by anything and everything else. Over the last few weeks I have really tried to limit my to do list so that I can focus on what is important - and it's working! Even though I feel the crush of speeding time, I am able to focus and achieve tasks much more efficiently, and I feel like I'm actually DOING more without the harried feeling. Major bonus.
Now if only I could make the nights a little longer, and be a little more rested, I would be unstoppable! Just wait, I'll figure out a way to make it happen.
...Nature girl
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Arbonne 5 Day Challenge - Day 5.2
The last wash of my five day challenge was a great accomplishment. Not only did I complete the trial, but I think I have a new habit! I am going to continue for another week - mostly because I am so pleased with the results, but also because I feel like it starts my day off on a healthy footing.
This morning's photo doesn't look a lot different from yesterday's, but I can happily say that the breakouts I was having on the left side of my face are almost completely gone, reduced all the way down to just tiny irregularities of the skin.
The before and after pictures are below, and tonight is after I took off my makeup, busy day and all! Overall, I could not be happier with the trial. Simple, doesn't take half as long as I thought it would, and really improved the condition, moisture content, and feel of my skin! My skin is also much more cooperative with make up, and much easier to clean off without suffering any ill affects (break outs, redness or irritation)!
I would imagine that the improvement would only increase with time, so let's see where I end up! Next up is the Revelage line to see if it affects the discolored spots!
...Nature girl
This morning's photo doesn't look a lot different from yesterday's, but I can happily say that the breakouts I was having on the left side of my face are almost completely gone, reduced all the way down to just tiny irregularities of the skin.
The before and after pictures are below, and tonight is after I took off my makeup, busy day and all! Overall, I could not be happier with the trial. Simple, doesn't take half as long as I thought it would, and really improved the condition, moisture content, and feel of my skin! My skin is also much more cooperative with make up, and much easier to clean off without suffering any ill affects (break outs, redness or irritation)!
I would imagine that the improvement would only increase with time, so let's see where I end up! Next up is the Revelage line to see if it affects the discolored spots!
...Nature girl
Arbonne 5 Day Challenge - Day 5.1
So sometimes you just don't wake up in the morning. Two different alarms next to my bed and do you think either one woke me up? Not a chance. The end result was that I missed the am wash but squeezed in a quick photo at about noon after my day slowed down just a smidge.
I didn't even get a chance to look at my skin until the night wash, and though I looked like I had been hit by a train my skin didn't really show it! Usually when I get really exhausted it shows under my eyes, my skin changes color, and I look like "death warmed over" as the family saying goes. Last night the bags under my eyes were no worse than they ever are, my skin still had the "glow" to it, and though I was still obviously tired - I didn't look unhealthy. All big bonuses in my book!
...Nature girl
I didn't even get a chance to look at my skin until the night wash, and though I looked like I had been hit by a train my skin didn't really show it! Usually when I get really exhausted it shows under my eyes, my skin changes color, and I look like "death warmed over" as the family saying goes. Last night the bags under my eyes were no worse than they ever are, my skin still had the "glow" to it, and though I was still obviously tired - I didn't look unhealthy. All big bonuses in my book!
...Nature girl
Monday, July 21, 2014
Arbonne 5 Day Challenge - Day 4
Big thing I noticed today, I now need less product! Especially the serum and day cream. My skin is definitely more evenly moisturized and it doesn't drink up every step as quickly as at the beginning of this experiment. Today there are 2 pictures of the beginning of the day. One in the same place as always, and the second two steps back so I don't have as much glare on my forehead:
The bumps on the left side of my face are almost completely gone and the redness is not only the same as on the other side, but it is diminishing as well. I feel like the dark spots are not as pronounced, but still obviously there, and there has been no change to the lighter areas on my forehead.
After the morning wash I thought I would try to use my version of makeup to see if there would be any difference to how makeup felt. Normally makeup makes my skin feel a little heavy and I don't like that my skin just sucks up everything and then the makeup settles into all my little lines. Not very pretty.
Today though, after the am wash, I put on my primer, tinted moisturizer, mattifying powder and eye shadow. I kid you not, it felt like NOTHING was there. It was so comfortable that I pretty much forgot about it until the night wash.
When I did the night wash, I didn't use any makeup remover! All I needed was a little extra of the cleanser. The cleanser effectively took off all the eye makeup with only a little scrubbing with a wash cloth and I didn't get any stinging eyes. My skin is more and more resilient and I love it!
...Nature girl
The bumps on the left side of my face are almost completely gone and the redness is not only the same as on the other side, but it is diminishing as well. I feel like the dark spots are not as pronounced, but still obviously there, and there has been no change to the lighter areas on my forehead.
After the morning wash I thought I would try to use my version of makeup to see if there would be any difference to how makeup felt. Normally makeup makes my skin feel a little heavy and I don't like that my skin just sucks up everything and then the makeup settles into all my little lines. Not very pretty.
Today though, after the am wash, I put on my primer, tinted moisturizer, mattifying powder and eye shadow. I kid you not, it felt like NOTHING was there. It was so comfortable that I pretty much forgot about it until the night wash.
When I did the night wash, I didn't use any makeup remover! All I needed was a little extra of the cleanser. The cleanser effectively took off all the eye makeup with only a little scrubbing with a wash cloth and I didn't get any stinging eyes. My skin is more and more resilient and I love it!
...Nature girl
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Arbonne 5 Day RE9 Challenge - Day 3
Well day 3 has arrived and I stand on the metaphorical tipping point of this trial. So far so good of doing the system two times a day, I find it very motivating when I know I have to post the days results at night. Here is the morning shot of Day 3.
The little bumps on my left cheek are definitely diminishing...not gone, but getting smaller, YAY! I feel like the makeup lights over my sink are putting so much glare on my forehead and nose that you can't really see the discoloration under and over my eyes, to note well if they have changed...I feel like they are evening out...just a little bit.
The next series of pictures are "amount" pictures, just to show how little of this product is ACTUALLY needed.
This is the cleanser. If you are looking for lots of bubbles, you won't find it here! Sulfates are what cause body washes and skin cleanser to bubble so beautifully but they are harsh and can leave the skin feeling dry and tight. You only need a medium pea sized amount of this product to smooth on all over damp skin (this is on my pointer finger, and I sort of smeared the "pea"...sorry) and massage with fingers or a warm washcloth - whatever you prefer. Rinse and pat dry.
This is just a standard makeup round pad, I use it for the toner step. You only need a dime sized wet spot on the pad to take care of your whole face! This is just to adjust the pH of your skin back to what it should be instead of the slightly acidic state that most cleansers leave your skin with. Wipe over whole face, don't worry, it will give the right amount everywhere.
Ok here is the serum. This is REALLY strong stuff! If you have a reaction to the products (redness, a break out ect.) this is your culprit! This is a looser product and so when you squeeze it out of the sample pack it tends to come rushing out, be advised that you do not want to over-use this. It is super concentrated and packed with vitamin C and encourages dead cell turn over! If you experience a reaction, or you know that your skin is sensitive, start with half what you see here, and don't worry if it doesn't cover ALL your face. Dab around, and rub in (being careful to avoid the immediate eye area), it will still work it's magic. Then at the halfway point (when your skin has adjusted) go ahead and increase to this pinky nail sized amount.
This is my favorite step...the eye cream. I always knew that I was going to get crow's feet (or smile lines as I prefer to call them) because I just always smile...it's my baseline. But the more time I spend out in this blazing sun, and only haphazardly taking care of my skin, the more I notice them getting deeper and more irritated if I burn. The skin around your eyes is different...thinner and more delicate, most people know this intuitively. You will want to dab this around the orbital, like so:
and then tap to blend into your skin. I put the eye cream right under my eyebrows along the bone, and then from the side of my eyebrows down to my nose, following the bone, dabbing at the cream until the skin is moist but not fully absorbed.
I don't have a picture for the day or night cream because it will vary depending on a few different things. I am enjoying the slightly dewey feeling of moisturized and sun protected skin, but some people really don't. I hear all the time that clients think their skin feels "sticky". Living in a hot, humid environment like I do now, I know what sticky feels like, and this system isn't it. All the same, use enough of the day creme with SPF20 to cover lightly (pea to dime size), and enough night creme to give your skin a good boost through the night.
This is not an oily or high residue system! It won't mar your sheets or pillow cases, leave marks on your clothes or interfere with your makeup. It feels light and my skin is not weighed down by the products at all - something I was actually a little concerned about since I almost never do a full system of skincare.
This is getting a bit long so I will sum up the night quickly.
The difference on the left side of my face is obvious now. The roseacea-like redness is now the same as on the right side, and the little breakouts are now just bumps and much less obvious! The skin appears to be evening out but it might just be my joy at the lack of my scarlet crescent on my cheek.
More tomorrow,
...Nature girl
The little bumps on my left cheek are definitely diminishing...not gone, but getting smaller, YAY! I feel like the makeup lights over my sink are putting so much glare on my forehead and nose that you can't really see the discoloration under and over my eyes, to note well if they have changed...I feel like they are evening out...just a little bit.
The next series of pictures are "amount" pictures, just to show how little of this product is ACTUALLY needed.
and then tap to blend into your skin. I put the eye cream right under my eyebrows along the bone, and then from the side of my eyebrows down to my nose, following the bone, dabbing at the cream until the skin is moist but not fully absorbed.
I don't have a picture for the day or night cream because it will vary depending on a few different things. I am enjoying the slightly dewey feeling of moisturized and sun protected skin, but some people really don't. I hear all the time that clients think their skin feels "sticky". Living in a hot, humid environment like I do now, I know what sticky feels like, and this system isn't it. All the same, use enough of the day creme with SPF20 to cover lightly (pea to dime size), and enough night creme to give your skin a good boost through the night.
This is not an oily or high residue system! It won't mar your sheets or pillow cases, leave marks on your clothes or interfere with your makeup. It feels light and my skin is not weighed down by the products at all - something I was actually a little concerned about since I almost never do a full system of skincare.
This is getting a bit long so I will sum up the night quickly.
The difference on the left side of my face is obvious now. The roseacea-like redness is now the same as on the right side, and the little breakouts are now just bumps and much less obvious! The skin appears to be evening out but it might just be my joy at the lack of my scarlet crescent on my cheek.
More tomorrow,
...Nature girl
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Arbonne 5 Day challenge - Day 2
Ok so here is the start of day two. I got a little more sun then I planned on hanging out with a gal pal at the dog park. You should see the slipper (flip-flop) tan lines that my feet are rockin', the sun was NO joke yesterday.
I noticed that the mini breakouts on my left cheek seem to be a tiny bit more pronounced today when I did the morning wash. Not sure if that's from the sun exposure, or from my skin starting to detox, I'll keep you posted there.
After the evening wash I noticed that the brown spots seemed to be a little less obvious, though the lighter areas on my forehead appear unchanged...boo. Forehead bumps still present and accounted for.
Looking forward to day 3, and I will post pictures of how much product you need for each step...it's not a lot, but never fear there is a big punch packed in these little bits!
...Nature girl
Arbonne 5 Day Challenge - Day 1
Diving right in I'm posting my before picture. Please forgive the dour expression, it was 7 am and now I have to make the same face for comparison every day:
As you can see, my skin tone is really uneven. On my left cheek I have what I lovingly call "rosy Irish cheeks". Back in California where the sun was not as intense, and I wasn't 8 months pregnant, it really was just rosy cheeks...and it was on both cheeks. Now though, in the intense Hawaii sun, and due to this little baby's effect on my hormones I have little bumps and a really pronounced rosacea-like crescent on that left cheek, while the right cheek has only mild rosieness, no break outs, and some darkening areas that are under both eyes.
My forehead seems like it is totally different skin. I have a strange light patch over my left eye at the hairline, strange bumps that aren't breakouts and lines almost as deep as my Dad's furrow my brow! And I'm just going to gloss right over those dark bags under my eyes.
When I look at myself in the mirror I see an amazing person whose skin is crying out for help, and I think other people do too so I'm making a change. When people look at me I want them to just see the awesomeness and not be distracted by everything else.
...Nature girl
As you can see, my skin tone is really uneven. On my left cheek I have what I lovingly call "rosy Irish cheeks". Back in California where the sun was not as intense, and I wasn't 8 months pregnant, it really was just rosy cheeks...and it was on both cheeks. Now though, in the intense Hawaii sun, and due to this little baby's effect on my hormones I have little bumps and a really pronounced rosacea-like crescent on that left cheek, while the right cheek has only mild rosieness, no break outs, and some darkening areas that are under both eyes.
My forehead seems like it is totally different skin. I have a strange light patch over my left eye at the hairline, strange bumps that aren't breakouts and lines almost as deep as my Dad's furrow my brow! And I'm just going to gloss right over those dark bags under my eyes.
When I look at myself in the mirror I see an amazing person whose skin is crying out for help, and I think other people do too so I'm making a change. When people look at me I want them to just see the awesomeness and not be distracted by everything else.
...Nature girl
Arbonne 5 Day Challenge
To the point at hand, as I said in the video, this little posting series will be about Arbonne's 5 Day RE9 challenge. You receive a sample pack with enough product to last ten, count 'em, 10 uses!! The Challenge is to use the products, as a system, as directed and then note your results in a survey and win a prize. Great right?
Well if you are anything like me, you NEVER wash your face two times a day, five days in a row. My Mother is the only one I know who does, and she is a machine about it! Coincidentally, she also has amazing skin. For me, this will be an actual challenge to establish the routine and do the steps so that everyone gets to see the maximum results, so pray for me to be diligent, and I'll tell you if I flub.
This little series will be put out every day so that my teammates and clients can see in real time, not only the results, but also how much (or little) of our amazing products that they will actually need to use during the trial.
I'm getting these posted a bit behind schedule, but bear with me, I'll get everything caught up.
...Nature girl
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Living a life of Transition
Strange, but transition is a theme that comes up for me a lot. I looked back at some of my old blogs, and their tags, and found that it's come up multiple times in the past year.
I just finished a book called "The Leader Who Had No Title" by Robin Sharma. I love and appreciate the message and thought that went into this book. It was a little difficult for me to read because it wasn't at all what I expected from the title (not really at all fable-ish or fictional...just the author writing in different "characters") but I picked up a lot from the book. Having my life be as in flux as it has been, so up in the air, has made me very restless - like I just can't quite reach that next stage of life. And it has been frustrating at best.
Conflict is something to be avoided right? Conflict between people, in decisions, and in growth always seemed awkward and needlessly stressful! But in reading this and other books ( "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff") I am finding that the only way to grow is to be in conflict with the status quo...what you currently are!
Challenge is uncomfortable, and well..challenging...but it seems that the more I embrace challenge and conflict the more easily I change. I want to be the kind of person that looks for the hard stuff to do because they know that it will yield a big reward of change and growth; in business and life!
Right now I'm not. But I'm trying to not be so resistant and anxious when I see something difficult coming up the road. Or to look twice and things that trigger that instant rejection and thought "I can't do that!". It's a strange process, and counter intuitive at best, for me to consciously seek out areas of discomfort and disquiet and push on them to see what happens. But surprisingly, it doesn't feel as bad, or as scary, as I thought it would.
...Nature girl
I just finished a book called "The Leader Who Had No Title" by Robin Sharma. I love and appreciate the message and thought that went into this book. It was a little difficult for me to read because it wasn't at all what I expected from the title (not really at all fable-ish or fictional...just the author writing in different "characters") but I picked up a lot from the book. Having my life be as in flux as it has been, so up in the air, has made me very restless - like I just can't quite reach that next stage of life. And it has been frustrating at best.
Conflict is something to be avoided right? Conflict between people, in decisions, and in growth always seemed awkward and needlessly stressful! But in reading this and other books ( "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff") I am finding that the only way to grow is to be in conflict with the status quo...what you currently are!
Challenge is uncomfortable, and well..challenging...but it seems that the more I embrace challenge and conflict the more easily I change. I want to be the kind of person that looks for the hard stuff to do because they know that it will yield a big reward of change and growth; in business and life!
Right now I'm not. But I'm trying to not be so resistant and anxious when I see something difficult coming up the road. Or to look twice and things that trigger that instant rejection and thought "I can't do that!". It's a strange process, and counter intuitive at best, for me to consciously seek out areas of discomfort and disquiet and push on them to see what happens. But surprisingly, it doesn't feel as bad, or as scary, as I thought it would.
...Nature girl
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Nature girl vs. Motivation (part 2)
So a month or so ago I wrote about my distinct LACK of motivation.
Today I am glad to say that I am starting to feel like I may have divined my way to a tiny little spring of motivating energy.
I am cutting out the negative self talk (not always the easiest thing) and replacing it little by little with positive affirmations and happy thoughts. I am great at being positive, supportive, and encouraging to others, but I am not always the best about being that for myself.
I am finding that doing a weekly training session with the remarkable Jerry Roisentul (sorry peeps, he is just for Arbonne reps, because we are that cool) has really pointed out the ways that I talk down to and on life. One step at a time I feel like the more control I take of life, the less overwhelmed I am by it all! A very key process for me considering I am easily overwhelmed.
This little bit of personal growth has broken through the metaphorical crust of my wishy washy behavior, and pushed me towards (but I'm not there yet) striking out for my goals with purpose and confidence. Though I am not at the fully confident, driven, successful place I want to be - I can at least feel progress in that direction, and it gives me the motivation to keep going.
...Nature girl
Monday, June 30, 2014
Nature girl vs. the Doughnut blinders
I can't help it...I love doughnuts.
I will completely, willingly, make myself sick, wheat belly and all, for a fresh apple fritter - I blame my father. I have great memories of stopping at our local doughnut shop in Dana Point and each of us getting our favorite doughnuts before heading off to the boat, or whatever else we were up to that day. Sometimes they would have just finished a new batch and the apples would still be so hot they could burn the roof of your mouth...but it was worth it!
Lately I have had this unreal, single minded attention to doughnuts. No idea why, I shouldn't be eating a lot of sweet treats but sometimes they just call to you! Or mock you from the store front, or laugh at you in the isles of Target...jerks.
Today, I finally caved and went researcher crazy to find some good gluten free recipes to try...I may be eating doughnuts and popcorn for dinner tonight, but we'll cross that bridge later. I found two recipes that look very promising, one for Apple Fritters and one for a sour cream Old-Fashioned...yummy.
Now I'm not crazy enough to try both of them tonight, though I want to, the cost of the oil alone would be prohibitive. However, you best believe that I will be uploading pictures of hopefully delicious doughnuts in about two and a half hours!
I just have to figure out how to go grocery shopping, walk the dogs, make the doughnuts and eat the doughnuts without burning my fingers and mouth from impatience...well, maybe it will be worth it!
...Nature girl
I will completely, willingly, make myself sick, wheat belly and all, for a fresh apple fritter - I blame my father. I have great memories of stopping at our local doughnut shop in Dana Point and each of us getting our favorite doughnuts before heading off to the boat, or whatever else we were up to that day. Sometimes they would have just finished a new batch and the apples would still be so hot they could burn the roof of your mouth...but it was worth it!
Lately I have had this unreal, single minded attention to doughnuts. No idea why, I shouldn't be eating a lot of sweet treats but sometimes they just call to you! Or mock you from the store front, or laugh at you in the isles of Target...jerks.
Today, I finally caved and went researcher crazy to find some good gluten free recipes to try...I may be eating doughnuts and popcorn for dinner tonight, but we'll cross that bridge later. I found two recipes that look very promising, one for Apple Fritters and one for a sour cream Old-Fashioned...yummy.
Now I'm not crazy enough to try both of them tonight, though I want to, the cost of the oil alone would be prohibitive. However, you best believe that I will be uploading pictures of hopefully delicious doughnuts in about two and a half hours!
I just have to figure out how to go grocery shopping, walk the dogs, make the doughnuts and eat the doughnuts without burning my fingers and mouth from impatience...well, maybe it will be worth it!
...Nature girl
Monday, June 23, 2014
Training Day
Training Day, it's not just an action flick, it WAS my weekend plan.
I am not usually the one who is up to doing corporate training days. But I guess it's different when you are your own corporation, because somehow I was really excited about the day long training I signed up for this Saturday. So imagine my let down when I opened my e-mail today and saw that the event was cancelled.
It was like the let down from Christmas, no glow, just the bummer that it can't still be a party the next day (unless you're Brittish, then you get boxing day).
Ever since we made this big move to Hawaii, I have felt a lack of drive for my business out here. Probably because I am lonely and missing home, but moving on. I was super excited to go and hang out with other Arbonne Consultants and fill up on targeted training. But since that summit was cancelled, I now have two options. Be bummed and further put off, or be stoked that if there wasn't a big enough enrollment, that means I have more than enough room to grow!
The tough part about network marketing is not the sales, it's the courage quotient. With a great product (or products) like Arbonne it's easy because the product "sells" itself! Building this business, for me, is much more about education, options, healthy alternatives, and relationships. But that is where the hitch in my giddy-up comes from in HI. I have to find a way to meet people/tell people what I love to do, not just what my JOB is! This in person summit, I feel, was going to help equip me to get over my fears.
Now in all fairness, the training didn't disappear, it just relocated - to the phone. I am still amped to get going, now three days early, and I happen to have an event planned for that same day, so I will definitely be busy! I guess I just don't like to be bored...it saps my energy.
Not having this in-person training go through just showed me how passionate I am about succeeding in Arbonne. And how excited I am for this. Besides the amount of freedom that being my own boss will eventually provide for me, it will also let me stay home, play with my baby (when he arrives) and educate people (and myself...I miss you school)!!
So I have decided to move forward. In conversations with my gal-pals today, I encouraged both of them not to be passive observers in their lives, but to continue growing, be involved, and make healthy decisions for themselves and their lives. That was when I realized that this HI holding pattern I have been in isn't really helping me. Though it isn't "hurting" me, it definitely isn't pushing me toward my goals, and I want to achieve my goals.
...Nature girl
I am not usually the one who is up to doing corporate training days. But I guess it's different when you are your own corporation, because somehow I was really excited about the day long training I signed up for this Saturday. So imagine my let down when I opened my e-mail today and saw that the event was cancelled.
It was like the let down from Christmas, no glow, just the bummer that it can't still be a party the next day (unless you're Brittish, then you get boxing day).
Ever since we made this big move to Hawaii, I have felt a lack of drive for my business out here. Probably because I am lonely and missing home, but moving on. I was super excited to go and hang out with other Arbonne Consultants and fill up on targeted training. But since that summit was cancelled, I now have two options. Be bummed and further put off, or be stoked that if there wasn't a big enough enrollment, that means I have more than enough room to grow!
The tough part about network marketing is not the sales, it's the courage quotient. With a great product (or products) like Arbonne it's easy because the product "sells" itself! Building this business, for me, is much more about education, options, healthy alternatives, and relationships. But that is where the hitch in my giddy-up comes from in HI. I have to find a way to meet people/tell people what I love to do, not just what my JOB is! This in person summit, I feel, was going to help equip me to get over my fears.
Now in all fairness, the training didn't disappear, it just relocated - to the phone. I am still amped to get going, now three days early, and I happen to have an event planned for that same day, so I will definitely be busy! I guess I just don't like to be bored...it saps my energy.
Not having this in-person training go through just showed me how passionate I am about succeeding in Arbonne. And how excited I am for this. Besides the amount of freedom that being my own boss will eventually provide for me, it will also let me stay home, play with my baby (when he arrives) and educate people (and myself...I miss you school)!!
So I have decided to move forward. In conversations with my gal-pals today, I encouraged both of them not to be passive observers in their lives, but to continue growing, be involved, and make healthy decisions for themselves and their lives. That was when I realized that this HI holding pattern I have been in isn't really helping me. Though it isn't "hurting" me, it definitely isn't pushing me toward my goals, and I want to achieve my goals.
...Nature girl
Monday, June 16, 2014
Nature girl and Father's Day
So for anyone not living in the USA, yesterday was Father's Day. I'm not sure what the international observances are for a manufactured holiday, but if you celebrated, good on you.
I love my Dad, but it seems like Father's Day can sometimes overlook all the other men that influence us as we grow.
The glut of amazing men that I have had the privilege to meet, and have in my life, is continually astonishing to me. My Dad was the first father figure, and I'm biased because I think he's the best, but he wasn't the last by a long shot. Between my uncles, grandfather, friend's parents, authority figures, teachers, and friends I have found a whole and complete picture of Fatherhood, and it is NOTHING like the cards you get at the drug store.
For my hubby (who is facing down imminent fatherhood with a strange mixture of terror, confidence, and anticipation) I think his definition will be different, but I think when he reads this he may see at least a little commonality, and hopefully some reassurance.
Yesterday, my sister posted the following meme on Facebook (from Fathers in the Field) with the tag line of,
"And between mine [father] and my grandfather and my uncles my standards are just a bit high."
The amazing gift of fathers cannot be understated. They are the guides, teachers, confidence builders, challenge issuers, and the prison guard that EVERY child needs. It took me years (and I'm still trying to hear it) to understand what I was being taught by these men. It wasn't just how to tie boat knots (I still don't do it well), sand a rail, work a math problem, find the root of a problem, give a foot rub, kick a soccer ball, or play chess.
Little by little, I was learning that frustration doesn't get rid of the problem, patience does. Finding satisfaction in little things done well is just as important as satisfaction in big things done. Getting the RIGHT answer doesn't always give you the BEST answer. That sometimes what you see on the surface is not the real deal. I learned that tenderness isn't always a hug or a kiss, sometimes it's willingness to put your hands on tired, achy feet...even when you are tired and achy. I learned that what you put in to life is what you get out of it, good and bad. And that a long view of life gives you the best picture of the road ahead.
These men have taught me how to live a life I can be proud of and they did it, sometimes, by sheer force of will, and the examples that they were given. In a million different ways, on thousands of different days, I have been taught how to expect to be valued, and treated; as well as how to treat others. What is expected of me as a person, and as a woman. I was taught to be ethical, proud, confident, loving, forgiving (but not a push over), smart, adventurous, and flexible.
Many of these lessons overlapped with things my Mothers taught me in different ways; but my Fathers have taught against odds like frowned upon discipline, contrary attitudes, tears, tantrums, and sometimes school systems. My Fathers have been firm, loving, gentle and bullish. They have been athletic, bookish, practical and whimsical.
But ALL of them...especially mine...have been exactly what I need!
So thank God for dads, however many you have, because without them life would be far less.
...Nature girl
I love my Dad, but it seems like Father's Day can sometimes overlook all the other men that influence us as we grow.
The glut of amazing men that I have had the privilege to meet, and have in my life, is continually astonishing to me. My Dad was the first father figure, and I'm biased because I think he's the best, but he wasn't the last by a long shot. Between my uncles, grandfather, friend's parents, authority figures, teachers, and friends I have found a whole and complete picture of Fatherhood, and it is NOTHING like the cards you get at the drug store.
For my hubby (who is facing down imminent fatherhood with a strange mixture of terror, confidence, and anticipation) I think his definition will be different, but I think when he reads this he may see at least a little commonality, and hopefully some reassurance.
Yesterday, my sister posted the following meme on Facebook (from Fathers in the Field) with the tag line of,
"And between mine [father] and my grandfather and my uncles my standards are just a bit high."
The amazing gift of fathers cannot be understated. They are the guides, teachers, confidence builders, challenge issuers, and the prison guard that EVERY child needs. It took me years (and I'm still trying to hear it) to understand what I was being taught by these men. It wasn't just how to tie boat knots (I still don't do it well), sand a rail, work a math problem, find the root of a problem, give a foot rub, kick a soccer ball, or play chess.
Little by little, I was learning that frustration doesn't get rid of the problem, patience does. Finding satisfaction in little things done well is just as important as satisfaction in big things done. Getting the RIGHT answer doesn't always give you the BEST answer. That sometimes what you see on the surface is not the real deal. I learned that tenderness isn't always a hug or a kiss, sometimes it's willingness to put your hands on tired, achy feet...even when you are tired and achy. I learned that what you put in to life is what you get out of it, good and bad. And that a long view of life gives you the best picture of the road ahead.
These men have taught me how to live a life I can be proud of and they did it, sometimes, by sheer force of will, and the examples that they were given. In a million different ways, on thousands of different days, I have been taught how to expect to be valued, and treated; as well as how to treat others. What is expected of me as a person, and as a woman. I was taught to be ethical, proud, confident, loving, forgiving (but not a push over), smart, adventurous, and flexible.
Many of these lessons overlapped with things my Mothers taught me in different ways; but my Fathers have taught against odds like frowned upon discipline, contrary attitudes, tears, tantrums, and sometimes school systems. My Fathers have been firm, loving, gentle and bullish. They have been athletic, bookish, practical and whimsical.
But ALL of them...especially mine...have been exactly what I need!
So thank God for dads, however many you have, because without them life would be far less.
...Nature girl
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Nature girl vs. messy trees
In California there are the Jacaranda trees...in Hawaii there are the Shower trees.
See, on the list of things that I miss about California, I wouldn't necessarily say that the annual shedding of the jacaranda trees is high up on that list. Don't get me wrong, I love jacarandas. Their vibrant purple blossoms are one of the few ways that I truly enjoy the color purple, and they remind me of home (which is helpful right now).
And while I do miss the color explosion, I didn't really miss the mess...I can't because it here too! I have found that Hawaii has it's own version of the jacaranda, it's called the shower tree (very aptly named)...or rainbow shower tree depending on the variety.
This tree starts blooming around May, and starts really shedding blossoms as the island cruises toward summer. The cool part (and irritating part), is that it seems to be an unending process. A long blooming season allows a continual shower of blooms until the winter rolls around and the trees start dropping foliage as well as flowers.
The little dropped flowers of both trees, while beautiful and delicate, are amazingly messy! I walked out to the car today only to find blossoms halfway up the windshield and the parking space had a clean spot where the ground was sheltered by the car.
As silly as it is, I love it.
Somehow it is reassuring that I can find little things everywhere that remind me of where I started, where I come from, even when I am geographically far. It gives me a whole new appreciation and respect for those friends of mine who long ago moved from their countries or states of birth. It seems the human mind has an incredible gift to find home wherever we land.
...Nature girl
See, on the list of things that I miss about California, I wouldn't necessarily say that the annual shedding of the jacaranda trees is high up on that list. Don't get me wrong, I love jacarandas. Their vibrant purple blossoms are one of the few ways that I truly enjoy the color purple, and they remind me of home (which is helpful right now).
And while I do miss the color explosion, I didn't really miss the mess...I can't because it here too! I have found that Hawaii has it's own version of the jacaranda, it's called the shower tree (very aptly named)...or rainbow shower tree depending on the variety.
This tree starts blooming around May, and starts really shedding blossoms as the island cruises toward summer. The cool part (and irritating part), is that it seems to be an unending process. A long blooming season allows a continual shower of blooms until the winter rolls around and the trees start dropping foliage as well as flowers.
The little dropped flowers of both trees, while beautiful and delicate, are amazingly messy! I walked out to the car today only to find blossoms halfway up the windshield and the parking space had a clean spot where the ground was sheltered by the car.
As silly as it is, I love it.
Somehow it is reassuring that I can find little things everywhere that remind me of where I started, where I come from, even when I am geographically far. It gives me a whole new appreciation and respect for those friends of mine who long ago moved from their countries or states of birth. It seems the human mind has an incredible gift to find home wherever we land.
...Nature girl
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Today is a good news day
I don't watch the news. It's depressing, lacks substance, and I don't have cable...so I can't. What I do, is read the news.
The search bar on my browser yields a plethora of news outlets to choose from. Sites vary from the NY Times, BBC, Reuters, CNN and pretty much anything else I can get my hands on. Today was a good day for the US news outlets. Usually overwhelmed by socialites and sensationalism, today the top story was about five soldiers killed in a friendly fire incident in Afganistan (the Fox story is a little jumbled, but if you want a clearer version...try this one.)
While it is a sad story, and not one I was glad to read by a long shot, I was glad to see it in a headline. We are so inundated by the inane and meaningless in the news that I think it is sometimes very easy to forget about the important, and frankly high risk things that also affect us and people we may know.
I also went to BBC.com today to check up on the Russia-Ukraine situation to see if there has been any new news since Ukraine elected their new President, a business tycoon and a man with several political forays already on his résumé, Mr. Petro Poroshenko. I'm glad to see him proposing realistic solutions to the still escalating conflict in the eastern regions. With the pro-Russian Vostok Batallion gaining ground in the region with their volunteers from Russian conflict areas, higher training and weaponry, things could get very messy, very quickly.
Though it seems that there is nothing but "bad" news in the news, it reassures me to keep in touch with the world. It reminds me that my "earth shattering" problems are nothing more than mosquitos, irritating and painful to me, but inconsequential to anyone else. So keep that in mind peeps, don't lose your perspective.
... Nature girl
The search bar on my browser yields a plethora of news outlets to choose from. Sites vary from the NY Times, BBC, Reuters, CNN and pretty much anything else I can get my hands on. Today was a good day for the US news outlets. Usually overwhelmed by socialites and sensationalism, today the top story was about five soldiers killed in a friendly fire incident in Afganistan (the Fox story is a little jumbled, but if you want a clearer version...try this one.)
While it is a sad story, and not one I was glad to read by a long shot, I was glad to see it in a headline. We are so inundated by the inane and meaningless in the news that I think it is sometimes very easy to forget about the important, and frankly high risk things that also affect us and people we may know.
I also went to BBC.com today to check up on the Russia-Ukraine situation to see if there has been any new news since Ukraine elected their new President, a business tycoon and a man with several political forays already on his résumé, Mr. Petro Poroshenko. I'm glad to see him proposing realistic solutions to the still escalating conflict in the eastern regions. With the pro-Russian Vostok Batallion gaining ground in the region with their volunteers from Russian conflict areas, higher training and weaponry, things could get very messy, very quickly.
Though it seems that there is nothing but "bad" news in the news, it reassures me to keep in touch with the world. It reminds me that my "earth shattering" problems are nothing more than mosquitos, irritating and painful to me, but inconsequential to anyone else. So keep that in mind peeps, don't lose your perspective.
... Nature girl
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Nature girl vs. Motivation
I get spammed by my Fit Bit.
I would think it was funny if I wasn't so irritated by the constant chime alert that it triggers on my phone. I can't really say that it is a bad thing, seeing all these messages from people who are so motivated to be healthier. But the problem is, I am just not finding my source of motivation; and I don't just mean for fitness!
Motivation is supposed to be something that wells up from within. A source of instigation to change our individual circumstances for the better, in whatever way things need to change. Some people need to eat better, get more exercise, change careers, move on from detrimental relationships, or see a change on their life path. My trouble is that I can't seem to find that little spark to get the ball rolling!
For instance, I have been trying to write this one post for 2 1/2 WEEKS!
I seem to have just run out of metaphorical "gas"! To make things worse, I feel like I am standing at the pump to fill up and have suddenly forgotten where to put the hose. Deer trapped in headlights have a better chance of action than I do right now.
Don't get me wrong, I have established the parts of my life that need change and even made plans as to how to affect those changes. However, the part of those plans labeled "Day 1" seems impossible to execute. It seems like it should be remarkable easy to get up and walk 2 miles a day according to my fitbit, eat more veggies (I even bought them), work my business (Love me some Arbonne), and do baby things, but I just can't seem to get started effectively!
And out of all the things that frustrate me because they aren't happening, there is this little alert on my phone that goes off whenever someone posts on the Fit Bit message board and I get completely irrationally angry at all of these happy, fitness minded people, who keep posting encouragement and success stories of their goals achieved!
So my new plan is this. I'm not going to scrap the old plans, they are still good, but I'm going to refocus on changing my attitude. It sounds a little cliché, but I'm going to try and have the "Attitude of Gratitude". Every day I am blessed with a roof over my head, clothes in my closet, and food in the fridge but it is SO easy to move right past the blessings and onto the obstacles that I need to slow down and think, really think, about the good stuff!
For at least 5 minutes each day I am going to try and focus on the good things around me. Blessings, funny kids that make me laugh, friends (near and far), family, good food, and loads of opportunity! Hopefully, by reframing my life around the good, the obstacles to my inner motivations won't seem as daunting.
My happy thoughts for today? I'm going to bake a cake tonight, a fruity cake, with cream cheese frosting (a favorite) and hang out in a well worn sofa. And that's all I have to do.
...Nature girl
I would think it was funny if I wasn't so irritated by the constant chime alert that it triggers on my phone. I can't really say that it is a bad thing, seeing all these messages from people who are so motivated to be healthier. But the problem is, I am just not finding my source of motivation; and I don't just mean for fitness!
Motivation is supposed to be something that wells up from within. A source of instigation to change our individual circumstances for the better, in whatever way things need to change. Some people need to eat better, get more exercise, change careers, move on from detrimental relationships, or see a change on their life path. My trouble is that I can't seem to find that little spark to get the ball rolling!
For instance, I have been trying to write this one post for 2 1/2 WEEKS!
I seem to have just run out of metaphorical "gas"! To make things worse, I feel like I am standing at the pump to fill up and have suddenly forgotten where to put the hose. Deer trapped in headlights have a better chance of action than I do right now.
Don't get me wrong, I have established the parts of my life that need change and even made plans as to how to affect those changes. However, the part of those plans labeled "Day 1" seems impossible to execute. It seems like it should be remarkable easy to get up and walk 2 miles a day according to my fitbit, eat more veggies (I even bought them), work my business (Love me some Arbonne), and do baby things, but I just can't seem to get started effectively!
And out of all the things that frustrate me because they aren't happening, there is this little alert on my phone that goes off whenever someone posts on the Fit Bit message board and I get completely irrationally angry at all of these happy, fitness minded people, who keep posting encouragement and success stories of their goals achieved!
So my new plan is this. I'm not going to scrap the old plans, they are still good, but I'm going to refocus on changing my attitude. It sounds a little cliché, but I'm going to try and have the "Attitude of Gratitude". Every day I am blessed with a roof over my head, clothes in my closet, and food in the fridge but it is SO easy to move right past the blessings and onto the obstacles that I need to slow down and think, really think, about the good stuff!
For at least 5 minutes each day I am going to try and focus on the good things around me. Blessings, funny kids that make me laugh, friends (near and far), family, good food, and loads of opportunity! Hopefully, by reframing my life around the good, the obstacles to my inner motivations won't seem as daunting.
My happy thoughts for today? I'm going to bake a cake tonight, a fruity cake, with cream cheese frosting (a favorite) and hang out in a well worn sofa. And that's all I have to do.
...Nature girl
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Jibjab the news
I tried to read the news yesterday, and I almost threw up.
MSN, Yahoo, Fox, Huffington Post, and even local news was a complete wash! All the stories were about storms, drama in basketball, celebrity babies, new cooking fads, and Sara Palin. It was almost like the real world didn't exist!
Does everyone know that we have had troops deployed to Jordan for the past year? Originally sent to bolster Jordan's troops against the conflict in Syria, they are now also training Iraqi soldiers in counter terrorism and we are supplying them with weaponry. Didn't the US do that once before? And didn't that lead to our soldiers getting shot by weapons the we sold to the other side?
What about Ukraine? Did anyone keep following that after Crimea voted to be part of Russia...not that I have found. I have to go to BBC.com and guess what? It is always one of their top stories! But nowhere to be found in our news media except in the other news sections at the bottom of the pages! The entire eastern region of Ukraine is in turmoil between pro-Russian factions and pro-Ukranian demonstrators, and getting more mand more dangerous by the day because of Russian propaganda, and militant groups. By the way, did you know that we sent troops to Europe too?
And then there's good old Korea. The south is experiencing the resignation of the PM over a sunken ferry that killed many of the 476 students and teachers on board. And the north is conducting live fire drills, and may be ramping up to a nuclear test despite UN objections!
And yet none of this is in news media rotation.
In talking to friends about the lack of news reported on "the news", I was referred to this video on YouTube:
At first I was amused, as it pretty much coincided with what I had found in the news. Then I realized that it wasn't really all that funny. Someone actually put this together, admittedly as a jab to mostly conservative media stations, and it has thousands of views. People are openly mocking our news circuits.
Do people realize, I wonder, how much of a laughing stock we must appear to other countries when what a bigoted man said to his girlfriend is top billing on our news programs? Or when we are more concerned with the release of the cast information for the new Star Wars film, than we are about our President saying we have an "ironclad" agreement with the Phillipines to defend them and their sovereignty from Chinese interest in outlying islands?
How foolish we must look. How sad.
...Nature girl
MSN, Yahoo, Fox, Huffington Post, and even local news was a complete wash! All the stories were about storms, drama in basketball, celebrity babies, new cooking fads, and Sara Palin. It was almost like the real world didn't exist!
Does everyone know that we have had troops deployed to Jordan for the past year? Originally sent to bolster Jordan's troops against the conflict in Syria, they are now also training Iraqi soldiers in counter terrorism and we are supplying them with weaponry. Didn't the US do that once before? And didn't that lead to our soldiers getting shot by weapons the we sold to the other side?
What about Ukraine? Did anyone keep following that after Crimea voted to be part of Russia...not that I have found. I have to go to BBC.com and guess what? It is always one of their top stories! But nowhere to be found in our news media except in the other news sections at the bottom of the pages! The entire eastern region of Ukraine is in turmoil between pro-Russian factions and pro-Ukranian demonstrators, and getting more mand more dangerous by the day because of Russian propaganda, and militant groups. By the way, did you know that we sent troops to Europe too?
And then there's good old Korea. The south is experiencing the resignation of the PM over a sunken ferry that killed many of the 476 students and teachers on board. And the north is conducting live fire drills, and may be ramping up to a nuclear test despite UN objections!
And yet none of this is in news media rotation.
In talking to friends about the lack of news reported on "the news", I was referred to this video on YouTube:
At first I was amused, as it pretty much coincided with what I had found in the news. Then I realized that it wasn't really all that funny. Someone actually put this together, admittedly as a jab to mostly conservative media stations, and it has thousands of views. People are openly mocking our news circuits.
Do people realize, I wonder, how much of a laughing stock we must appear to other countries when what a bigoted man said to his girlfriend is top billing on our news programs? Or when we are more concerned with the release of the cast information for the new Star Wars film, than we are about our President saying we have an "ironclad" agreement with the Phillipines to defend them and their sovereignty from Chinese interest in outlying islands?
How foolish we must look. How sad.
...Nature girl
Monday, April 21, 2014
Why judge a person, when you can blame an animal?
Having pets (wether dogs, cats, fish, reptiles, herpes, rodents, or birds) is one of the most regarding relationships available to children and adults alike. However, like all relationships, there is a lot of responsibility that goes into them...or there should be.
Growing up surrounded by animals has been a joy for me. From infancy with my parents St. Bernard's, to fish in grade school, and a dog in high school, to a stray cat that adopted us, and finally to my very own puppy as an adult (not to mention the various wounded or abandoned animals I brought home along the way), animals of every variety have had a place in my heart.
But there is a difference between making sure that the fish has clean water and food, and the dog that needs training, playtime, walks, food and baths to be a normal well adjusted pet. And those responsibilities are not for everyone of all ages.
Especially around holiday times, there is a large uptick in adoptions and purchases of rabbits, cats, and dogs - and that is really disturbing to me. Pets aren't gifts, they are relationships, responsibilities, and above all should not be considered disposable (like we think of many gifts we receive these days)! And there is a huge disconnect when animals are treated and considered as objects rather than as the creations that they are.
I suppose that this has been rattling around in my head for a while because of a teenage girl I see walking a chocolate lab in the park every night. She is always deeply engrossed in her phone, paying no attention to the dog, and walking him on a long leash where he pretty much goes wherever he wants. Now as a general rule I'm down for giving your dog the space to enjoy his nightly walk, the problem is that this dog is aggressive. He lunges at other dogs, stares down passing pedestrians, and has mental issues about skateboards - all completely unobserved until the fit starts by his teenager.
Now, everybody has a different style of pet ownership, and I accept that. I know that there are really rigid pet parents, really lax pet parents, and those that fall somewhere in the middle (like me). But when people say things like "that's just a bad dog, it should be put down!" or "don't you know pit bulls are too dangerous for families?" or "that cat is a menace! Why don't you get rid of it?" my first instinct is to say "well you're socially insensitive, why don't I get rid of you?"!
Somewhere along the line, we, as a society, decided that it was easier to shift the blame for an ill mannered pet to the animal instead of the owner. Absolving the human of any harm inflicted on the animal by poor training, a lack of appropriate stimulation or socialization, and transferred it all to the unsuspecting and poorly prepared animal! What a disservice we do to not only the animal but also to teaching our children about responsibilities to others (human AND animal)!
Percy and I had to work really hard to get him to the 85% well behaved dog he is now, and we still work on the other 15% due to stressful changes and parental inconsistencies. I know that my dog's behavior is DIRECTLY related to the work we do together to address his issues. It is my fault, not his, when he tears out into the yard to bark at passing dogs and people. It is my fault when he chews things up in the house because I left trash out, or didn't leave him something to do while I was gone, and I take responsibility for that.
Percy is a good dog, with a somewhat permissive owner...and it shows. But he is mine, and I love him, and I will work with him to make him into the best dog I can...every day...even when he is stubborn, and distracted, and grumpy. Because he is a reflection of me, and definitely not expendable or returnable!
...Nature girl
Growing up surrounded by animals has been a joy for me. From infancy with my parents St. Bernard's, to fish in grade school, and a dog in high school, to a stray cat that adopted us, and finally to my very own puppy as an adult (not to mention the various wounded or abandoned animals I brought home along the way), animals of every variety have had a place in my heart.
But there is a difference between making sure that the fish has clean water and food, and the dog that needs training, playtime, walks, food and baths to be a normal well adjusted pet. And those responsibilities are not for everyone of all ages.
Especially around holiday times, there is a large uptick in adoptions and purchases of rabbits, cats, and dogs - and that is really disturbing to me. Pets aren't gifts, they are relationships, responsibilities, and above all should not be considered disposable (like we think of many gifts we receive these days)! And there is a huge disconnect when animals are treated and considered as objects rather than as the creations that they are.
I suppose that this has been rattling around in my head for a while because of a teenage girl I see walking a chocolate lab in the park every night. She is always deeply engrossed in her phone, paying no attention to the dog, and walking him on a long leash where he pretty much goes wherever he wants. Now as a general rule I'm down for giving your dog the space to enjoy his nightly walk, the problem is that this dog is aggressive. He lunges at other dogs, stares down passing pedestrians, and has mental issues about skateboards - all completely unobserved until the fit starts by his teenager.
Now, everybody has a different style of pet ownership, and I accept that. I know that there are really rigid pet parents, really lax pet parents, and those that fall somewhere in the middle (like me). But when people say things like "that's just a bad dog, it should be put down!" or "don't you know pit bulls are too dangerous for families?" or "that cat is a menace! Why don't you get rid of it?" my first instinct is to say "well you're socially insensitive, why don't I get rid of you?"!
Somewhere along the line, we, as a society, decided that it was easier to shift the blame for an ill mannered pet to the animal instead of the owner. Absolving the human of any harm inflicted on the animal by poor training, a lack of appropriate stimulation or socialization, and transferred it all to the unsuspecting and poorly prepared animal! What a disservice we do to not only the animal but also to teaching our children about responsibilities to others (human AND animal)!
Percy and I had to work really hard to get him to the 85% well behaved dog he is now, and we still work on the other 15% due to stressful changes and parental inconsistencies. I know that my dog's behavior is DIRECTLY related to the work we do together to address his issues. It is my fault, not his, when he tears out into the yard to bark at passing dogs and people. It is my fault when he chews things up in the house because I left trash out, or didn't leave him something to do while I was gone, and I take responsibility for that.
Percy is a good dog, with a somewhat permissive owner...and it shows. But he is mine, and I love him, and I will work with him to make him into the best dog I can...every day...even when he is stubborn, and distracted, and grumpy. Because he is a reflection of me, and definitely not expendable or returnable!
...Nature girl
Thursday, April 17, 2014
"selfies"
I think at this point everyone has heard the phrase "selfie"; The kind of picture you take of yourself with a cellphone or camera. It also ranks right up there in the useless verbiage column with "twerk" and "fo shizzle".
Now, to be clear, my problem is not with the word, or the people who use it/do it, but with the attitude behind it. I have the same problem with Twitter, and Instagram. The idea that people need to know (implied: want to know) what we are doing all the time, and see us doing it is such an over share of information!
Incessant picture taking is kinda my thing, I love to take pictures to remember who I was with and what I did and I even like sharing those pictures on places like Facebook! But unlike this guy...I am completely aware of my surroundings when I do it.
Now, to be clear, my problem is not with the word, or the people who use it/do it, but with the attitude behind it. I have the same problem with Twitter, and Instagram. The idea that people need to know (implied: want to know) what we are doing all the time, and see us doing it is such an over share of information!
Incessant picture taking is kinda my thing, I love to take pictures to remember who I was with and what I did and I even like sharing those pictures on places like Facebook! But unlike this guy...I am completely aware of my surroundings when I do it.
Listening to his iPod and trying to take a pouty, emo, photo to show off his "coolness" he almost ends up with a hole in his head from a passing train!
It seems that we, as a society (and I am not excluding myself here), are so concerned with what others think of us, that we have to prove something....even when we are all alone. I have no idea why, or when, we became so self conscious and desperate for outside validation but here we are, mired in this destructive cycle.
You can't imagine how shocked I was to find that not only is the general populace afflicted with this need for reassurance, but so is our supposed commander in chief and VP, Obama and Biden! Now, Obama has been taking selfies since he plugged in to social networking, this is not new news but now, it is showing up on my FB timeline as if it is something to be proud of and bragged about. That we have the "cool" president.
When my cousin joined the police academy he mentioned something sort of in passing and it has stuck with me (forgive me Brad, I will have to paraphrase because I don't remember your exact words...and if I get it wrong, blame me!), he said: If you end up on tv, as a cop, in an unnecessary gunfight or giving interviews and being a personality...you aren't doing your job properly. The job is protection, not fame.
I can't help but think that we have lost his sense of clarity and purpose, especially in the leadership and people of this country. If our concern is for how others perceive our actions, instead of the real ramifications of said actions, then we are doing it wrong.
We have lost the plot of leading lives that we can be proud of.
I never really understood the question "What do you want to do with your life?". I realize now that I never really heard the question. I wanted to grow up and have friends, be liked, and have a family. I wanted to be in the medical field, and be successful, but not rich. I got asked that question a lot, and never really realized that people weren't asking how I wanted to be thought of, they were asking what I wanted to produce, what footprints I wanted to leave in life, how I wanted to live!
Now when I think of that question I love it; it's a challenge to me. It's reminding me that my actions have reactions and cause events in other people's lives...good and bad. It reminds me that people will think whatever they want to, and that doesn't change my goals, for my life. I don't want to be famous, I want to live a life that spreads blessings, big and little.
There should be a periodic gut check to everyone on the globe to make sure we are not letting other people make our decisions for us. That we are living honorable, productive, purposeful lives, geared toward bettering ourselves and those around us. Undisturbed...as much as possible...by deceit, shortcuts, social fronts, false or shallow reinforcements (Not to say that people don't need reinforcement, they just need it from people who actually care), and self aggrandizement.
Let's re-learn modesty, persistence, grace, and honesty, so that we can stop seeking outside affirmations...and taking selfies.
...Nature girl
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
These are a few of my favorite things!
Now that you all have a song from The Sound of Music stuck in your heads, I want to walk you through a few of my favorite things, products, places....whatever. Mostly because I'm trying to figure out what makes me really happy.
There are things and places and people that everyone loves, but in this world where everything is a "favorite", "best" or "have to have"; how many of us know what our real favorites are?
I've been thinking about this today, because I balanced my check book today...something I hate doing and it got me thinking.
See, I love walking in parks and harbors, they just make me relax. I adore ice cream on cold days so I can eat it burried in a blanket. I love baking, and crafting, and seeing my pup run so fast it's like he never touches the ground. I love baths, books, thunderstorms, and little kid birthday parties. I love coffee dates with girlfriends, and midnight shakes and chili fries at Harbor House, and my heart will pause for the sound and smell of rain. But to narrow it down to the things I really love, left me a little confused as to what to leave out, so I established some parameters.
First, it had to be a guaranteed happy result...100% of the time.
Second, it had to be one of those things that you are down to do anytime it is brought up.
Third, I have to have a specific memory attached to it (if it was good enough to make a memory for me I know it was great!)
So with these criteria, I came up with these "favorite things"...in no kind of order at all.
Walking in Dana Point Harbor...right before sunset. It's a small window, but in it, but the air changes, the people are out with their dogs, and you can hear the "ting ting ting" of rigging clips hitting the aluminum masts on the sail boats. The smell of the waves on the breakwater is crisp and salty on your lips and life is suddenly very simple...and sweet.
Impromptu meet ups with friends. That beautiful point at which your schedule and your friend's free up for 30 minutes at the same time. It's like a gift from heaven, and you can sit down and have coffee or tea, or just sit and talk! For those precious minutes, the only thing that matters is to laugh and talk and be present. There are no bills, no calls to make, no appointments to be at, no stress about work, and no troubles that can't be fixed with a latte or a hug.
A blank piece of paper. The possibilities that are contained in a piece of paper are miraculous! It could become a paper airplane, origami, a sheet of scribbles, a love note, or the start of a novel. It could be a cup where you pour your secrets, or a wadded up ball to play with the dog! The immense possibility contained within a new pad of paper, a notebook, or a sheet of copy paper are delightful and a joy to discover!
There are a handful more of my favorites, but I'm going to stop this before I get too far from the point that I am trying to make.
Sit quietly for a minute and think about what really brings you joy. There are millions of things that we fill our lives with, because we think our lives need filling! If we could all just cut away the filler and really look at the things that bring JOY, not just temporary fun, I think we just might be a little more balanced.
...Nature girl
There are things and places and people that everyone loves, but in this world where everything is a "favorite", "best" or "have to have"; how many of us know what our real favorites are?
I've been thinking about this today, because I balanced my check book today...something I hate doing and it got me thinking.
See, I love walking in parks and harbors, they just make me relax. I adore ice cream on cold days so I can eat it burried in a blanket. I love baking, and crafting, and seeing my pup run so fast it's like he never touches the ground. I love baths, books, thunderstorms, and little kid birthday parties. I love coffee dates with girlfriends, and midnight shakes and chili fries at Harbor House, and my heart will pause for the sound and smell of rain. But to narrow it down to the things I really love, left me a little confused as to what to leave out, so I established some parameters.
First, it had to be a guaranteed happy result...100% of the time.
Second, it had to be one of those things that you are down to do anytime it is brought up.
Third, I have to have a specific memory attached to it (if it was good enough to make a memory for me I know it was great!)
So with these criteria, I came up with these "favorite things"...in no kind of order at all.
Walking in Dana Point Harbor...right before sunset. It's a small window, but in it, but the air changes, the people are out with their dogs, and you can hear the "ting ting ting" of rigging clips hitting the aluminum masts on the sail boats. The smell of the waves on the breakwater is crisp and salty on your lips and life is suddenly very simple...and sweet.
Impromptu meet ups with friends. That beautiful point at which your schedule and your friend's free up for 30 minutes at the same time. It's like a gift from heaven, and you can sit down and have coffee or tea, or just sit and talk! For those precious minutes, the only thing that matters is to laugh and talk and be present. There are no bills, no calls to make, no appointments to be at, no stress about work, and no troubles that can't be fixed with a latte or a hug.
A blank piece of paper. The possibilities that are contained in a piece of paper are miraculous! It could become a paper airplane, origami, a sheet of scribbles, a love note, or the start of a novel. It could be a cup where you pour your secrets, or a wadded up ball to play with the dog! The immense possibility contained within a new pad of paper, a notebook, or a sheet of copy paper are delightful and a joy to discover!
There are a handful more of my favorites, but I'm going to stop this before I get too far from the point that I am trying to make.
Sit quietly for a minute and think about what really brings you joy. There are millions of things that we fill our lives with, because we think our lives need filling! If we could all just cut away the filler and really look at the things that bring JOY, not just temporary fun, I think we just might be a little more balanced.
...Nature girl
Friday, March 28, 2014
Plowing through
Sometimes I want to write but I have no plan whatsoever. I just kind of plow through until I find something.
Plow through...what an odd saying, it makes me think of Little House on the Prarie. Odd jump there I know, but I loved those books growing up. I checked them out from the library constantly, eventually my parents got me the full set of all the books and I ate it up. I was determined to cook a thanksgiving dinner like Ma and Laura did (Which was just a wee bit over my head at the time). I wanted to find an Almanzo of my very own, and we would live on a farm and raise kids and animals.
Now in defense of what sounds like a moderate obsession, I still want to live on a farm, I married a hardworking man, and we have a baby (on the way) and a dog. So not too different from what child me wanted.
My sister and I were both voracious readers, and we read far above our "reading level". However, the content of young adult literature was much less volatile in the 80's, or at least it seemed that way.
It is really disturbing to walk through a bookstore's young adult section now and see things like Twilight, Hunger Games and the Divergent series. Books that are about ancient vampires hanging out in high schools, kids killing kids (not to far from Lord of the Flies, I know, but the political undertones and the loss of childhood make it sinister in a different way), and post apocalyptic life! We had Sweet Valley High, and the Lioness series, and fantasy series like Narnia and the Belgariad! Books about the process of growing up, not kids that were already adults.
I feel like we are doing a disservice to our kids letting them read books (though the same could be said for movies too) about adult topics with the main characters being, essentially, children! What happened to kids enjoying the process of growing up? Why is it that kids, especially girls, jump from 8 to 28 in about 4 years?!
Now I'm not saying that some kids aren't prepared to be exposed to content like this. I have two nieces who are smart as whips and completely understand the concepts presented in some of these series. They know that it doesn't apply to them and to what is appropriate for their actions. But I also have kids around me all day that are 8 and 9 and think that they are old enough to make their own life choices.
It seems that the focus of children's books has become more about entertainment and less about teaching, which I think is sad.
Wether we like it or not, life is a process, a path to be traveled to the end. There is no skipping milestones or a smooth path around a bumpy section, and books that romanticize monsters and trials and traumatic events make it seem that the path will be magical and surreal. That intent is more than action and the ends justify the means.
Plowing through life is what gives it meaning, not meeting a monster and falling in love, or winning a contest and starting a bloody revolution. Try building a life from scratch, going on an epic hero quest, or fighting for what you know you were meant to be. That is what everyone needs to read!
...Nature girl
Plow through...what an odd saying, it makes me think of Little House on the Prarie. Odd jump there I know, but I loved those books growing up. I checked them out from the library constantly, eventually my parents got me the full set of all the books and I ate it up. I was determined to cook a thanksgiving dinner like Ma and Laura did (Which was just a wee bit over my head at the time). I wanted to find an Almanzo of my very own, and we would live on a farm and raise kids and animals.
Now in defense of what sounds like a moderate obsession, I still want to live on a farm, I married a hardworking man, and we have a baby (on the way) and a dog. So not too different from what child me wanted.
My sister and I were both voracious readers, and we read far above our "reading level". However, the content of young adult literature was much less volatile in the 80's, or at least it seemed that way.
It is really disturbing to walk through a bookstore's young adult section now and see things like Twilight, Hunger Games and the Divergent series. Books that are about ancient vampires hanging out in high schools, kids killing kids (not to far from Lord of the Flies, I know, but the political undertones and the loss of childhood make it sinister in a different way), and post apocalyptic life! We had Sweet Valley High, and the Lioness series, and fantasy series like Narnia and the Belgariad! Books about the process of growing up, not kids that were already adults.
I feel like we are doing a disservice to our kids letting them read books (though the same could be said for movies too) about adult topics with the main characters being, essentially, children! What happened to kids enjoying the process of growing up? Why is it that kids, especially girls, jump from 8 to 28 in about 4 years?!
Now I'm not saying that some kids aren't prepared to be exposed to content like this. I have two nieces who are smart as whips and completely understand the concepts presented in some of these series. They know that it doesn't apply to them and to what is appropriate for their actions. But I also have kids around me all day that are 8 and 9 and think that they are old enough to make their own life choices.
It seems that the focus of children's books has become more about entertainment and less about teaching, which I think is sad.
Wether we like it or not, life is a process, a path to be traveled to the end. There is no skipping milestones or a smooth path around a bumpy section, and books that romanticize monsters and trials and traumatic events make it seem that the path will be magical and surreal. That intent is more than action and the ends justify the means.
Plowing through life is what gives it meaning, not meeting a monster and falling in love, or winning a contest and starting a bloody revolution. Try building a life from scratch, going on an epic hero quest, or fighting for what you know you were meant to be. That is what everyone needs to read!
...Nature girl
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Restless
Restless
I love words, and I feel "restless" today. For whatever the reason I find relaxing beyond my ability. I felt drawn to look up restless in the bible to find out what was there, and this was what I got:
Deuteronomy 28:65-67
"Among those nations you shall find no rest, and there will be no resting place for the sole of your foot; but there the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing of eyes, and despair of soul. "So your life shall hang in doubt before you; and you will be in dread night and day, and shall have no assurance of your life. "In the morning you shall say, `Would that it were evening!' And at evening you shall say, `Would that it were morning!' because of the dread of your heart which you dread, and for the sight of your eyes which you will see.
Genesis 41:8
Now in the morning his spirit was troubled, so he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
(if you are curious, you can check out more, here.)
These are odd bible passage for me to be identifying with but there it is. I don't feel that I am being punished/cursed for not holding to God's commandments (Deut. 28), but I feel like there is something that I am missing. Something I'm not doing in order to feel the rest and calm that I normally do.
My dreams are intense, vivid, and stick with me for days sometimes. Whenever I dream like this I can FEEL that there is something I'm trying to figure out. Or something I'm supposed to be doing, or saying. I need an imprisoned Joseph (Gen. 41) to help me out. For a long time the hubbs was the one with the death dreams, now it seems we have switched roles.
I feel itchy, cranky...restless.
I am trying to be quiet, to listen for the things that I need to do or say to alleviate this feeling. To solve a problem that I can feel, but not find.
...Nature girl
I love words, and I feel "restless" today. For whatever the reason I find relaxing beyond my ability. I felt drawn to look up restless in the bible to find out what was there, and this was what I got:
Deuteronomy 28:65-67
"Among those nations you shall find no rest, and there will be no resting place for the sole of your foot; but there the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing of eyes, and despair of soul. "So your life shall hang in doubt before you; and you will be in dread night and day, and shall have no assurance of your life. "In the morning you shall say, `Would that it were evening!' And at evening you shall say, `Would that it were morning!' because of the dread of your heart which you dread, and for the sight of your eyes which you will see.
Genesis 41:8
Now in the morning his spirit was troubled, so he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
(if you are curious, you can check out more, here.)
These are odd bible passage for me to be identifying with but there it is. I don't feel that I am being punished/cursed for not holding to God's commandments (Deut. 28), but I feel like there is something that I am missing. Something I'm not doing in order to feel the rest and calm that I normally do.
My dreams are intense, vivid, and stick with me for days sometimes. Whenever I dream like this I can FEEL that there is something I'm trying to figure out. Or something I'm supposed to be doing, or saying. I need an imprisoned Joseph (Gen. 41) to help me out. For a long time the hubbs was the one with the death dreams, now it seems we have switched roles.
I feel itchy, cranky...restless.
I am trying to be quiet, to listen for the things that I need to do or say to alleviate this feeling. To solve a problem that I can feel, but not find.
...Nature girl
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