All You Need is a Little Radical in Your Life...

Life has been crazy lately! It has been trying its darndest to get me down.

I have one secret weapon. And it is Rad!

Introducing my newest member of my "pack" (because 4 is enough to be called that): On Target's Against The Grain... "Radical" or AKA Rad.

So many awesome things about this puppy.... so many things that made it meant to be.

An earlier blog talked about trust. I do have a hard time trusting, and when presented an opportunity- it usually takes me time to warm up to it. I have been looking for a puppy for a while. I wanted to start bringing up another one when the timing was right. I waited for a while, around 19 months or so. I was on several different lists, nothing worked out. I trusted that when it was meant to be, it would be meant to be. When the last litter I was on list for did not work out again, I started struggling personally with being accepting of the fact as I really wanted that ONE to work.

It didn't. Life went on.

It took someone to help me see that. Thank you Lisa, thank you for believing in me, and being patient. Thank you for knowing all along, what the right one and time was. I had to see it. Against the Grain is a name that is very dear to me and Lisa, and it fits everything and fits this puppy so well. Like a puzzle just coming together.

It took me a while to warm up to the thought of going for another litter. That is pretty normal about me. It took me a while to decide to get on the litter than ended up producing Zoom. I am cautious to the point that it is too cautious sometimes. In my own time, I come around. Very glad I did- more puzzle pieces.

Fast forward to a day that in the past has never been that great: My birthday. My puppy was born on my birthday. One special boy presented himself to me right before I went to sleep. I finally had the coolest birthday ever. Next year, when I turn 30, my puppy will be turning 1. We will be celebrating new phases in life. My 30's, which I did not see as being unmarried and in my position, but now I get to look forward to turning 30, because then is the time to start doing more training to get Rad ready for agility. That is a lot to look forward to. That puppy is going to make 30 turning not so bad now. How cool is that?

So on Tuesday, July 1, I am flying to Las Vegas to have a small vacation with a great friend who I have not seen in way too long (so excited to see you Megan!!!) and to pick up my Rad puppy!

Sometimes, life can give you a Radical turn of events and make things you were dreading to become things you look forward to. So here's to the next year and wow turning 30 is going to be fun!
Sometimes, all you have to do is see.

Oh the places we will go, little Rad puppy!

In the Moment

Have you ever just realized, smack dab in the middle of something amazing, that you were "in the moment?"

Last night that happened, in the most glorious way.

I was working with Zoom, we were doing short courses and really looking at our contacts. The A-frame has been really a weak point in our Standard class times, and it is costing us course time. I am looking into going back to a running frame again by the way.

As of now, I have really been trying to get any sort of speed over the frame. Our last sequence we were completing happened to end up in a much more speedy frame behavior. Amongst all the people that were watching, I acted like a total fool. This in itself is hard for me as, believe it or not, I am so shy and scared of doing anything in front of anyone. It did not matter, it was me and Zoom, and in that moment I felt it. I was in the moment that I was striving for. I felt the drive, I felt a success between he and I, and nothing could take that away. We both seized the moment without looking back.

I erupted in a complete ludicrous celebration that was not very quiet. It was fun. It was in the moment when that one thing mattered and it was great. The moment is awesome.

I hope every trainer at some point, feels the in the moment when it is not in a competition. It is so much more wholesome and real.

The high of a great session, running my dog who loves me, and being able to enjoy something so much was amazing.

It makes me wanting to have students again, to push others to do their best, to see them succeed, to help them when they don't, and to be more nervous than they are at their first show. Most of all, I want to see them in the moment.

I want to train more, I want to bring out the best in me and all the dogs I work with. I want to help others do the same.

What are stories of your in the moment times?