You know those days when it’s just a little harder to get out of bed? Like mine this morning. I got up on time thinking I would answer a couple of emails before jumping in the shower and then before I knew it, I ended back up in bed “for just a few minutes” to then wake up two hours later and way behind on my day! And you know, once you start your day that way, it takes a lot more effort to put on a happy face and kick the positive attitude into gear.

So, I start out my day behind and I’m a little stressed about it. The really bad hair day that resulted from a failed attempt to give it that “messy, but cute” look didn’t help matters either. Honestly, at some point, we reach an age where grunge just doesn’t quite work anymore and I think I reached that age TODAY.

Tuesday is Radio Show Day. That means I get to talk with the most amazing and successful people I can find, today being no exception, in fact my guest today, Sheryl Roush, is exception-AL! As I frantically worked through my list of emails, calls, tweets, status updates, and reminding myself to breathe, I was working up the enthusiasm for the show. I knew I would sound like a dud compared to Sheryl if I was even a little bit off and I knew I needed a happy-tude adjustment. It didn’t come in time for the show…

I was a little frazzled going into the call and not my usual “prepared and waiting” self. I didn’t have my thought of the week prepared and I was frustrated. Yep, me, frustrated! Then the countdown to going live and I was on. I just winged it. My thought for the week just came out of my mouth, “Patience young grasshopper.” My brilliant thought for the week that is supposed to invoke inspiration and enthusiasm was from an old movie – and I later found out it came from an even older movie than I remembered. Anyway… Patience. Patience was the thought. Why patience you ask? Well, I later realized that my subconscious was not so subtly telling me to have patience with myself and those around me. I’m sure it was probably more about me, but I’ll throw loved ones in there too. Patience. Patience with myself and the acknowledgment that I am not Super Woman – although I’m still thinking about that for my Halloween costume this year.

Funny thing happened on my way to starting the show… I had found a little more energy once I realized I needed to get off my own back and PP (Practice Patience). Then the magic happened. Sheryl Roush began to share her message and I found myself kicked back taking it all in as if she was speaking just to me and I was gaining more energy and a little more happy in my tude the more she talked. Thankfully, on a day when I was off, my guest happened to be completely ON!

Did the fact that I was still behind and my hair was even worse after wearing a headset for the show go away? Nope. It was still there, but I was on a much better course than before – by far! I topped off my day with a conversation with a future radio show guest that blew me away with his story, passion and purpose. How cool is my ‘job?’ I get to talk to people who make great things happen and make a difference in the world – now that makes bad hair day pissiness go away every time.

Patience young grasshopper!

This morning the sun is shining and it is already 65 degrees and glorious!

The weather has been so yucky that I haven’t been able to take my dogs out for a walk most of the winter.  This morning we got to go out!  I have generations of animals in my house, including a young dog about two years old, a Yorkie that is about 11, and then my old lady (and best friend in the whole world), Ruby who is an Australian Cattle Dog.

Ruby made the trek from California with me back in 1997.  At that time she was about three years old.  That makes her about 16 now.  Back in 1998 to 2000, Ruby was my running partner for my marathon training. We spent hours –and hours – running the back roads in the small rural county in East Texas where we lived at the time.  She never slowed down and even sprinted the hills with me on hill training days.  Today, Ruby can’t make it very far past the driveway.  I can see it in her eyes that she wants to go further and she tries, but her wobbly legs just can’t do it anymore.  She has that fighter spirit though and she tries to go on, but I know if we venture too far away, she won’t be able to make it back without assistance.

This may seem like a sad story and I don’t want to make anyone sad, but there is happiness in this.  See, when I start thinking about the day Ruby won’t be by my side anymore, I do get teary eyed and sometimes I shed big ole crocodile tears, but mostly the tears are mixed with smiles and joy as I reflect on all the love, companionship and fun we’ve had over the years.  She is the most special dog.  She even saved my life on one of our long runs and found our Yorkie who was in an abusive situation.  I’ll tell you those stories someday.

So, those 2 hour runs have now become 10 minute slow walks up and down the driveway and on a good day we even make it to the neighbor’s house and back.  Those walks are special to me as I get to reflect on my life and my priorities and I find that I appreciate the aging process and life’s journey a bit more.

Just like I believe our children pick us to be their parents, I believe our pets do the same thing.  I will always remember the day I saw Ruby in the Butte County Humane Society.  While the other dogs were barking and jumping at the fences, she was the only dog quietly sitting in the middle of the kennel just looking at me with those liquid brown eyes.  She then lifted up a paw and waved it at me as if to say, “Hi, I’m here and you finally found me.”  I knew she was mine and I was hers.

I hope that in your life you find the same love and companionship with a dog that I have had with my Ruby.  She has made my life richer and fuller – more than I could have ever imagined.

Enjoy the ride!

Over the years, I have read many inspiring articles and books on how to attain the perfect balance between my personal (family) and professional (work) life.  I say they are inspiring because after reading through them, I get all excited with a renewed sense of determination that if I just use the tips, tricks and systems – I too can achieve that place of balance.  I envision it to be like all of the planets aligning just right, the clouds will part and the sun will shine brightly down right on me and I’ll hear trumpets!  Guess what?  It doesn’t happen.  I may get brief glimpses of that perfect world, but overall instead of living in a world of balance, I find my life is more like a teeter-totter.  And I find that a teeter totter is not so bad.

Think about being a kid at recess… Wasn’t the teeter-totter one of the most popular pieces of equipment on the playground?  There is a thrill in the going up and down.  And remember, what goes up, does come down.  So, I have accepted the fact that there will be times when my career is going to require a tremendous amount of my time and focus and that just means I must prioritize things at home so that the most important is taken care of.  The same applies when my I’m focusing on my personal life.

I have also found that the teeter-totter can go up and down several times a day or it can even get stuck in one position for a long time.  Either way, I remember that what goes up, must come down and to enjoy the ride along the way!

Oh, and that other piece of playground equipment – the merry go round – well, that will be part two coming soon.