fears

What is Next for Jack?

~ lisagangone ~ Leave a comment

Well I can tell you it will not be any more encounters with the groundhog! OMG that was an experience I do not want to repeat. As I have mentioned I have a groundhog living underneath my garage. Come to find out he has made a few homes in the neighborhood. This past Sunday evening Jack was out in his area while I was having dinner. I had cleaned up and he was ready to come in when he spots Mr. Groundhog and goes after him. Well the groundhog does not go through his escape hatch and they are nose to nose. Without thinking I run into the pen. Then the groundhog comes running my way! Needless to say what came out of my mouth was not pleasant! I got out and Jack corners it. Well my screaming gets some of my neighbors out to see what’s happening. They kept me somewhat calm. I honestly did not know what to do. I have dealt with rabbits, birds, and skunks but never a groundhog. I threw treats, his ball at Jack but no luck. I called the police to try to get animal control but it would take an hour. The officer on the phone probably thought I was crazy for calling. He asked me if I could get the leash around him and I told him I was calling because I had no idea what to do. While on the phone with him I had a light bulb go off. I grabbed Jack by his big fluffy tail and dragged him out. Mind you he did not react well but I got him out. Phew what a workout that was. Adrenalin pumping and relief all at once, luckily Jack had no bites and no blood on him.

Have you ever done something that put you in a corner or panicked and made a decision you regretted? Then of course fear kept you nose to nose and pride kept you from pulling back. I think this is where Jack and the groundhog were. Defensive and reactive all at once; this is quite draining. What lessons have you learned from past situations that help you in the present? I am so appreciative of my experiences whether it is a lesson learned or a successful event. But in the thick of things I do not always see it that way. Today I have gratitude around my mistakes and the growth I gain from them. It is helpful in business to have this attitude. I know that even though many have said no to me I will have those who say yes. It can be frustrating at times and I work on not taking it personally. Most times it is what is going on with the other person and not me is what it comes down to. I need to remind myself of this and keep moving forward. Tenacity is a powerful tool to stay focused on my goals. How about you? How do you use tenacity to keep you focused?

I had someone come this morning to set a trap for the groundhog. I will keep you posted on how it goes. For now Jack’s area is off limits until the groundhog is caught. Hopefully soon as this is putting a damper on daily life for us; I am a little ticked off but will get over it.

Until next time…

~Lisa

Hope For Jack…

~ lisagangone ~ Leave a comment

Well the consultation with the dog trainer went well. We have signed on and I have hope for Jack and I. We meet next week for the first time and I have some tools to use in the meantime. Jack has a very dominant personality and this trainer is a behaviorist, which gives me hope. With the few tools I have I am already seeing a difference. I have been able to sit down for longer periods of time and it has only been one day. Jack is not very happy with me at the moment but in the long run I think we will have a wonderful life together. It feels good to have hope.

For me when I have hope my entire outlook on life changes. The mind is an amazing tool. It can be dangerous and amazing all at once. When those positive vibes start flowing you never know what will come next. I just had a session with my business-coaching group on the inner voice. This all connects for me. I am so concerned about what Jack has been through that I am overcompensating and he is one smart dog. He knows how to work his momma. How do you overcompensate in your life? Recognizing the signs and having those “ahah” moments can change my direction.

These past three months have thrown me off my compass. Introducing Jack into my life, working with him, helping him feel safe and loved even though I feel he has been fighting it subconsciously. His fears come out in different ways and he does not have control over his circumstances. Acting out is his only way to protect himself from the unknown. This training will help the both of us. I will be trained along with Jack. So I still have some learning to do.

Ah, learning this is something I love to do. It is not always easy changing how I do things or how I think but the end result is usually quite beneficial. How do you learn and grow from your experiences? Is it difficult or easy for you? I think when I am accepting and embrace the learning it goes so much easier. When I fight it all I do is hurt myself. I think when Jack learns he still is loved and cared for the training will go much easier. I am excited for our next journey together.

Just this one visit with the trainer has calmed me. I am not as crazy with Jack. I hope I can keep this up until Wednesday. There have been times I have been a crazy person and I do not like myself when I get this way with him. I was at my wits end and had no idea what to do. I was referred to this trainer through this blog. One Facebook message and I have hope. See what a little sharing can do. Amazing happenings here in the world of the Internet. How has sharing information helped you? I love when people share information and it helps someone out. We do it everyday. What information have you shared that has helped someone? Food for thought…

 

Until next time…

~Lisa

Our Past Propels Us to the Present, Then to the Future…

~ lisagangone ~ Leave a comment

The past propels us to the present, which then propels us into the future. Ah, the past it can be so convoluted yet just what helps us move forward to the present. Life has not always been good for me. I have had my share of struggles just as everyone else has. I choose to acknowledge my past, learn from it, and see where it takes me. I have written a little bit about my past so here it comes again. But in this light I will write about what it has given me. What has your past given you? A friend posted a blog on Facebook this morning challenging the “Everything happens for a reason” quote in a blog. Sometimes I believe that but other times I know it is me who has brought me to a particular point. Whether it was me being in fear of “what might happen if I take a chance” or struggling and losing myself in hanging on to something that will eventually go away of my own making or of things out of my control. Thank you Mom for reminding me of my past. It has me reflecting of how far I have come from this past experience.

Today I choose to acknowledge what part I played and how I thought if I just tried harder and worked harder I could fix this! I am smiling right now because there was nothing I could have done to change the outcome. The only change I could have made to change the outcome was to walk away. But I was not ready for that step. I needed the proverbial kick in the butt to move me in a new direction. What kicks in the butt have you had to move you in a new direction? It is funny in a philosophical funny kind of way of where this experience has taken me. This experience has given me the opportunity to be open in ways I had never imagined were possible. I was still fearful but had made peace with my fear and welcomed what was to come.

The people I have met in the present have been propelling me to my future. Those little miraculous steps of taking a chance brought me to these people. I have so much gratitude for this. My present is nothing like I imagined it to be. I still have struggles; who doesn’t? But today I surround myself with people who care, who have similar experiences, and can help with solutions. How is your present propelling you to your future?

The future, well it is still uncertain. This is okay because I can work towards my goals and dreams without hesitating about the future. I look forward to the future because it is always bringing me to new possibilities. I can acknowledge my fears then send them on a coffee break as my business coach tells me. What do you do to send your fears on a coffee break? How has your past, present, and future changed your life?

Until next time…

~Lisa