life experiences

Focus…

~ lisagangone ~ Leave a comment

Have you ever been so busy your brain just cannot focus? That is how I feel right now in regards to my blog. My schedule just changed as it normally does in September but it takes me time to adjust even though I know it is going to happen. Then add in Jack adjusting and we are in for a good time! For over a week I have been trying to get ideas of what to write and its just not coming to me. So I have decided to write just about that. I may have told you in past blogs that I am going to college. Well, I have seven more classes and I will have my bachelor’s degree. It is so close yet so far away. It is in my sights for Spring 2017. This is my focus yet the rest of my life needs to move on too. So, I ask you how do you handle things when life is going in ten different directions?

I can tell you that Jack is not pleased with these schedule changes. Dogs are creatures of habit just like us humans. There are a few days of the week that have not changed and yet he is still off kilter those days too. Progress not perfection as they say. I am working on getting in my groove and in the meantime am plodding through. I guess you could say Jack is doing the same thing. Part of me feels as if we have regressed in his training because of the schedule change. I felt like I was going a little crazy for a while until I figured it out. Those “ahah” moments get me every time.

Admitting mistakes or in this case, a loss of ideas. In this world for the most part people are not given permission to admit mistakes without repercussions. In other words people are not allowed to be human. Why can’t we be allowed to be human, make mistakes, and learn from them? It is usually “society” or “work” that puts these pressures on us. For me if I do not admit my mistakes I do not grow and improve myself. Maybe I am delusional in my thinking but I am looking just for this humanness. What are you looking for?

I am making this posting short and sweet. I hope you can relate or know someone who does. Please share this with them if it can help.

 

Until next time…

~Lisa

Jack’s Tale…

~ lisagangone ~ Leave a comment

Well we have caught the groundhog!! I hired an animal control person. We caught the same possum three times so he moved the trap and put a bigger trap in. Then Sunday afternoon I heard some rustling and hurray he was caught! Oh what a relief it is. It was only a week but it was a long week. I still have some work to do in the dog pen but I will get there.

Onto Jack’s new training, the first session was more about changing my train of thought and how I handle Jack. I need to unlearn and relearn some new behaviors in order to change and train Jack’s behaviors. It went well and Jack is realizing things are changing and he is not very happy about it. I now walk around with a spray bottle filled with water to catch his attention when he is mouthing or jumping on me. At first I was not comfortable with this thinking it was cruel but now I understand it will help in his training. I am already seeing a difference in him and in me. It is amazing how aware I become when I consciously pay attention to my behaviors. Some of my instructions are not using certain words, not repeating myself, and do not use a question in a command to name a few. I thought I did not use those words such as come on and repeating myself oh boy that is a tough one.

This makes me ponder on how I do this in everyday life. Using particular words, yes I am predictable with that. Repeating myself oh yes that is a definite. What are some of your behaviors you need to work on? I am having quite a lot of awareness’s with this new adventure. This week with dealing with the groundhog taking control of a physical area in essence it affected the mental space in my head. Having to change my routine due to an outside force can really set me back if I let it. How about you?

Changing my behaviors-this has been a work in progress all of my adult life. Now I have a new set of circumstances to work on. I catch myself daily so I am aware of what I am doing but how to change it? Hmm-well change a thought move a muscle as they say. I know when I make positive changes life is good so this is another positive change in my life. I am always looking forward to learning something new daily. This helps me grow mentally and spiritually. How about you?

Life is getting better with Jack daily. He gets me going in the morning, makes me smile and laugh, and he does get on my nerves at times but that is just a part of life. But who does not have a person or animal in their life that does that?

 

Until next time…

~Lisa

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

Jack Continued…

~ lisagangone ~ Leave a comment

Well we continue to make progress. The groundhog is still with us as he ate all of my lettuce again! I have officially given up on growing lettuce and will go to a farmers market. The rest of my garden is flourishing which makes me happy. Jack is getting better around other dogs when walking. We even walked parallel with another dog and owner and I was able to have conversation! Yay Jack!

Jack loves to be out in his fenced area. This helps me out a lot and I am so happy he has adjusted to this. It helps when there is a storm or if it is too hot to walk him. He loves to run and jump. He has so much energy. Sometimes I think he has so much he has no way to get it all out.

What happens to you when you have too much energy? For me this usually happens when I have too much going on or if I am stressing over one particular issue. Finding a healthy release can be tough. This blog has become one of my releases. Meditation is another. My vegetable garden is a big release for me. This year I am doing a ton of yard work. The physical release of working in my yard has really helped me. There have been other years where I do not even want to deal with it. How do you release your energy without it overtaking you?

The biting well this is still going on. We have a consultation with a trainer who was referred to me. So we shall see what he has to say. My neighbor who is a trainer told me this was called mouthing. It can be quite daunting at times. This is my first experience with a dog doing this. I am sure there are times when Jack is frustrated and has no other way to voice this. Other times I know he is playing but it gets to be too much. I am hoping this trainer will be able to help.

This brings me to how do you act when you are frustrated? For me it does not always come out very nicely. Most of the time I am more frustrated with myself than with others. I work on not beating myself up for my mistakes but do my best to learn from them. My attitude at times needs adjustment along the way when I am in a state of frustration. Attitude adjustments are always are process for me. Working out of a state of mind is a process for me. For Jack he seems to let go pretty easily. Why can’t we humans do the same? Oh the clutter in our brains gets in the way sometimes.

Animals really have no control over their environments. Can you imagine living this way? Having control as human beings is a large part of our comfort. When chaos ensues some of us thrive on it while others retreat. Imagine not having control?

As always I would love to hear your experiences.

Until next time…

~Lisa

Just Jack…

~ lisagangone ~ 2 Comments

Well it has been two months since adopting Jack. Each day he is improving. Let me explain why. Jack is from North Carolina. He was rescued off the streets. He is a little over two years old. He still has puppy in him and a bunch of survival skills from living on the streets. I sense he has been abused as well. A retired couple adopted him and returned him because they could not handle his energy. This is how Jack came to me; he was sent back-rejected. Bottom line Jack has had a rough beginning in his life. I am determined to change this. Sometimes I question my determination because of where it takes me sometimes.

Jack is a collie/shepherd mixed breed. He is a herding dog and in his eyes he needs to herd me and this has been difficult. I am his pack. There have been times in the past two months where I have “lost” it when it comes to his biting. I was talking to an old dear friend last night that went through the same thing. She told me to hang in there because it does get better. It already has but I still want this behavior stopped yesterday. Progress not perfection. Since he was on the streets he has food issues. I cannot eat with him in the room or even in the house. Ugh… It is getting better I have been able to prepare food somewhat. Hopefully we will tackle this before winter arrives. I think he is in a constant state of what if I don’t have any food? He does not quite get the concept he is being taken care of. Hmm this could relate to me on so many different levels. What about you? Fear of the unknown it can be debilitating and when you have no control over your circumstances such as a dog that fear can fester and come out in behaviors that are not so enjoyable to the recipient.

I have this really big fenced in area for a dog pen. It takes up most of my backyard. At first he did not understand the concept of having his own space. I needed him to walk him in there daily for him to understand. Now he goes in there and hangs out. Not quite getting the concept of doing his “business” but we will get there.

On a positive note I am walking between three and four miles a day. I am in pretty good shape thanks to Jack. My nutrition is great but I had not been exercising. He gets me walking in my neighborhood. I have met a few neighbors I did not know; thank you Jack. Having a dog can boost your social life in your neighborhood. Unfortunately he has taken to jumping after ongoing cars. Another dog owner who is a trainer recommended taking treats to distract him. It has helped. Movement affects him. Movement can affect anyone who has experienced abuse of any kind.

It was recommended to me to blog about Jack. What I can tell you is the last few months have been difficult and enjoyable all at once. I am having awareness’s along the way. Everything can parallel in ways we would never think of.

So I ask you this. This blog may be about a dog but what I wrote about can be relatable if you take the time to reflect upon it. What can you reflect on, be aware of, and say yes this makes sense…

 

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

Preconceived Notions, Assumptions, Perceptions Oh My!

~ lisagangone ~ Leave a comment

Ahh, preconceived notions, assumptions, and perceptions… The human race has so many different variations of these. These seem to pop up on a daily basis. How do you overcome these? How have come to handle these three anomalies? It can be tiring and draining. What I find that amazes me is you do not even realize it is happening and when it happens it throws a curve in that is difficult to bounce back from. But you can bounce back!

Bouncing back is self-care and forward motion. I do not need to sit in these three notions, assumptions, and perceptions in check. It goes both ways, as does anything else. Lately this has been happening to me and I need to look at my part in each situation. It is important to me to be a better person, a trustworthy person, a credible person, an ethical person, and a person who is open to hearing when I am wrong and have the ability to change for the better. I live in the mindset of self-development on a daily consistent basis. It is important me to grow mentally and spiritually. Learning something new everyday inspires me to improve and be a better person.

We need these reminders to help us stay in the moment, for me it is looking at myself but not beating myself up, but to see where I can improve. It is not always enjoyable but it does bring me back to me and to work and learn on how to improve myself. I can embrace my imperfections, acknowledge them, and move on to what I need to do for myself.

My goal is to attract positive people and influences into my life. I cannot do this if I do not move away from my misconceptions. I choose not to do the blame game. I choose to bring awareness, acceptance, and action into my life to help me move in the right direction. Wouldn’t it feel great to surround yourself with goodness? It brings my vibrations into a positive light and propels me to continue to work towards my goals and dreams.

Life takes us I so many directions and I know I can get caught up in “stuff.” What about you, how do you get “unstuck from the stuff?” I would love to hear from you and have you share what tools you use to overcome these.

Juggling Acts

~ lisagangone ~ 1 Comment

Life is a juggling act of the many different directions our lives take us through. We grow up thinking about all the adventures we will have when we are adults. Then what happens? We become responsible, get a job, fall in love and get married, buy a home, have children, and settle in to a routine. What happened to the adventures we were going to have? Well for me the only part I did not do was having children. I did not go on those adventures my friends and I dreamt of. I do have fur babies. In fact I just adopted a new fur baby and this is where the juggling act begins today for me.

Working from home, keeping focused and motivated, keeping a schedule to stay on target with goals are some of the struggles we all go through. Now I just added a new fur baby and my juggling act gets larger. Don’t get me wrong I am excited and feeling blessed I finally have a pet in my home once again. It has given me an added purpose and once again that word responsibility comes up again!

I started out by talking about what we think about growing up and what we actually do for a reason. I know for me since I have started my journey of entrepreneurship I have made so many business acquaintances and friends who stay on the path of routine and others that have taken the path of adventure. I believe I am on the cusp of both. I am dipping my feet in to test the waters. But what I have also found is my views of what is important to me have changed. So I ask you what has changed for you? Do you want to test the waters or dive in feet first?

What has changed for me? The first big change is I am no longer materialistic. Granted I like having things but these things are different and there are less of them today. I am living simplistically and am enjoying this change. Because of this I feel I have more opportunities to bring to my life. I know you are thinking what does this have to do with juggling life? Well as we grow in self-development, change our priorities, and open ourselves to opportunities we bring more into our lives. So how do we juggle life?

Okay you can probably tell from my writing that I am not a planner. So how do us non-planners juggle? The planners have this down pat; well at least it looks like they do. From the suggestion of a friend I carry a notebook to write down things I need to do as they come up and then schedule them into my week. This is a great tool for me. I carry a planner as well as inputting into my phone because it seems to help me stay on point. Some may say its not needed in our digital world but it helps me.

So my ask of this blog post is to please comment and tell me what works for you in your juggling sphere of life…

 

Until next time…

~Lisa

 

 

Storytelling: Tell Your Story You Just Might Help Someone Tell Theirs

~ lisagangone ~ Leave a comment

I would like to tell you a bit of my story. I did not attend college after graduating high school; I went straight into the workforce. I began working in the retail industry and worked my way up to management.

I stayed with my first company for 19 years until the company went out of business. I worked for three other corporations and it was at that last company that I realized I would not go any further because I was lacking a college degree. I decided to go back to school. My life and career seemed to be at a standstill and it was time to make a change. I decided to try one class to see if I could do it. Not only could I do it, but also I loved it! So began my journey of getting my degree. I enjoyed learning, keeping busy, and not being a couch potato any longer. I met a lot of different people and felt alive again, well almost. My job was not going well so at least I had school to keep me going. I received my Associates Degree in Business Administration in 2013. I am continuing towards my bachelor’s degree in Communications.

I am telling you the next part of my story because it ties into what happened to my corporate life. Towards the end of 2010, one snowy day I was driving uphill and a vehicle in the other lane lost control and hit me head on. Both airbags went off and I was knocked out (I believe physically and emotionally). My body was traumatized and I ended up having back surgery because nothing else could help me. I can tell you this that a power greater than me had plans for me to slow my life down.

The surgery helped me but needless to say my body was not the same. I was not able to do the things I needed to do to take care of myself, my home, and having a physical job I was not able to perform my duties at full capacity. I was pushing my body at work because of the fear of losing that job. Well, I did lose that job and honestly it was a blessing in disguise. I continued with school because it was the one thing besides my dogs (my kids) that made me happy.

The reason I am sharing my story is that I know there are others who have experienced similar situations and struggles. This past February 14th was my four-year anniversary of being out of the corporate world.I did not know losing my job would be the best thing that could have happened to me. I have met others who feel the same way. I had never been terminated from a job ever, but I now know that is okay as someone I met said, “I did not die.” I am surviving, even better I am thriving. I have met so many people in the past four years that I have been able to relate to because their stories are my story. So I ask you what is your story and how are you using your story to change and be your authentic you?

Until next time…

Lisa