sharing your story

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

Finding Balance With Jack…

~ lisagangone ~ Leave a comment

Well it has been about four months since Jack has come into my life. I have had to make some changes to my schedule to ensure Jack is taken care of. This brings me to the topic of balance. I have many layers to my life and work as so many others do. I have a “job,” school, self-employment in multiple businesses, self-care, and care of others within my businesses. Jack has played an important part in those changes. I need to make sure I am home to feed him, exercise him, train him, and most of all to enjoy him. Because of that I need to schedule around him. This was a personal choice for me. I love having a dog in my home for me it completes my home. What completes your home?

For me schoolwork is structured and I know when I need to accomplish tasks. I know Jack’s schedule and what I need to do. I have set schedules with some clients and others I work around my schedule. When it comes to building my businesses I have no set schedule. As an entrepreneur scheduling time is on me. Sometimes this goes well for me and other times not so much. What about you, how do you manage your time? This can be a blessing and a curse for the self-employed. Time freedom needs balance, as does life itself. I need to build my business around Jack and myself.

Right now I am looking at and assessing the common threads of all of what I do. Synergism is very important to me in all aspects of my life. I find when I have continuity I have momentum and this is a great feeling. When I do not have continuity I can get in my own way. Does this happen to you? I would love your feedback on this. I love that each part of my life has a common thread. Jack has helped me see this. I have been given lessons and continue to have lessons with Jack. I love to learn even if frustration comes through. Once I am through it I appreciate it so much more.

Balance can mean different things to each person. It is what drives us although sometimes what drives us takes us completely out of balance. Some people are laser focused, others middle of the road, and others not so much. Where do you stand on balance? A little pun on words there! As I sit here writing I am looking at my vision boards. I am noticing a common thread of simplicity. My balance is within simplicity. Gardening, meditation, music, animals, yet finding balance when adding work is where I am at right now. It is daily work to keep balance in all areas of my life. As I have been told many times and truly believe it is in the journey that we find our balance. The road may be bumpy at times but it will lead to the place of balance we all need and want.

 

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

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

Natural Alternatives-What Does This Mean To You

~ lisagangone ~ Leave a comment

Natural alternatives-what does this exactly mean? For me it is a way for me to protect my health. For others it could be making the big decision to change their lifestyle. Well, it is a lifestyle change and one that can be designed on an individual basis depending upon ones belief system. I am embracing my spirit of my individuality within my lifestyle. In today’s society so many people are embracing lifestyle changes it seems to be the norm instead of the strange and oh they are doing what?

I started seeing a naturopath doctor many years ago and shifted to natural alternatives. I believe this is a path that takes time, learning, and applying the knowledge we gain. For me it started with food. It has eventually enveloped cleaning products, personal care, spirituality, and as much as I possibly can to become sustainable and healthy. Even when we take care of ourselves we can have bumps along the way. I did have some major bumps that set me back. I chose to keep moving forward and to search for solutions. I continue to be open to opportunities to improve my health and well being-physically and mentally.

Did you ever have someone introduce you to something that changed your life? I find it inspiring when I hear this because I had someone do this for me. It does not even have to be someone close to you. In fact it is probably better that it isn’t. We tend not to listen to those we are close to. It is usually someone who we are introduced to who introduces us to someone else. I hear people all of the time recommending a restaurant, a doctor, or something someone has had such a great experience that they want to share it with others. I know I am always recommending something all of the time. So if we recommend these things why not recommend natural alternatives? I know I value others opinions and experiences. Don’t you?

The main natural alternatives I have added to my life have helped me become whole once again. I thought I would never gain back my physical wellness but I have. I am inviting you to take a look at how I did this http://www.lisagangone.myqivana.com.

Wherever I go I run into people that have made lifestyle changes either by choice or by circumstance. Mine was by circumstance and I wish it was the latter but I made the change and that is what counts.

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Have you made natural alternative choices? Have you made a lifestyle change? What have you done in your life or what caused you to make those changes?

Here is a video that can help you understand why I chose this company.

https://youtu.be/OMNg8BQ6xxM

 

I hope if this resonates with you or you know of someone that could be helped you forward this information to them. If I can help someone else like someone helped me it validates my decisions even more so.

 

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