Little Detours

When you become a first-time dog owner, it helps to adopt the motto: Overprepare and go with the flow.

And yes, that might mean the flow of dog pee all over your living room floor.

Naming a dog isn’t easy. Who actually decides? Me? My husband? Our three grandkids? Their parents? This was going to be a family dog, so all 7 of us were in on the choosing.

There are so many things to consider when naming a dog, especially when you’ve never had a dog and you’re 64 and it’s probably the only dog you’re ever going to have in your life.

A dog’s name can’t be one that’s embarrassing to scream at the top of your lungs when it runs away, so Poopsy Pie, Sprinkles and Mister Snuggles were out. Find out what we chose and how, and steal from our list of the great names we didn’t choose.

I’m not a dog person. So why is there a giant dog crate in the corner of my living room?

Blame the grandkids. All three of them. Grandkids have a way of cracking open your heart. And that’s what happened. My heart cracked open.

During the pandemic, the grandkids were begging for pet and settled on a gerbil. Then one day our 9-year-old granddaughter announced, “I don’t know why we’re talking gerbils when we should be talking puppies.”

That was the moment. Our hearts opened wide to a pandemic puppy.

Listen to Part 1 of our journey to create a generation of dog lovers. It’s the story of how two non-dog lovers became pet people to transform their family forever into dog people.

It all started with the decision to love one puppy for life. And oh, what a life changer it has been.

Elton John was right. “Sorry” seems to be the hardest word. Why is it so hard to give an apology?

Most people don’t know how to apologize. We’re all pretty clumsy at it. We say, “If I offended you, I’m sorry.” Or, “Sorry you feel that way.” Or, say “I owe you an apology” yet never give one.

An apology includes the words, “I’m sorry.” Those two words can repair and right a relationship forever. No one likes to admit they’re wrong, but we’re all wrong some of the time. And sometimes our wrongs hurt others.

Albert Einstein said if he had an hour to solve a problem and his entire life depended upon the solution, he’d spend the first 55 minutes asking the right questions.

Do you believe the Universe is a friendly place? What is the kindest thing to do right now? If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today? Apple founder Steve Jobs urged people to ask themselves that question, and if the answer was “No,” then change your life.

Discover the power of asking the right questions.

What’s on your Bucket List? It’s a list of all the things you want to experience before you “kick the bucket.” Things to try before you die.

It’s the opposite of homework. Instead of focusing on your life’s work, you focus on your life’s play and make sure you live your big adventure here.

When you turn your Bucket List into a Bucket Life, everyone benefits from what’s on your list.

People say “get out of your comfort zone.” Sometimes you actually need to climb into it, get cozy and savor it.

You can create a Comfort Zone out of your favorite chair, a nightstand or a corner of a room. You just need a spot that is all yours that brings you a measure of peace where you can reboot and restore your life.

We could all benefit from professional help. Getting counseling might be the best thing you ever do for yourself.

If you were broken and bruised from childhood abuse or neglect, or sexually abused as a teenager or young adult, you don’t have to keep tiptoeing around the minefield of your past to avoid explosions of shame, anger and rage. You don’t have to feel desperate and hungry and lost your whole life.

There is joy on the other side of all that pain. Find it.

You are beautiful. When was the last time you looked in the mirror and believed it?

Too often we are our own worst enemies. Some of the meanest things said about us are said by us.

We need to honor our bodies, no matter what size or shape or age we are, and believe this truth about ourselves: we are beautiful, as is, right now.

With one daily act of kindness, you could change the world. So why don’t you?

Imagine if we all said, did, posted, shared, clicked and liked only content that was kind. We could start a revolution.

Let’s do it!