Posts from the ‘Personal’ Category

Biscuit My Teacher

For those who have been following my blog know that little Biscuit is our furbaby!  He arrived to live with us on January 7, 2011, after first meeting him and adopting him on December 24, 2010.  Biscuit has literally gone through a swift and wonderful transformation from a very sad and extremely timid dog living on the streets of North Carolina to a confident, loyal, and loving companion who travels with us almost every place we go!  Our lives are so much richer with Biscuit!

Live in the Present

Biscuit does not regret the past or ruminate about the future.  Biscuit lives here, now, and in this moment, responding to whatever is happening around him.  Biscuit reminds me to live in the present and to be present for him.

How much time do we spend in the past or the future?  How much ‘now time’ do we waste by going over what happened yesterday, last week, last month, last year, or by worrying about what might happen tomorrow?  When we do this, we lose some of the precious moments that are happening now because we are really just in our heads most of the time.  Also, the greatest gift to our animals to live in the present with them.  I practice being present with Biscuit each day.

Remember to Play

As humans, I think we forget this.  In our modern and fast-paced world, it seems to be all work and very little play.  Some people forget how to laugh because playtime is not regular enough.

I have learned to play more — especially with Biscuit!  Even though I have work to complete, I do it with a much more relaxed attitude, which is far healthier.

It is also good for the heart.  Playing with a dog generates oxytocin, a hormone that helps reduce stress and promotes happiness.  Overall and all the way around, dogs (animals) really help us in many ways and they enrich our lives!

Our greatest teachers are closer than we think

I now understand why some people say, ‘Did you know that Dog is God spelled backwards?’  I understand it now.   It is so simple, yet profound.

I believe that I have gently and gradually grown in mindfulness and awareness; however, being with Biscuit has led to awakenings in my life during this small segment of time.  Biscuit has been my/our teacher — he has opened my heart to new experiences.  He has taught me to be more present, aware, and patient.  He has also taught me to have more gratitude for the small things in life.  To me, what seems like something very small, makes a huge difference in Biscuit’s  life, impacting his happiness.   Biscuit is also my muse.  I likely have thousands of photos of our little man documenting our time together!  Biscuit came into our lives at the perfect time.  I truly believe that he is meant to be with us — he has truly captured our hearts forever.  I believe animals have a way in teaching us all about ourselves if we are willing to open our hearts and invest in the experience completely.

Biscuit and me on top of Mount Equinox!

Project Life 365

Project Life 365 is a photo-a-day challenge that brings creatives together under a common interface to utilize their creativity.  Each day a “daily inspiration” is provided that will stimulate your creative juices!  (You can provide yourself  with your own direction instead of using the daily prompts!)  It does not matter whether you are literal, logical, or a free spirit; there are no wrong answers.  You can use your own DSLR camera and/or the camera on your phone.  The outcome of this project is that you will create and accumulate many images documenting your daily life.

I think that this is a neat project idea!  I typically photograph something virtually everyday, but I never thought of creating a project out of my daily photographs.   Because I like to document our little Biscuit, I photograph him just about everyday!  Even though the year is half over already (the time if flying), I think that I might give this project a try to capture and document some moments that I would not ordinarily think of capturing!  If you are interested in starting your own Project Life 365, you can read more here!

Here is a recent image of little Biscuit enjoying an outing!  (More photos of Biscuit are coming soon!)

The Simple Benefits of Spending Time in Nature

John Keats once wrote, “The poetry of the earth is never dead.”

Almost all of us have been moved by nature at one time or another.  Whether it is walking on the beach; walking alongside a stream or river; watching a sunset; listening to the birds chirping; or hearing the wind blow through the trees in the morning, nature can make you feel energized and alive.  Research indicates that there are rich and measurable benefits to being in nature.

“Research has shown that people with a greater sense of vitality don’t just have more energy for things they want to do, they are also more resilient to physical illnesses.  One of the pathways to health may be to spend more time in natural settings,”  Richard Ryan.

Why is time in nature important?  A series of studies in 2010 coordinated by Richard Ryan, professor of psychology at the University of Rochester confirms that the experience of being in natures causes people to feel more alive.  Ryan sums it up by saying, “Often when we feel depleted we reach for a cup of coffee, but research suggests a better way to get energized is to connect with nature.”  Better yet, nature not only makes us feel more alive and energized, it has proven to benefit both our mental and physical health, and our overall sense of well-being.

Ryan and others conducted a series of tests using college students to prove their point.  In one test subjects were taken on either a 15-minute walk in nature or another in a building with long hallways.  A second test had participants view a slide show of nature shots or in contrast, buildings around the country.  A third test asked those involved to imagine themselves in a variety of situations both active and sedentary, as well as inside a building or outside.   In addition, subjects spent a series of days recording their exercise, social interactions, time spent outside and inside (including time with by windows and with plants).   According to the test results in every single instance, those involved felt consistently more energetic when they spent time in natural surroundings.  Just 20 minutes a day was a significant benchmark for improved vitality.

I agree with Ryan’s research findings summarized above — I feel better and more energized after being outside.  While we were in Vermont, the temperatures were cool and the views were beautiful.  It felt really nice to spend our days outside surrounded by the mountains versus f inside behind a computer screen.  It was very peaceful and serene — a welcome change.  Of course, we enjoyed being with little Biscuit who was always making sure that he is not being left behind!  Doug and I did not leave him by himself at all — thank goodness everything was dog friendly!  When we packed the bulk of our things in the car the night before our departure, Biscuit patiently sat beside the car to ensure that he was not going to be left at the hotel!  Biscuit was on “high alert!”  Nevertheless, Biscuit had a great time!  (I hope to share more photos soon after I have a chance to finish editing the images from our trip!)  Even though we now are playing “catch up,” it was a welcome change to mix things up with a change of scenery and connect with nature!

It is incredibly hot and humid right now in Maryland, but we are looking forward to spending more time outside!  Below are a few photographs of the beautiful views of Vermont!

Happy Thursday!