Be Your Own Party

Posted December 31, 2011 By Ande and has 7 comments.

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day and other parties are great, but why wait for a get-together to have a good time?

Joyful Springers are their own party. They know how to make every day a celebration. They do it by combining appreciation with a focus on finding what’s right about the world around them.

As you start this new year, forget typical resolutions that you’ll probably forget about within a few weeks. Instead, set a simple intention to go through the year in “party mode.” Celebrate your world everyday with appreciation and the desire to find the good in your life.

May your New Year be filled with pawsitively joyful tail-wags!

[Ruffles is back. Joan Howe says her sweet girl was very brave about balloons. And obviously, she knew how to be the star of her own party! ]

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Categories: Appreciation, Feeling Good, Focus, Fun, Springer Spaniel

Tags: Appreciation, celebration, Dogs, English springer spaniel, Feeling Good, focus on the good, new years resolutions, party, spaniel, Springer Spaniel, springers

Use What You Get

Posted December 27, 2011 By Ande and has 4 comments.

The presents have been opened. Did you get what you wanted? Or are you wishing for something else?

Joyful Springers use what they get. They may have wants that haven’t yet been fulfilled, but in the meantime, they have a ball with whatever they have received from the universe (and from their loved ones).

The truth is you’ll never get everything you want because part of life is generating new desires all the time. So never lament what you haven’t gotten. Just have fun with what you did get. When you do, more will be on its way to you in no time.

[Mattie's back. Brenda's lovely girl obviously understands how to get the most enjoyment out of what she gets. ]

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Categories: Abundance, Appreciation, Fun, Giving, Springer Spaniel

Tags: Acceptance, Appreciation, Dogs, English springer spaniel, presents, spaniel, Springer Spaniel, springers

Grasp The Bird In Hand

Posted November 21, 2011 By Ande and has 3 comments.

In a material society that places so much attention on shopping and acquiring, sometimes it’s tough to “count our blessings.”

Joyful Springers grasp the bird in hand. They spend more time appreciating what they have … and savoring the heck out of it, instead of focusing on what they want next.

Of course it’s fine to desire things. Desire is energy that expands us. But appreciation for what we already have is the foundation of desire. If you don’t savor what is already yours, you’ll probably miss the joy of anything new you acquire. When you find yourself longing for things you don’t think you can get, take a moment to relish everything that’s already in your life.

[Murph is back. Helen Gibbons' nephew's handsome boxer clearly has the hang of "a bird in hand," or rather, in paw. Helen and her husband, Rich, gave Murph the toy in this photo, and Murph wasn't about to let it go. ]

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Categories: Appreciation, Springer Spaniel

Tags: a bird in hand, Appreciation, boxers, count your blessings

Cluster Good

Posted November 10, 2011 By Ande and has no comments yet.

“There was a little girl who had a little curl right in the middle of her forehead. When she was good, she was very, very good, and when she was bad, she was horrid.” Remember that old ditty? It’s a great reminder of how bad draws in more bad and good draws in more good and how we can choose which clump–bad or good–we want to create.

Joyful Springers cluster good. They consciously choose to lump together as much good as they can by refusing to linger too long on the bad things in life.

When something doesn’t go your way, you can complain about it and talk about it to whoever will listen. But when you do that, you’re inviting more things to go wrong. Instead of issuing that invitation, you can invite things to go right by turning your attention to what has already gone right for you. For every “wrong” thing, if you really look, you’ll probably find dozens of right things to focus on, and when you focus on them, they bring in even more right things to a happy cluster of great experiences.

[The TJ's Bed & Biscuit rescue pups are back. These cuties were rescued by Savings Grace Rescue of Raleigh, North Carolina, cared for at TJs and eventually placed in their forever homes. Do they make one of the cutest clusters ever or what? ]

JUST A NOTE: In the November 5 post of Ducky with her walking stick, wearing her Commando Ducky Outfit, I included a link where you can donate to the site if you want. That link went wonky on me and didn’t work. Several of you (thank you!) e-mailed me and asked me about it. If you do want to donate, you can use the link that does work: Look to the right side of the Joyful Springer website, at the picture of Ducky that says, “I pose for treats. Donate to my treat fund?” Click on that picture and it should take you to the Paypal donation page. Thanks so much to those of you who have donated!! Ducky has wagged herself silly in appreciation!

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Categories: Appreciation, Feeling Good, Focus, Law of attraction, Springer Spaniel

Tags: Dogs, Focus, law of attraction, rescue dogs

Keep Your Eye On The Little Duck

Posted August 20, 2011 By Ande and has 1 comment.

A popular book title tells us, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” And as that applies to life’s petty annoyances, it’s good advice. But overall, it’s not the best idea.

Joyful Springers keep their eye on the little duck. They understand that life is all about the “small stuff.” They know the best parts of living aren’t the big moments that get all the attention and hoopla but instead are the little moments of simple pleasure.

When you’re lining up the ducks of your daily life, don’t pay too much attention to the “big ducks” of major projects or accomplishments. Instead, zero in on the “little ducks” of a dog’s tail wag, a child’s giggle, the smell of the air after a rain, the satisfaction of sitting down and putting your feet up. It’s the “little ducks” (the small stuff) that make life worthwhile.

[Ducky was fascinated by the little rubber ducks in the box of goodies Helen and Rich Gibbons (momma and daddy of Pump, Butch, & Angel Riley sent us! ]

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Categories: Appreciation, Beauty, Springer Spaniel

Tags: Dogs, don't sweat the small stuff, English springer spaniel, simple pleasures, spaniels, springer spaniels, springers

Slurp Often

Posted July 28, 2011 By Ande and has 4 comments.

Slurrrrrrp! Rarely do you hear this sound except when someone is savoring the pleasure of something yummy.

Joyful Springers slurp often. They understand that every part of life has yumminess in it, and the best way to remind yourself of that is to go into everything with a “what’s here to slurp?” attitude.

Even the things we dread, even our biggest challenges, even our most emotional moments have something in them to savor. Getting in the habit of making a little slurp sound now then can remind you to look for the tasty aspects of all of your experiences.

[Nellie's back. Betsy Kiehl's sweetie recently turned two years old, and she's slurping up the fun. Betsy said Nellie was born in the same month that Betsy's last beloved Springer, Charlie, was born. So she was born the same month and year that Charlie died. I often think that our older dogs somehow pave the way for their replacements before they leave. Betsy says that Nellie has helped ease the heartbreak of losing Charlie. I know what she means because Ducky has done the same, helping Tim and me through the loss of our Muggins.]

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Categories: Appreciation, Create your reality, Feeling Good, Focus, Fun

Tags: English springer spaniel, Feeling Good, Fun, in the moment, positive aspects, spaniels, Springer Spaniel, springers

Be In The Forefront

Posted July 2, 2011 By Ande and has no comments yet.

Do you hide your talents and assets behind too much humility?

Joyful Springers are in the forefront. They know they’re “all that,” and they are happy for others to know it. They know they can be confident and assured without being obnoxious about it.

You have so much to offer the world. Don’t ever let others (those flashy flowery folks or flag-wavers diminish your wonder. Own your awesomeness!

[Mattie's back. This gorgeous North Carolina girl loves to pose for the camera, and she's a natural, isn't she? ]

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Categories: Appreciation, Authenticity, Confidence

Tags: Authenticity, Confidence, English springer spaniel, spaniels, springer spaniels, springers

Unbox The Goodies

Posted May 30, 2011 By Ande and has 1 comment.

Every morning when you wake up, you have a choice. You can either approach your day as if it was routine and go through the motions OR you can open your day the Joyful Springer way:

Joyful Springers unbox the goodies. They see each day as a package of delightful gifts waiting to be explored and savored.

Your mindset creates your experience. So what are you going to choose today?

[Ducky had a grand time exploring the goodies in the fun box from Helen and Rich Gibbons (Pump, Butch, & Angel Riley's momma and daddy). They sent us wonderful toys and treats for Ducky and other great gifts--all with a "ducky" and doggy theme. It was a delightful surprise!! Thanks, Helen & Rich!! ]
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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Categories: Appreciation, Focus, Springer Spaniel

Tags: dog, English springer spaniel, Focus, gifts, Joy, mindset, spaniel, springer

Get Shoes

Posted April 26, 2011 By Ande and has 2 comments.

Author Jonathan Swift wrote, “The stoical scheme of supplying our wants by lopping off our desires, is like cutting off our feet when we want shoes.”

Joyful Springers get shoes. They never, ever, ever make themselves feel better by giving up on their desires and “settling.”

You can appreciate what you have without giving up the desire for more. In fact, loving your life will take you to the life you love.

[Mollie's back. This sweet rescue dog from England, who helps his momma Donna with her coaching business, clearly enjoys her shoe-stealing. ]

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Categories: Appreciation, Create your reality, Dreams, Springer Spaniel

Tags: desires, jonathan swift, lopping off our desires, mixed breed, rescue dog

Keep Track Of Your Golden Balls

Posted April 21, 2011 By Ande and has no comments yet.

Actor, Max Beerbolm, said, “Some people are born to lift heavy weights, some are born to juggle golden balls.”

What if YOU were born to juggle the golden balls of joy, love, and prosperity?

If you believe you were, you were.

Joyful Springers keep track of their golden balls. They know they came into this world to feel great and help others feel great, and they always keep that knowing close

[Steeler, Stoney, and Stella Luna are back. These lovely Springers from North Carolina are their momma, Debbie's, pride and joy. Debbie sent me the above photo along with this note: "Wanted to share Steeler guarding his territory, tennis balls, so that Stella and Stoney couldn't get his possessions!" ]

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