Bravely Face Open Mouths

Posted November 12, 2011 By Ande and has 2 comments.

Bravely engage open mouths sweet pea and poppy Bravely Face Open Mouths

A lot of people do or don’t do things because of what they think other people will say.  They let fear of criticism keep them from following their dreams.

Joyful Springers bravely face open mouths.  Their attitude about others’ feedback is “Bring it on.”  They know that it doesn’t matter if other people make fun of them or find fault with them.  What matters is that they’re being true to themselves.

You will never manage to please even half of the people you encounter.   There are just too many different perspectives.  Instead of putting your energy into avoiding negative feedback, put your energy into doing what makes your heart sing.  When your heart is singing loud enough, it drowns out any criticism or unkind things that might come out of open mouths around you.

[Sweet Pea and Poppy are back. These two cuties love to play together and aren't afraid of each other's open mouths. icon smile Bravely Face Open Mouths ]

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Bravely Face Open Mouths

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Categories: Authenticity, Confidence, Individuality, Springer Spaniel
Tags: Authenticity, cocker saniels, criticism, English springer spaniel, feedback, spaniels, Springer Spaniel, springers

Refuse To Be Twiggy

Posted April 29, 2011 By Ande and has 6 comments.
english springer spaniel refuse to be twiggy Refuse To Be Twiggy

You can be be full and rich and ripe with potential or you can be tight and dried up.

Joyful Springers refuse to be twiggy.  They’re always bursting with life, all puffed up with confidence in what they have to offer.

Never ever make yourself less than you are.  You, in all your glorious “YOUness” are meant to be lush, not sparse.

[Sweet Pea is back. This lively eight-month old's mom, Denise, says she wishes she could have someone take action shots of Sweet Pea because "it's hard to play and take pictures at the same time." Anyone who owns an active dog has had that issue--and we probably all have blurry pictures of tails, the floor, and the wall. In this photo, Sweet Pea gave Denise a break and held still.  icon smile Refuse To Be Twiggy ]


Refuse To Be Twiggy

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Categories: Authenticity, Confidence, Individuality, Springer Spaniel
Tags: Authenticity, Confidence, Dogs, English springer spaniel, spaniels, springers

Do It Your Way

Posted April 18, 2011 By Ande and has 2 comments.

english springer spaniel do it your way Do It Your Way

Have you ever thought about the fact that everything you learn is just someone else’s way of doing things?

Joyful Springers do it their way.  They don’t copy their teachers.  They take all knowledge as suggestions and then add their own unique position.

No one’s inner guidance is better than any other’s.  When you trust your own wisdom, you’re inspired to do things in the way that’s best for you.

[Butch and Pumpkin are back. Both of these Carolina cuties love to rest on the table in this photo.  It was Butch who got the prime resting spot this time, and he couldn't care less that coffee tables are commonly used for resting feet and not heads. icon smile Do It Your Way ]


Do It Your Way

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Categories: Authenticity, Individuality, Inner wisdom, Inspiration, Springer Spaniel
Tags: Authenticity, do it your way, Dogs, English springer spaniel, Inner wisdom, inspiration, spaniels, springers

Explain Your Position

Posted December 17, 2010 By Ande and has no comments yet.

english springer spaniel explain your position Explain Your Position

We often feel SO misunderstood.  Then we feel resentful.  Then we cut ourselves off from others.  Then we feel even more misunderstood.

There’s a way to break this nasty cycle.

Joyful Springers explain their position.  They take their stand (or recline), and they happily let others know who they are.

You don’t have to give up your true self and the place you want to be in your life to be understood.  Hold your ground, and then explain who you are.  Give people every chance to know you.

… another wise tidbit from a joyful English Springer Spaniel.

[Kirby's back. Can't you almost hear this 7 1/2 year old's impassioned opinion about why this is HIS couch? Thanks, Kirby, for guest starring again on The Joyful Springer.]

Would your dog like to be a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer? All dogs can fit the definition of a Joyful Springer. Click here to find out how to submit your photo.


Explain Your Position

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Categories: Authenticity, Communication, Honesty, Individuality, Springer Spaniel
Tags: Authenticity, be real, English springer spaniel, spaniels, springer spaniels, springers

Mimic Consciously

Posted November 26, 2010 By Ande and has 3 comments.

English springer spaniel mimic wisely Mimic Consciously

It’s the buying time of year, the busy, buzzing time of year when the advertisers flood us with images of others using and having things, trying to convince us that we must use them and have them to.  We must give this gift because it’s the popular gift.  We must have parties because that’s what the successful people are doing.  We can drive ourselves crazy trying to keep up.

Joyful Springers mimic consciously.  They may do what someone else is doing, but they do so because it feels right to them.  They never do something just because someone else is doing it.

You can get great information by seeing what others are doing.  But it’s just information. It’s not a command to follow.

… another wise tidbit from a joyful English Springer Spaniel.

[Butch is back and he has his cat pal, Putter, with him. This 3-year old boy from North Carolina is happy to mimic a comfy pose.  Thanks, Butch, for guest starring again on The Joyful Springer.]

Would your dog like to be a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer? All dogs can fit the definition of a Joyful Springer. Click here to find out how to submit your photo.

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Categories: Authenticity, Individuality, Springer Spaniel
Tags: Dogs, English springer spaniel, Individuality, Joy, make your own choices, spaniels, springer, Springer Spaniel

Blaze Your Own Way

Posted November 18, 2010 By Ande and has 2 comments.

English springer spaniel blaze your own way Blaze Your Own Way

Why do we do many of the things we do?  Often, we do it “because that is how it’s done.” But what if “the way it’s done” doesn’t work for us?

Joyful Springers blaze their own way.  They find ways to do things that fit their true nature, even if no one else does it their way.

Don’t worry about the “right” way or the “normal” way to do things.  Do things the “authentic” way, the way that suits your true nature.  When you stay true to you, life has a way of falling into place just right.

… another wise tidbit from a joyful English Springer Spaniel.

[Meet Phantom.  Leila and David Morris fostered this one year old boy with the unique blaze, and now he's found his forever home with a loving family in Rock Hill, South Carolina.  Thanks, Phantom, for a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer.]

Would your dog like to be a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer? All dogs can fit the definition of a Joyful Springer. Click here to find out how to submit your photo.

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Categories: Action, Authenticity, Creativity, Individuality, Springer Spaniel
Tags: Authenticity, blaze your own way, do it my way, dog, English springer spaniel, Individuality, spaniels, Springer Spaniel, springers

Be Boo-full

Posted October 31, 2010 By Ande and has 3 comments.

english springer spaniel be boo full Be Boo full

Life can get pretty predictable.  We get in habits and ruts.  We do the same thing over and over.

Joyful Springers are boo-full.  They love surprise and spontaneity. They’re always up for some new experience.

When was the last time you did something different?  Try eating a new food or driving down a new street or watching a new TV show or meeting someone new or learning something new.  Get up in the morning and follow your whims.  Surprise yourself with spontaneous joy.

Happy Halloween!!

… another wise tidbit from a joyful English Springer Spaniel.

[Ducky, the Friendly Ghost, surprises herself and us nearly every day with some new adventure and spontaneous expression of joy.]

Would your dog like to be a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer? All dogs can fit the definition of a Joyful Springer. Click here to find out how to submit your photo.

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Categories: Action, Courage, Creativity, Individuality, Spontaneity, Springer Spaniel
Tags: Dogs, English springer spaniel, Joy, spaniel, spaniels, spontaneity, springer, Springer Spaniel, surprise, try something new

Question It

Posted August 20, 2010 By Ande and has no comments yet.

samanthas miles Question It

Our parents and teachers and friends and bosses love to tell them to us.  The media crams them down our throats.  We are inundated with them every day.

What are “they”?  Facts.  Everywhere we go, we’re bombarded by facts.

And just how many of those facts are really facts?  Not all that many.

Joyful Springers question it.  They don’t mindlessly believe everything they hear or read.  They have just enough healthy skepticism to get the best information they can and reach their own conclusions.

Don’t swallow every fact you’re fed.  Be a little inquisitive today.  Ask questions.  Dig for your own answers.  Think for yourself.

… another wise tidbit from a joyful English Springer Spaniel.

[Meet Miles.  This two year old boy from Long Prairie, Minnesota, may have allergies and a bad back, but he's a happy, inquisitive fellow who's always ready to learn something new.  His owner, Samantha, says he's already learned how to open doors!  Samantha says Miles makes the best out of life.  That's Max, Samantha's other Springer, backing up Miles in this photo.  Thanks, Miles, for being a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer.]

Would your dog like to be a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer? All dogs can fit the definition of a Joyful Springer. Click here to find out how to submit your photo.

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Categories: Dogs, Individuality, Learning
Tags: Dogs, English springer spaniel, Joy, question it, spaniel, springer, Springer Spaniel, springers, think for yourself

Ignore The Ruts Around You

Posted August 17, 2010 By Ande and has 3 comments.

English springer spaniel Ignore the ruts around you Ignore The Ruts Around You

Who among us hasn’t done or gotten something because “everyone else” does it or has it?

Trends.  Procedures.  Routines.  Habits.  Everyone has an established way of seeing the world and an established way of being in the world. Everyone has a rut … or two or three or a hundred.  When we’re interacting with the people around us, it’s easy to get caught in another person’s rut.

Joyful Springers ignore the ruts around them.  They don’t automatically do it how it’s always been done or get it because everyone else wants it.  They think for themselves and make their own unique choices.

Life is a vast expanse of untouched sand just waiting for your individual imprint.  When you find your own way instead of following in someone else’s tracks, you’ll make discoveries that will delight you.

… another wise tidbit from a joyful English Springer Spaniel.

[Muggins was happiest on the beach, in ruts, or out of them.]

Would your dog like to be a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer? All dogs can fit the definition of a Joyful Springer. Click here to find out how to submit your photo.

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Categories: Action, Authenticity, Dogs, Individuality, Springer Spaniel
Tags: Authenticity, Dogs, English springer spaniel, get out of your rut, indviduality, Joy, spaniel, springer, Springer Spaniel, springers, uniqueness

Be Independent

Posted July 4, 2010 By Ande and has no comments yet.
English springer spaniel be independent Be Independent

For all our differences, we live in a pretty homogeneous world.  And we’re bombarded daily by media messages that encourage us toward group-think.

Joyful Springers are independent.  They listen to what others have to say, but they think for themselves.  They aren’t afraid to hold unpopular opinions, and they don’t give two woofs about trends.

Forget about fitting in today.  Who needs to fit in?  You have a right to stand out!  So stand out in your own limitless field of ideas and choices.  Celebrate being uniquely you.

… another wise tidbit from a joyful English Springer Spaniel.

[Ducky wanted to assert her independence and refuse to wear the stupid hat and hold the funny stick, but she found a compromise, and wore the hat in her own, unique way. Today is Independence Day in the U.S. So Happy 4th to all American Joyful Springers.]

Would your dog like to be a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer? All dogs can fit the definition of a Joyful Springer. Click here to find out how to submit your photo.

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Categories: Authenticity, Dogs, Freedom, Individuality, Springer Spaniel
Tags: Authenticity, Dogs, English springer spaniel, fitting in, Freedom, independence, independence day, Joy, limitless, spaniel, springer, Springer Spaniel, trends