Key Up The Music

Key up the music Key Up The Music

Aldous Huxley said, “After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.”

Joyful Springers key up the music.  They use music to help them experience a full range of emotions and find the secret treasures in their hearts.

Music is more than entertainment.  It’s a way of sitting up and finding more of the magic in the world and in your soul.  Find ways to have more music in your life, and you’ll have more harmony too.

[Meet Luke.  David and Leila Morris are fostering this handsome 19-month old.   Leila says, “This super happy boy was lost in the woods and when found had 30 wounds from losing a few fights with wild things.”  Some of Luke’s wounds were abscessed and required stitches, but now the wounds are healed, and Luke has gained 14 pounds.  He’s ready for a new home. Leila says that in spite of everything Luke has been through, “he LOVES people and is now a housetrained Velcro Springer.”  She says, “He usually howls when I play piano but would not do it for a picture. It was tough to play piano and hold a camera.”  Well, I think Luke’s handsome enough just sitting pretty on the piano bench.  icon smile Key Up The Music   Thank you, Luke, for being a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer.]

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Suit Up

Suit up Ducky Suit Up

Before battle, knights put on their armor.  Before Superman leaped tall buildings, he put on his leotard and his cape.  What do you do before you go out into the world?

Joyful Springers suit up.  They slip into a vision of what they want to experience  prior to stepping out … so they more often have things go their way.

How often do you go out into the world expecting the worst?  “The traffic will be terrible.”  “I’m going to be late.”  “They’ll never say yes.”  When you precede your actions with these sorts of predictions, you’re going forth “naked,” exposing yourself to creating the very things you don’t want.  Instead of leaving yourself open to the worst, imagine yourself in a costume of triumph; envision what you want instead of what you don’t want, and be in fashion with more and more fun.

[Ducky loved playing in the bit of snow we got a couple weeks ago.  Even a few inches of the white stuff is a big deal here on the Washington Coast.  And she wants you to notice the wonderful rain suit her grandma bought for her.  Of course, Springers' coats are made for being in the outdoors, but because Ducky still wears a brace that we want to keep as dry and clean as possible, my mom paid for a very special suit for Ducky.  It's made from "Houndtex" material, which is a breathable, waterproof material like Gore-tex.

If you're curious about the Hurtta Pro Waterproof Overalls, you can check them out at Gun Dog Supply.  We're very happy with them.  They are as waterproof as they promise to be, and they do an excellent job of keeping Ducky's white feathery belly clean even when she's doing her crazy-dog romps through the mud and underbrush in the forest.  Once you get the hang of it, the overalls are reasonably easy to put on and take off.  Although they're adjustable at the waist, neck, and at the bottom of each leg, I found I needed to do a little adjustment to the front legs.  If you choose the suit's size according to the measurement chart at the site, the legs will fit to just above the dogs paws, which is fine when the dog is standing still.  But when Ducky started to run and leap, the longer legs flopped over her paws and tripped her up.  I ended up folding up the material in the front legs and sewing the folds so the front legs are much shorter.]

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Lie Back And Wriggle

Fall back and wriggle Delta Lie Back And Wriggle

Are you in the midst of a situation you don’t like? You can struggle against it, or you can take the action that will move you through it quickly.

Joyful Springers lie back and wriggle.  They know that the fastest way to change a situation is to accept it and relish the gifts it has to offer.

What keeps you stuck in a problem is your effort to resist it.  That resistance gets your energy all knotted up so you can’t allow the solutions to flow through you.  If you can tell yourself that the situation is somehow for your good, you will relax enough that your inner wisdom will easily lead you to a better place.

[Delta is back. Joan Howe's happy girl obviously knows how to relax into any situation, even icy cold snow, and get the joy out of it. icon smile Lie Back And Wriggle ]

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Liven Up The Place

Liven up the place rudie Liven Up The Place

This time of year, the winter doldrums often are going around.  You can find yourself surrounded by people who are deadened by negativity.  How can you keep these folks from bringing you down?

Joyful Springers liven up the place.  Instead of commiserating with others, they tell positive stories and throw around compliments until everyone around them is ankle deep in feel good thoughts.

Yes, energy flows between people, and it’s possible for people who have problems to bring you down.  But it’s equally possible for you to keep your focus positive so you can lift them up.

[Rudie is back. This photo was taken last winter when he was just a couple months old. icon smile Liven Up The Place ]

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Calculate

Calculate punky Calculate

Most of us have a tendency to live life by the seat of our pants.  Instead of acting, we keep reacting.

Joyful Springers calculate.  They have a deliberate purpose or design for their life because they know by having one, they’re more likely to take the actions that will give them the life they want.

When you think about what you want from your days instead of just going through the motions, you’re giving your subconscious mind (which runs most of your life) instructions to create what you want to experience.  Having your subconscious on board makes the ride of your life a lot more joyful.

[Meet Punky.  Helen Gibson sent me this photo of the third Springer who came into her life.  Helen says, "She was quite the math whiz ... as you can see!" icon smile Calculate Punky passed away in 2007 at the age of 13, but the love and joy she brought to the Gibson family lives on.  Thanks, Punky, for being a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer.]

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Cool It When In Hades

Cool it in when In Hades Ruffles Cool It When In Hades

Yes, sometimes life can be a “living hell.”  And when it is, there’s only one thing to do.

Joyful Springers cool it when in Hades.  They know that when life heats up, they need to chill out.  They do that by accepting whatever is going on and keeping their attention on the heaven they prefer.

Getting hot and bothered about a hellish situation won’t help you get through the struggle.  In fact, the more you struggle, the more you’ll cook in the fire.  Relax.  Trust.  Release the need to have it be different.  When you do this, you’ll be in a mindset that will help you see solutions.  And before you know it, you’ll feel heavenly again.  icon smile Cool It When In Hades

[Ruffles is back.  Joan Howe says of her pretty girl,“NO, NO, NO, Ruffles was not anything close to a devil.  She just had a Momma who had all the wild ideas for pictures to see if they would work and how they would look.”  I think you'll agree that Joan has a great eye for a terrific photo!!]

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Accept Riders

Accept Riders steeler and rylan Accept Riders
It can be annoying when it feels like you’re carrying someone in your work or personal life.  But carrying others can actually serve you, as well as “hangers-on.”

Joyful Springers accept riders.  They understand that when they carry others, it makes them and their riders stronger.

The thing about hangers-on is they tend to hang harder and longer the more you resent them and try to throw them off.  When you carry others with grace, you give them the space and acceptance they need to eventually stand on their own two feet.

[Steeler and Rylan are back. Debbie's grandson, Rylan, clearly thinks Steeler is more horse than dog, and Steeler just as clearly has the patience to be whatever Rylan wants him to be. icon smile Accept Riders ]

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Add A Touch Of Diva

Add a touch of Diva Pump Add A Touch Of Diva

Most of us only get dolled up on special occasions.  And we tend to think glitz and glam are for celebrities.

Joyful Springers add a touch of diva.  They know they’re stars even if they’re not famous, and they have a right to glam it up just for the fun of it.

Having a blah day?  How about getting decked out in some finery for no reason whatsoever?  It’s amazing what a spirit lift it is to put on something special.  Get in touch with your own star power today!

[Pump is back.  This North Carolina beauty is may have more than just a touch of diva in her.   icon smile Add A Touch Of Diva ]

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Be A Guardian Of What Matters

Be a guardian of what matters Ducky Be A Guardian Of What Matters

We spend a lot of time and money protecting things in our lives.  And much of what we protect is important.  But we don’t always protect the right things.

Joyful Springers are guardians of what matters.  They know that protecting things like their waistlines or their bottom line isn’t nearly as important as protecting the real treasures in their lives–the ones they love.

How much time do you spend being a guardian of how people see you or how many pretty things you own?  If you’re going to be a protector, protect the most important thing in your life–your passions and your precious loved ones.

[Late at night, while we're waiting for her Daddy to get home, Ducky and I hang out in our bed; and we play with as many of her toys as she deems appropriate.  In this photo, she'd tired of playing and was ready for a snooze but she had to keep an eye on me to make sure I wasn't going to mess with any of her precious toys. icon smile Be A Guardian Of What Matters .]

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Ground Yourself

Get grounded triscuit Ground Yourself

British philosopher Alfred North Whitehead wrote,“The only use of a knowledge of the past is to equip us for the present. The present contains all that there is. It is holy ground; for it is the past, and it is the future.”

Joyful Springers ground themselves.  They understand that life is lived in “holy ground” of the present, and a constant focus on what’s done or what will be prevents them from allowing their irresistible essence to shine.

When you define yourself by what you’ve done or what might happen to you in the future, you can’t fully be yourself.  Be here now, in the sweet beauty of your truth.  This is where you’ll find all the joy you desire.

[Triscuit is back.  Joan Howe took this photo of her now 13 year old "independent" girl, the first day she and her husband brought Triscuit home.  Joan says that Triscuit was so timid that this was the only pose they could get out of her.  Later, this photo won 1st Place in a puppy photo contest and was on the cover of SPRINGER EXPRESS magazine in the Fall of 2000.  These days, Triscuit is an older girl with arthritis and hearing issues (although she can hear very well whenever food is involved).  She’s been through major surgery for Cushings' Disease and has had both ACLs done, but she’s still a happy girl. icon smile Ground Yourself ]

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