What Inspires Me

I have had several people tell me that my bravery to overcome obstacles and my bravery for wanting to enjoy my life have inspired them. Either to put themselves out there and share their gifts, or to do that one thing that they have always wanted to try but were to afraid of what others might think if they tried it and failed. Or even sometimes to just start that internal journey of evaluating their own souls and finding what brings them their own personal bliss.

But for every person who has told me I inspire them there are just as many who ask who inspires me. So today I want to share a couple of links to some amazing people and their blog sites or vlog sites and show others those who truly have helped me become the person I am becoming with each and every passing day.

People who have decided that surviving is not living and have decided that following their own bliss is something that has value not only for themselves but also for their own personal journey.  People who I follow or who I watch and listen to. People who have helped me clear the fog often surrounding my brain and helped me see clearer regarding what is reality and what is fear based. The fear based and only holding me back from the things I enjoy and living the life I was born to live.  Or in the immortal words of Star Trek, Fear is only created to be overcome.

I have written about overcoming obstacles in your daily lives.  How sometimes those obstacles help us grow and become wiser and stronger for the journey ahead. But I also feel it is important to understand what is behind my desire to find my own personal bliss and to helping me with the road map of my journey that often remains a mystery for those without a network of friends and family or mentors that can guide you along the way.

First I want to mention Dawn Kirk,  this amazing lady although I have never met in person I have spoken with several times via the internet as well as I read her blog and watch her vlogs.  I am amazed at how strong she is even in the face of adversity and never gives up, even when most would say I am not making a difference and stop trying.  I will include a link to her sites below.

Dawn Kirk Imagine the shift Vlog Site

Dawn Kirk Imagine the Shift Blog Site

Dawn Kirk Facebook page for Imagine the Shift

Another amazing woman I have had the pleasure of knowing offline as well as reading her blog and always enjoying the many recipes and advise she shares in them is Lady Feri. Now that isn't her birth name but it is the name she writes under and is known by, She is a wonderfully strong and courageous woman who has taught me over the multitude of years that I have known her how to grab life by the horns and live it to the fullest. I personally do not think this woman is afraid of anything.  She is self employed success who goes where she wants, does what she wants and follows her own personal bliss on a daily basis.  She has inspired me to be braver to to take chances when they present themselves in my life in order to expand my horizons and live the life I was born to live.

Help by Lady Feri

Another less public person but just as important is a volunteer with our canine Rescue, Rose Burrow. She is our Director of Creative Arts.  That title means that she is our go to girl for handling anything having to do with PR or artwork or even fundraising.  She is an amazing person who has taught me to embrace my wild side and instead of hiding my head in the sand to actually go for it when my dreams need to become a reality.  She is my friend as well as my coworker and the editor of an online magazine called White Gloves and Latex Gauntlets.  This publication showcases local talent and what is going on within the artist community.  She has been a close friend and a sister by another mother to me for almost half a decade now and I am very thankful to not only have her guidance but to also to borrow her own personal strength from time to time.

White Gloves and Latex Gauntlets Facebook page

Another female that has inspired me whether she realizes it or not and is rather adult in nature is a website known as the twisted Broad. She is never afraid to address issues that others may shy away from. Sharing her knowledge and her experiences in hopes of encouraging others to take a walk on the wild side, or just communicate with those in their lives in hopes of improving the quality of life of her readers. She has a blog and a vlog sites and I adore watching her new videos or even just reading her status updates. 

Twisted Broad Youtube channel

Twisted Broad Facebook page

Another person who inspires me and makes me strive to be a better happier person is Dawn Spalding and her charming husband Adam.  They have even in these tough economic times started their own business and are working together as a team to make it a success. Their company cleans aquariums and I have known Dawn for many years prior to them beginning their company and she has always been the most honest straight shooting person I have known.  She inspires me because through it all she has taught me that true love, not the hollywood kind of love but a real partnership between two people can survive anything and that if you want something bad enough you have to work your butt off to make it happen.  She is an amazing person and she is one of the many intelligent people who motivate me to be the best I can be and to stretch myself to accomplish what I want out of this life.

The Aquarium Nerds Facebook Site

Another amazingly strong person who inspires me is Carolyn Dickerson, she runs a website called Look great, lose weight, and save money.  Her website is filled with tips and tricks on how to look your best and feel your best even when you are operating on a budget. I enjoy watching her vlogs and reading her latest articles. To me she is a super woman. 

Look great, Lose Weight, Save Money Website

Carolyn Dickerson Channel on Youtube

I have also been inspired by many people within my family who I admire their strength and courage. My youngest daughter Patricia Drach is very young but still an inspiration to those who know her.  She began her own photography site and is working towards making her dreams a reality.

Patricia Drach Photo facebook site

My middle daughter Amber Kolaski has written and self published her first book.  To me that is an amazing demonstration of determination to make her dream of being a writer a reality. She juggles the many responsibilities in her life with her dreams and goals and has a never give up mentality about it.  As well as publishing a blog sharing her insights and experiences as being a mom of multiples and learning to multitask on several different levels.

Fire Riders by Amber Kolaski

Amber Kolaski Blog Site

I am blessed to have surrounded myself with amazing and intelligent people.  I have chosen wisely when deciding who I would allow within my inner circle of friends to only pick those who not only understand my desire to be more than I am today but to encourage me to be all that I am capable of being.  There are many others that I draw inspiration from but most of those people are very private and don't feel the need to share their gifts with websites or blog sites or even a vlog or two.  I truly appreciate those as well.  But this handful of folks are just a sampling of the amazing people I share my life with and get my inspiration from. 

Sometimes it may simply be something said in a passing conversation, or perhaps it is watching them overcome obstacles and issues that would cripple the average person and stalemate their desires to reach their end goal.  But I draw inspiration from a wide variety of people and a very wide variety of places. From the television shows I choose to watch through the books I choose to read.  I don't allow negative people to limit my abilities nor do I allow them to feed off my creative energies.

If you want something you have to work at it, that includes being happy.  You have to decide what is in your best interest and in the best interest of those you include in your circle of friends.  You have to take an active participation in your life and in the choices you make or you will always be at the mercy of those around you.  I have learned that life lesson from watching these amazing people and many like them.

I am pretty sure that many of my readers thought when I labeled this blog What Inspires me that I would mention famous people or religious groups. I am inspired by those around me who are just like me, who do what they have to do and deal with the ups and downs of living a real life. Who plug away day after day pursuing their dreams and following their own bliss.  Who are role models for me to watch and learn from.  Who in my eyes are living the life I want to live and helping me figure out exactly how to go about doing that.

I hope my blog today has given you some food for thought. I hope that you click on one or more of the sites I have shared and see if perhaps these folks can help inspire you as well.  That you take each day for what it is a gift because our time on this planet is not guaranteed and  if you put off following your bliss until you have more time, more money, or more knowledge many times that day never arrives.  You don't have to be rich or famous to inspire people, you don't even have to be the best of the best. If you are out there living that dream, showing others that it is a doable thing. Many times they will join you on that journey and even help you learn first hand what works and what doesn't.

Until next time blog buddies, stay safe, stay sane and be happy.

 

I learn a lot from the dogs I share my life with.

They have taught me that there is nothing on this planet that cannot be solved with a nap and a full belly.  They have also taught me that when life gives you an opportunity for happy experiences you should grab it with all you have and hold on to that happiness. If it is a run in the yard or a nap on the sofa. To live in this moment, but to dream of next week and to always be as happy as possible.

Babysteps towards the new Me

There has been some pretty major changes in my life of late. I have run out of funding for my education and am having to work through some mental hurdles that have come due to those changes in my life. I made the honor roll for my last in school session, which made me feel a little better about what is going on. But it has left me with no plan and no goal to work towards. I still want to finish my degree but am exploring alternative ways to go about that. I am not very far from having the credits I need to graduate and I plan on utilizing what ever I can to make that happen. But right now am sorting through everything and figure out who I am now and what I want to put as my long term goal.

After my last class I am reanalyzing my goals of being a CPA. I enjoy bookkeeping and financial advising and even taxation and how to advice people to keep the most they can in their pocket and make the most of the money they have coming in, but I do not see myself in a corporate position nor do I desire to have a ordinary run of the mill career. I know this may make it sound like I am unsure of what I do want but sometimes it is much easier to pin point what I don't want than what I do.

I have begun the search for a job that I really want to do. Something to work towards and trying to figure out what steps I need to take to make that dream a reality.  I am enjoying the photography, it helps me to sort things out. I actually took a trip to our local zoo and got some incredible shots of the animals and learned that you don't have to travel to actually photograph more exotic animals.

I have been going through my wardrobe to find out exactly what I have clothing wise, which also helps me sort things out in my head and get my bearings.  I can see where I have been and what I was thinking by looking at some of my clothing choices in the past.  I can remember the things that were important to me last year or before that and know that I am no longer that person.  The ideals and dreams have been stripped away to reveal the bones of my life as it currently is.

As I sort through stack after stack of clothing choices my mind is flooded with memories of wearing this outfit or that to an event shared with my family or for a meeting with those who I once believed held my future in their hands.  I can remember the things that were running through my head and the beliefs I once held firm to.  I can see the changes in my body brought about by healthier eating habits and healthier activities.  I actually walked the entire zoo non stop for 4 hours with a camera bag on my back and never once did I get winded or tired.  That for me is a major accomplishment.  I was so engrossed by what I was doing that I didn't even notice I was wringing wet from the heat and activity, to me it was normal and just part of the experience.

I slowly put each item out for inspecting and trying on. Noticing how clothing that once fit my more rounded figure now hang loose or clothes that once didn't quite look right because of the cut or the style suddenly fit my changing body and mind like a guiding hand helped me choose them.  It is a growing experience long over due.

I have realized that my priorities are also changing and how I feel about some of the people in my life is no longer the same. The core of my world is the same but I now see people with clearer eyes and a more accurate image of them. I understand that we are all human and as such we all make mistakes in the growth process called life.  I understand now that we all have goals and dreams and sometimes those things that are so incredibly important to us means nothing to those around us.  Sometimes we are blessed enough to have people around us who support those dreams and goals and sometimes we aren't.  Depending on the goals and dreams and depending on the people we surround ourselves with.

I have also found that no matter what I am the coordinator of my own destiny and only I can make or break those goals into a reality.  I began this blog as a journal of sorts, a way to track my progress and help me understand where I am and where I am going. To help me help others to be brave and hopefully follow their own bliss into being the people they were born to be.

Be that to take the leap into doing something so totally out of the norm that before they never would have been brave enough to try. Or maybe just to finally let go of their past and begin living for their future.  Either way I help I feel that by doing that I can better help myself and hopefully have a positive impact on my world at large.

I have discovered that although my ideals and dreams are changing, this isn't a bad thing.  That sometimes we think we know exactly where we are headed only to learn that we have taken a turn that lands us in a foreign place and perhaps a better place than we would have ended up at had we stuck to the original game plan.

I am still not 100% sure what I want out of life, but I feel with each passing day I am getting closer and that the choices I have made and the changes I have allowed to occur in my life are for the better.  They have given me a chance to not only get to know myself a little better but to also know those I share my life with a little better as well. I have seen a side of them I would never have seen if I had stuck the main stream ideals I so firmly held to before beginning this journey.

I have seen the changes and thanks to the entries in this blog and the entries in my personal journal I am able to look back and see them more clearly.  I am able to see what is truly important to me and what I need to do to take the next steps to make my life what I want it to be.

I know this may seem like a lot of rambling, and perhaps it is.  But to me it makes perfect sense and hopefully if you are reading this you will gleam something from it that will make you take a closer look at your own life and hopefully make some changes or adjustments for the better.

Change is never easy but at times it is very necessary.  In order to grow as both a person and a human you have to adapt or perish.  You have to master new skills and release old grievances in order to fully live.  You cannot live in the past because is behind you.  You cannot live in the future for it is uncertain. You can only life in the present and take each day as it comes.  But you can plan and dream of what you want and take active steps to make it a reality instead of sitting around waiting for it to come to you.

I still believe that everything happens for a reason and sometimes we just not blessed with enough knowledge to understand why something that feels so incredibly horrible and painful can be beneficial in the long run.  Sometimes change hurts, sometimes it hurts so bad you don't think you will ever get past it or survive it.  But the reality of life is this, life continues on. Days becomes night and months pass far to quickly the older you get and sooner or later you have to stop for a moment and just enjoy the beauty that surrounds us all, I learned that one from the photography.  It has taught me to look closer at situations and to take things for what they are, and at times to change that perspective a little so you can get a clearer picture of what is really going on in your life.

You won't always get what you want, sometimes you will get what you want the least. But eventually situations change, because change is inevitable and you cannot escape it.  People come and go, jobs change and management is replaced with new leadership.  You cannot control every aspect of your life but many things you can change and the first and foremost you have control over is how you react to those changes.

If you need to get mad then get mad, if you need to shed a tear then do so, without the fear that others will think you are weak or that your outburst will be judged by those who love you. We all have bad days even those of us who always do their best to look on the bright side of life.  Know that you are not alone but at the same time you are an individual and that we each have our own dreams and goals.

Never be afraid to follow your dreams, never be afraid to try and make your goals a reality.  Life is way to short to be miserable and if you allow others to keep you from doing what makes you happy you will find yourself regretting listening to someone who wouldn't hesitate to follow their own dreams or do whatever was necessary to make their reality yours.  Never listen to negative people and don't allow their negativity to infringe on your happiness.  Do what makes you happy even if it is only a few moments of your day, or a few hours out of your week.  Take baby steps and learn what you need to do to make your goals your reality.  Take that mountain one step at a time and eventually you will find yourself on top of the world looking back on your path and knowing that although it took you a while to get there that you did it and that nothing is impossible if you believe in yourself.

I hope my blog entry today has given you some food for thought. I hope that it has given you something to think about and that you make just one tiny change in your immediate universe for the better. Do something so not your norm that you experience an emotion or even a thought that you wouldn't had you stayed within the boundaries we all surround ourselves with to give us the impression of being in complete control of our life.

Take a walk on the wild side and live life. I tell people I don't want to arrive at my grave in perfect condition and an orderly fashion I want to slide in sideways screaming "What a ride".  Follow your bliss because it isn't going to magically appear on your doorstep, you gotta go out there do the work and find that very elusive creature.  It exist but will only show itself to those who believe enough in it and who are willing to do the work required to make it a reality.

Until next time blog buddies, stay safe, stay sane and be happy.

This is a video of famous failures that continued to dream and continued to try to make their dreams and goals a reality. I hope it inspires my readers as much as it inspires me.

Minor setbacks and Major accomplishments

Sometimes live gives you lemons.  What you do with those lemons is really up to you.  You can wallow in self pity and say "Woe is me" or you can pick yourself up and dust yourself off and move forward with your dreams and goals.  I never promised you a rose garden but I did promise you that if you take the time to follow your bliss your life will be a life well lived.

I have been wallowing in self pity.  It seamed that everywhere I looked all I saw was failure.  I was unhappy with the way my education was going, I was unhappy with how my finances were going. I couldn't afford the photo equipment I wanted and to be completely honest some times I just felt like I was beating my head against a brick wall.

First one thing and then another pushed me back first a step then two until I came to the realization that the only thing that was holding me back was me. I was allowing these minor setbacks to dictate how I would feel and how I would live my life.  So I did what I always tell others to do when all else fails, try something different.

First my funding for my education has been revamped and it looks like I won't be graduating when I planned.  But is that stopping me no.  I refuse to allow something as minor as funds stop me from becoming what I am destined to be.  So I picked myself up dusted myself off and said OK the traditional way of doing this isn't going to work for me what else can I do to get where I want to be. 

I contacted my school and discussed testing out of some of my classes with them. It is not only doable it is cheaper than the credit hours I need to finish my degree.  I also learned I can continue my education independently.  I can take classes at my local community college and apply those credit hours as I can afford them to my long term goal of having my masters degree in accounting.

I learned that some colleges will even let you write essays and papers regarding your life experiences in order to skip classes and qualify for what is commonly called amongst the secondary schools as life credits.  That was a huge relief off my shoulders.

Now for my photography.  Well money is tight, I have some previous medical bills, my darling husband is getting ready to go under the knife and unfortunately our insurance doesn't cover 100% of our medical expenses.  Yet another set back at least financially, so I came up with alternative ways to earn the equipment I want to invest in photo equipment and creative ways to earn some extra cash not only to help pay for our increasing medical bills but to also help carve the path I choose to follow for my bliss which includes photography.  I also discovered a lot of the fancy equipment can be made out things as simple as a car window reflector instead of a light bouncing board, and something as simple as a sheet mounted to the ceiling with thumb tacks works great as a simple backdrop for doing portraits.

In the meantime though I am doing freelance writing and that is going to pay for those wonderful toys that I day dream about, and that cannot be made at home from simple materials.  I have already paid for a macro tube and a remote trigger for my camera using the credits I earned doing reviews of products I use and liked.

I also learned I can sell my photos online and make a little mad money.  It isn't instant cash but it is a doable source of income for my creative outlet and it gives me a chance to share some of my photos with the world at large. I am no longer content to simply share my photos on facebook and other networking sites. I want to sell my art work to those who may lack the imagination or ability to do their own.

I guess what I am trying to get at in this blog is if you want something bad enough regardless what mountains may stand in your way use your brain to figure out how to make it happen.  Don't give up just because it isn't easy. Nothing in life worth having is simple or easy. Things don't come to those who dream about them, they come to those who get out there bust their butts and make it happen.  Don't wait for destiny to come to you. Go out grab her by the ears and say "listen here, this is going to happen you can either help or get out of my way, because either way its going to happen". 

I have wallowed in self pity long enough. I have pissed and moaned about how sucky my life is right now and you know what I am over it.  I am tired of being a victim of circumstance. I am tired of things I have no control over ruling my world.  I am tired of being sad and depressed and beaten down by the life I have been given. It is time for me to stand up and say "My Turn". 

Regardless what mountains or speedbumps may lie in my path, I am going to do what makes me happy.  If those in my life cannot get on board then they can be left in my wake.  I am not hurting anyone with my bliss I am not taking valuable time away from things that need doing.  I am simply making the investment in my own happiness to chase my own dreams and live my own life.  It aint perfect and I really didn't expect it to be.  But I am keeping it real and that is the whole purpose for this blog.

Sharing my ups and downs and hopefully inspiring others to chase those dreams they dare to dream.  The world is filled with a wide variety of people. We all have gifts and talents that we are born with, and if your talents take you on a path you might not have envisioned for yourself all the better.  Stepping outside your comfort zone is good for you. It helps build character and it helps you discover who you truly are.

So if I have to impart a single piece of advise to you at this junction, it would be this.  Be who you truly are.  Not who you think you should be, not who you family and friends want you to, but who you truly are. Those who truly love you will accept who you are and those who don't well you don't need that kind of negative energy in your life anyway.

Until next time blog buddies, stay safe, stay sane, and be happy.

When I first took this shot I didn't post it or share it because to me it wasn't good enough but the longer this sat in my photo folder and I saw it every time I scrolled through to look at new shots I thought to myself, it is a very simple shot but it isn't spectacular.  Sometimes things in life aren't going to be spectacular. Sometimes simple things can bring you the most joy because they aren't complicated or high tech. Sometimes we have to say to ourselves it isn't good enough by who's standards?  I think this is a beautiful shot. It is Mother Nature at her finest. It isn't an exotic flower or an incredible rose but it is still beautiful in its simplicity.  It is what life is all about. Thriving where you are planted and learning to overcome what may prevent you from thriving. It is the nature of the beast, it is life in its simplest form.  Have you ever tried to kill a weed?  You pluck it and you poison it and you mow it down. Some people even try burning them out and yet they keep coming back.  Be like that weed, no matter what gets thrown at you remember if a simple life form such as a weed can come back from everything life throws at it, why can't you?

Getting creative in following your bliss

Sometimes the things you want don't come easily. Sometimes you have to wait or work or even at times settle for just a tiny bit short of what you may have originally wanted.  Sometimes you have budget, do without something else or even come to realization that although you really want something it just isn't the right time or you aren't in the right place to make that happen right this second.

Should you give up on following your bliss, NEVER.  I have been wanting a macro lens for my new camera but the price tag has given me nightmares. Almost as much as I spent for my camera body itself.  I have several macro filters which give me much closer shots but is like reaching for that brass ring only to feel it slip through your fingers.  I can take some pretty awesome shots with the filters I spent 16 dollars on but every time I look at one of my shots I think to myself that could be so much better if I have a macro lens instead of just macro filters. 

I have tried stacking them (screwing multiples together via the threads on the end).  I have tried playing with the settings on my camera to adjust lighting and film speed and yes even worst case scenario playing around in my digital darkroom.  But I feel that my efforts are falling just a tiny bit short of what I really want.

Am I giving up NO.  Am I going to wait and save and eventually purchase the lens I want, maybe.  I have been doing some research regarding what exactly is a macro lens. Watching videos, reading articles. I did find a fascinating on on how to create a macro lens for a point and shoot with a magnifying class but nothing quiet fit what I wanted and the picture quality I wanted to capture.

Although I take great pride in the photos I have taken and some have been rather amazing especially for someone who just very recently picked up a DSLR for the first time. I am always keeping my eye towards the future. Doing research and asking those in the know in order to further my knowledge and hopefully figure out exactly what would work for the lowest price, therefor enabling me to grow and hopefully improve as a photographer.

In the meantime I have become very proficient in the digital darkroom.  Learning just how far I can push my photographs to get exactly what I want and what is fabulous composition instead of just ok shots.  I have also learned that I can digitally enhance photographs to set the scene and tell a story even without the high tech toys I long for.

I have learned that every shot isn't going to breathtaking or even in focus and learning to live within my current restriction.  I have learned that composition is everything in photography. You may get an amazing shot but if the background blends or the camera decides at the last moment to switch to a different subject you may just be wasting your time.

I have also learned that it takes roughly 100 shots before you will finally get that shot you are going after. Partially due to shadows and lighting, and partially due to struggling with subject matter. That lighter colors and darker colors are the absolute hardest to capture on film because the camera doesn't see life the same way the human eye does. I have learned about fill lighting to help bring definition to darker subject and learned about bouncing lights using white poster board or reflective car window shields.  I have also learned that off everything I do in my daily life that 30 minutes I carve out to actually fire my camera is on some days the absolute best 30 minutes of my day.

It gives me something to look forward to, a treat for myself if you will for doing all those things I know I have to do but so don't want to do, like washing dishes, or making the bed.  I have also learned that my passion is a journey unto itself. One I never would have gone on if I hadn't been willing to work for what I wanted and wait until the Universe decided I deserved it.

You may be asking yourself why am I rambling about macro photography and what pertinent information it has in following your bliss.  The answer to that is this. Sometimes you may want something will all your heart. You may daydream of finally having that one thing that you truly believe will make you happy.  You may plan and scheme and talk about that one thing that you really believe will give you happiness. But if you concentrate on only that and not the journey itself you are cheating yourself of the experience of growth. The possibility of learning something along the way.

You may be ignoring the life lessons you were meant to learn in order to prepare yourself for that wonderful moment when the thing you dream about is actually in your hands.  You may even miss out on some very amazing moments that because you were so focused you forgot to look around and notice the little things that life has to offer you in order to help you grow into the person you were born to be.  I am unsure who said it but I do know it is true.  Life isn't about the moments between breaths.  It is the moments that take your breath away.

So I hope my rambling today has helping someone who may be struggling with following their bliss or someone who is considering following their bliss.  Finding your bliss and having your bliss isn't the main goal of this journey. Experiencing new things and putting yourself in a learning frame of mind is. Following your bliss is about not only finding what makes you happy and making it a reality.  It is about learning more about yourself and your world at large.  It is about enjoying the journey and not focusing so much on the end goal.  It is about opening yourself up to new possibilities and the fact that perhaps that end goal isn't all it is cracked up to be or that perhaps the Universe or your higher power has something different in mind for you.

Following your bliss is about all the scrapped knees and busted elbows along the way. It is about all the amazing people you will meet on your journey and all the amazing things you will see.  You don't have to travel the world to experience new things. Yeah travel is awesome and getting the see the world would rock but sometimes you bliss can be found as close as you own back yard.  It just takes viewing the world with a new perspective and allowing it to come to you when it is ready.

You cannot force something to occur just because you want it, sometimes you have to work really hard to get where you want to be.  Sometimes you have to learn to accept failure before you can experience success. And those failures can teach you so much more than success ever will.

I hope my blog today has given some of my readers food for thought. Sometimes you just gotta improvise and learn to do what you can do when you can do it and how you can do it in order to get where you want to be eventually.  Life is a learning process.  It is about loving those closest to us, appreciating the blessing we all have in our lives, even if sometimes those blessings are hard to recognize and most of all enjoying the ride.

Until next time blog buddies, stay safe, stay sane, and be happy.

Some of the amazing shots I am getting as close as my own back yard. Sometimes people will search the ends of the world trying to find what they had all along. Sometimes people will falsely believe that it takes all the money in the world to make them happy. The reality is this. Happiness is a state of mind. It isn't a goal or a journey, it is about knowing that what you are looking for is as close as right where you are. Make the most out of life. Learn to take great joys in those special moments that make life worth living.  At the end folks, life is about what we did in the time we were given, not what we did in the time we never got.

If you would like to follow where my journey is taking me between the bogs I invite you to check out my photography site on facebook. It is a chance to see exactly what I am up to and exactly what I am learning along the way. It isn't just about photos it is also about life and the magical roller coaster we all experience from day to day living it.

My photography page on Facebook

When your bliss takes you to new places

Today has been a very up and down day.  A friends father died a few weeks ago and today the family asked me to do video and photographs of his memorial service. That was very sad but at the same time I was honored that they asked me to record this moment in their lives.  I did my absolute best with my new camera and even with a few glitches to the process think the end result turned out really well.  I put a lot of time and energy and effort into making this very sad event something they could look back on and hopefully remember with some degree of happiness.

Part 1 of his memorial service
Part 2 of his memorial service
Part 3 of his memorial service

They got to see a lot of family from far away and I learned a little something about myself in the process.  I also got to play with my new video and photography software and master some new skills.  This week I have had off from class and have tried to use my time wisely. 

I have been working in my growing garden, even after several setbacks due to the odd weather we are having this spring in TN.  I have lost many of my plants and had to replant due to unseasonably late frost in our area.  We had a tornado sweep through our area yesterday but I am happy to report my new greenhouse actually was left undamaged by the high winds.

I have done my first lunar shots in the last week and learned even more about photography first hand.  I think they turned out pretty well for a novice with basic equipment. But am already daydreaming of more powerful lenses and better shots in my future.  I have entered my first photo contest and lost and entered my second with high hopes.  At this point I am only doing this for personal satisfaction and my own bliss.  But am finding myself intrigued by the whole DSLR camera and all the bells and whistles that go with it.

My second attempt at a photo contest 

Please stop by and like your favorite in this competition, this link will take you to the photo of my read headed canine companion.

I am learning how to do videography, which I really didn't anticipate and am also getting better and better shots. Now I look at my old photos and go really, I shared that publicly.  I think the better camera and better pictures has made me more judgmental of my past skills.  But at least I know I am improving and learning along the way.

I have not only created a website for my photography but also a facebook fan site.
Jennifer Akes Photography on Facebook
Jennifer Akes Photography website

And I have even shared some of my photos on the Pintrest site
Jennifer Akes on Pinterest

I feel like this passion is beginning to help the pieces fall together.  Because I am no longer focusing on what is wrong in my life I have found other aspects of my life beginning to fall into place.  I spoke with someone regarding a job once my bachelors degree is completed, and have a renewed sense of hope regarding my funding.  I have also begun a cooperative in our area for those who are interested in sharing their surplus or possibly making some additional funds for their household selling their organically raised and humanely harvested foods.

It has been a very busy week but as the weekend slowly comes to a close I am thankful for all the blessings it has brought into my life.  I am sad at the loss of a wonderful man but glad that my photos and my videos could bring them some joy in their time of sadness.  I am overjoyed at my growing confidence in these new arenas and wonder what lies ahead.

I know that as each new challenge shows itself in my life I will once again rise to the challenge and hopefully not only learn more about myself but also about my own happiness through them.  I am loving my life more and more with each passing cycle of the planet and learning and relearning some important life lessons.

I am even making time in my already crazy busy schedule to escape for a few hours and just spend time with friends. Something I haven't done in a great while but have managed to do twice in the last two weeks.

For those who say following your bliss is a waste of time, I say it is what your time is all about.  We all work hard at jobs that perhaps we wish we didn't have to do. Be that laundry or something you get a paycheck for. My bliss is what keeps my sanity intact and my balance in this world secure. It is something that I can look forward to and hopefully eventually make a larger aspect of my life.

I am growing and evolving into the person I was born to be.  With each new skill and each success I am gaining confidence and I am gaining knowledge.  The knowledge I am gaining may not seam like much to an outsider but to me it is the world.

I hope my words today and my experiences have inspired others to follow their own bliss.  Nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. Sometimes you just have to decide what is really important to you.  You have to set a goal, figure out what you need to do to make it happen and keep on charging that wind mill until you either reach that goal or beat back those dragons in your head that are telling you that you cannot do it.  Either way enjoy the ride.  Life is way to short to be miserable.

Until next time blog buddies.  Stay safe, stay sane and be happy.

Releasing your past and embrassing your future

I promised myself to write when there were major changes in my life either physical or emotional.  Today I am going through a major emotional change.  I am learning to let go.  To make room in my life for good things by releasing something that no longer works or makes me happy.  This year is all about growth, about becoming the person I was born to be.

It is a year of growth and new beginnings.  I realized that I have entirely to much emotional attachment to a few material things in my life that although they no longer serve any purpose in my day to day existence they are preventing me from growing and changing because I am still existing in the past through their presence in my life.

I know that some emotional attachment is good, it binds us to the real world and reminds us why we struggle from day to day just to keep a roof over our head and clothes on our back.  But an unrealistic and unhealthy attachment to material possessions can also bind you to a world that no longer exist in your here and now.

Many times we get to attached to things that remind us of a simpler time or happier times with those we love. A favorite shirt or a pair of comfortable shoes.  Using that item to keep those memories alive in our hearts and minds. When it reality those memories would exist even if that material presence was gone.  We should embrace the people we love, not the things that keep those memories foremost in my minds.

As I sat a few days ago going through some old photos I relived those happy memories.  Regretting the loss of many of my photos when my hard drive crashed 2 years ago but also realizing that although those pictures are lost to me, I will always have those memories.  Nothing can take those away memory short of death or memory loss.

My dad always said the part about growing older he never fully understood until he began the process our bodies shut down slowly. First our eyesight isn't what it once was, then our hearing begins to slip and then our memories begin to fade.  He always felt the loss of memories was the greatest loss of all of his possessions. Perhaps that is why I journal so much. So no matter what I can read what I was facing and how I dealt with it.

So today I am facing a demon I have run from in the past in order to make room in my life for the things that will bring me joy and releasing those things that no longer do. Sometimes material things can become a weight around our neck weighing us down and preventing us from growing and changing.  Allowing those things to prevent our growth as people only serves as a disservice to ourselves and those we love. Change isn't easy but is a necessary evil for growth.

So embrace the pain that may come with change. Allow it flow through you and change you. Learn from it and move forward. Don't allow your heart to become so hardened that nothing bothers you or affects you.  But do not dwell in that dark place. Do not allow the pain to make you unfeeling to others or yourself.  What we cannot go around we must go through in order to evolve.

For many years my image of myself has been a phoenix.  From the ashes of its own destruction comes the new bird, ready for flight and ready to live another 1,000 years in glory.  It is often from the ashes of our current life we discover our own future and the path we are born to be upon.  Instead of dwelling in the failures of your life, you should look to the horizon and the better tomorrow just around the corner. 

So today my blog is about growth, changes in our lives that we must make in order to evolve into that phoenix.  Beautiful and renewed and ready to face whatever challenges that may come.  Instead of limiting ourselves to our past, we need to be prepared to do what must be done. To cut ties that bind and to ready our hearts and minds for the bliss that a life well lived promises us. 

Be good to yourself and do not make any changes until you are ready emotionally and mentally for.  Take your time and be patient with yourself but also do not limit your future by the presence of your past.  Learn from your past mistakes and hopefully become a more well rounded and loving person for the life lessons you have faced and survived.  What doesn't kill you will make  you stronger and wiser.

Until next time blog buddies, be safe, stay sane, and follow your bliss.

An interesting article about the phoenix and rising from the ashes of your current existance in order to follow a more harmonious existance. 

http://aflourishinglife.com/2011/01/coping-with-challenging-life-circumstances/

Mastering New Skills

Those who read my blog know that I have saved and researched until I could afford and finally made a decision regarding my new camera. It is one of the many passions I am following in my new journey to find my bliss. 

Today I went outside and started doing some serious shots.  I wanted to try and capture some of the beautiful world around me, in its uncut unedited form.  I spent the morning sitting and watching nature in all its beauty as it surrounded me.  Watching as our chickens pecked at the bugs and the wild birds as they fed from our bird feeder.

I just took a moment to actually enjoy our overcast cold day with a hot cup of coffee and my camera.  I got some amazing shots that I am really proud of and wanted to share with those who read my blog or who are following it. Showing you how far I have come in a very short period of time. 

I am still learning what all the different adjustments do on the camera and what it is capable of. It took me almost 12 hours just to figure out the video portion of it but now am experimenting with homemade filters and film speed, which on my new camera is adjustable.

When you find something that makes you happy whether you are good at it or not you should do it. Now I have shot probably around 400 pictures with my new camera since Friday.  And not all of them have been incredible shots, many were blurry and some were just badly composed. Some showed far more of my real life than I care to show the world at large, but I am still enjoying the process.  When I get a good shot with it I feel like I am on cloud nine and often tag family and friends in them on facebook and proudly show them publicly to the world.

I know a lot of people would tell me not to do that, that I am encouraging others to steal my work by not protecting it with some kind of trademark stamp or at least my name. But in this era of digital photography there are so many different programs readily available online to remove such things, that to me it would be a waste of my time to actually put them on my pictures.

I myself have taken pictures from a friends wedding and removed things in the pictures that distracted from the happy couple so I know if I can do it others can do it as well.  But I am finding such joy reconnecting with my creative side I really do not care. If someone wants to borrow, share, or even steal my pictures go right ahead. I have the originals with the time stamp to prove they are mine. As well as really not caring about such trivial bs. 

When you find something that makes you happy do it, share it with the world.  Encourage others to do the same because no matter how miserable I may feel or how dreary my day. I can pick up my camera and suddenly the day is a just a little bit brighter.  Will I ever do anything more than just take pictures for myself, doubtful.  I am enjoying the journey.  Where it leads me is a whole different subject.  I just know that had I not followed my bliss I would be missing out on so many beautiful things the world has to show me.

I wouldn't be able to look back on my pictures and say I took that, or I remember that moment.  Or that was the day this happened.  Life is funny in it throws us all some curve balls, but I believe people who actually take the time to enjoy it live longer, are healthier and find far less faults in others because they are so busy living their own lives they don't have time to stress over the fact their neighbor didn't take out their garbage before the service ran and now it is sitting on the curb for a week.  Or that their beloved husband forgot an anniversary, or that their kids said they prefer someone else's mom because she makes homemade cookies instead of store bought.

Life is what you make of it. It can be a beautiful journey or it can be a miserable existence.  Only you can decide what paths in life you take and how you respond to something that has happened. At least by following my bliss I have been able to find things that bring me joy and when I am feeling down I find solace in those things to help bring me back to center and ground me in the here and now.

Every moment of my life isn't roses and sunshine, bad things happen.  I have days when I drag myself out of bed and say do I really have to do this again today.  I have moments when I feel like I am beating my head against a brick wall and all I am getting for my troubles is a headache and some chips missing from the brick wall. (I am very hard headed you know). 

But by following my bliss where ever it may take me I feel like I will find a part of myself that I didn't know existed, or perhaps I did know but it was so buried under the bs of my day to day life I just didn't pay any attention to it.  All I know if I am happy.  I am happy because I choose to be happy, I am happy because I want to be happy, and I am happy because I am allowing myself the freedom to be happy.

Now I know this didn't happen overnight and that it won't stay around if I don't continue to pursue it.  I know that it like anything else must be fed and given attention or it will wander away never to heard or seen again.  But I am willing to make that commitment to myself.  To take just a little bit of every day and do something I don't care if it is tending to my plants or playing with my dogs, or taking shots with my camera to do something for me. 

I give so much of myself to those I love and care for, I feel I deserve something that is mine.  I plaster on that smile and pretend to be happy with people that some days I just really wish would take a rolling leap under an oncoming bus because I take that time for myself.  I am able to drag my sorry butt out of bed every morning because I know that no matter what at least a few moments of my day will be spent doing something I enjoy doing or working towards a goal that will make me happy.  I do it for my own sanity and mental well being.

I hope my words today have given you some food for thought. I hope that you are already planning out your bliss and what it would take to make you feel complete and whole.  I hope that you are taking active steps to follow your own bliss and enjoying tagging along on my journey to find mine. 

Until my next post stay safe, stay sane, and be happy.

Now for some of the incredible shots I have gotten while following my bliss with my new camera.

One of my beautiful well mannered pit bulls with our mustang horse Lucky

One of our vicious farm kitties letting me know he is not happy about all the picture taking

A beautiful nature shot taken right outside my window

A shot of one of roosters, this is Spock, he isn't very pretty in the face but he is a very friendly and loving rooster.

New growth on my Don Juan rose bush it is going to be truly magnificent this year.

One of my vicious pit bulls posing for an Easter photograph with one of our bunnies

Just a handful of the photographs I have taken with my new camera and the many happy memories that come with them.

Spring is in the Air

Today I took a walk through the woods behind your house, and played with my new camera.  I saw many things before I had just viewed but never seen.  I noticed flowers beginning to peak their heads from the warming soil, reaching for the sun. I saw living creatures and how nature reclaims her own.  I saw moss and trees and seeds that held the promise of future generations.

As I walked amongst the woods I let the cool air refresh my soul and recharge my mental and emotional batteries.  I allowed the clean air to cleanse my lungs of the toxins we all breath every day completely unaware of in our day to day lives. I took a moment and just sat.  Listening as deer rustled near by leaves with their footfalls and the stream below me as it babbled and ran over the smooth stones.

I learn a lot from nature. From the animals I surround myself with and the wild animals I battle to keep my animals safe. I learn from the plants and how they strive to survive even amongst some of the worst conditions.  I learn that determination and perseverance is how nature survives.  I take a page from Mother Nature and learn that if I cannot go through it I must go around it.

Ever striving to create the world in which I choose rather than blindly following or accepting the world I am presented.  I learn that although an obstacle may stand in my path it is up to me if I limit my ability to grow and adapt.  I learn by watching and listening and allowing the beauty that surrounds us all to simply wash over me and cleanse my soul.

I am not a hippie, or at least I don't think I am. I am not a prepper, or at least I don't think I am.  I am not a naturalist, or at least I don't think I am. But I am me.  Undefined by mans words or molds. Unwilling to bend to the times that change or the society that says I must fit into this mold.  I am more than happy to accommodate others and to learn and change with world but I am unwilling to sacrifice myself in order to make the world at large happy or more comfortable.

I am a mother, and a grandmother and a wife. But those to me are words, titles I have earned during my journey but they do not define who I am.  I am a student and a rescue worker and a writer, once again titles I have earned but they do not define me.  I am a friend, an enemy to some and a gardener, but these words are only a small part of who I am.

I wear many hats and do many different things and each of these thing enrich my life and make it a life worth living.  I am not limited by my experience but the more knowledgeable for having had them.  I do  not allow my failures to prevent me from trying again and I do not rest upon my accomplishments I enjoy them and move forward with my journey.

I am documenting this journey I am taking into finding my bliss in hopes that it will inspire others to do the same. Their journey may not be identical to mine and I truly do not expect it will be. But I have hope that by reading my words and hearing my message I inspire others to find the things in their life that bring them true joy and embrace them. To not run away from something simply because it is not easy or because the battles you must face may appear to outweigh the good things that accomplishing them may bring wonderful things to your life.

Never fear change or run from a challenge.  I am an odd woman I thrive on a challenge.  If someone tells me I cannot do something that just sets something off inside me to try harder and find a way to make it happen.  I have always been this way for as far back as I can remember. I do not like confrontation but am more than willing to fight for the things I believe in or feel passionate about.  I do not feel that my age is a hindrance because with it comes the wisdom of a lifetime well lived.

My body is not that of a 20 year old but I still revel in the amazing things it can still accomplish.  I live each day with the awe and wonderment of a small child at times. Taking amazement in the simple things and just taking a moment out of my crazy life to watch what is going on around me.  Enjoying each buds as it becomes an amazing one of a kind flower, or watching a bumble bee glide from flower to flower collecting nectar, completely oblivious to the human standing over it.

I sometimes wonder if my happiness is largely in part to the fact that I do notice these small miracles and take joy in them.  That if finding my bliss isn't a journey I have recently undertaken but one that I have been on my entire life.  Many folks say that you should concentrate on the long term others say you should live in the moment. I say you should balance your life to include both. Look to the long term plan but at the same time never losing site of the important things that you will miss if you are so busy looking at the horizon that you forget to enjoy the view around you.  Never has anyone ever said I wish I had spent more time at the office on their death bed, normally it is I wish I had spent more time with my family, or I wish I painted something truly memorable, or something along those lines.

I may be an oddity within my own society.  I may not fit the mold set in place by others because I refuse to act my age or think a certain way. But to be honest I am far happier walking my own path and living the life I choose.  I may never be famous or find a cure for some dreaded disease but I know in my soul that I am living a life well spent.  I may never walk on the moon or change society as a whole but every person I influence that tries to take active steps towards living a healthier or happier life I have done something.

I write this to let you know it is ok if your biggest dream is to have a rose garden, or grow your own tomatoes, or just sit on a beach somewhere enjoying a good book. Its ok to dream small and not accomplish life changing goals. It is alright to take a little time for yourself to enjoy your favorite meal or that glass of homemade wine.  It is just fine to be exactly who you are in the skin you are in and to happy.  You don't have to change the world you only have to change yourself.

The world isn't going to end if you aren't the top in your field. Some are destined to be the best at something others are meant to be amongst those watching.  The world will  not stop spinning if you do not live in that million dollar mansion or drive the most expensive car on the road.  You family will not think less of you for living the life you choose to live. If they do remind them it is your life and no one has the right to judge another.  That you love them regardless and if they cannot do that for you then perhaps they need to figure out why your choices bother them so much.  Chances are they cannot come up with a just reason and are only trying to fit into that box that society has deemed is normal.  Who wants to be normal, that is just downright boring to me.

I enjoy my life and all that it brings with it. The good times and bad alike. The good times keep me motivated and the pain from the bad times helps me learn what isn't working in my life.  I try to keep in mind that sometimes people move in and out of lives and that them leaving isn't a reflection upon me but is a notification that my time and learning from them is done, at least for now.

I am not really sure what the blog today is about just random thoughts that passed through my mind while I was hiking in the woods with my cat and dog and chickens.  It is just things that I felt I needed to share with my readers and to let them know life is good regardless of where you are in it. Just starting out or coming to the end of your journey.  That as long as you do what makes you happy you are already so incredibly far ahead of the majority of people that all you can do is laugh and say well one day they too shall be here.

I hope my words today have inspired or at least made you think.  I hope that you find something either in them or from them and that it moves you to take that first baby step towards finding your own bliss no matter what path that may lead you down.  That you remember that life isn't always about the end result sometimes it is simply about the journey and the many things you learn about yourself along the way.  That you allow your own personal nature to guide you and help you discover what truly makes you happy and what doesn't work in your own life and that you always remember that you are a one of kind masterpiece that only needs an artistic signature to complete it.

Until Next time blog buddies, stay safe, stay sane, and be happy.

Remember that a seed is a promise of tomorrow and we all have that seed of imagination buried deep within us.  I can weather the storms that life brings as long as we protect it and remember to plant it when warmer weather returns. But if we only lock it away and keep it safe it will never become the plant that it was destined to be.

I found this during my nature walk today and it reminded me that nature in all her amazing glory provides each of us with the basic necessities we need to become what we were born to be, but that it is up to us to utilize those gifts in order to live the life we were destined to live.

When you Finally get what you want

Today my camera arrived. The one I have been dreaming off, drooling over and researching to no end. I know I have driven those around me crazy with "here watch this video" or "ohhh they have the same camera only cheaper I could afford to get the better lens for it."  I have researched many different cameras on the market. Making a list of what I wanted and what I needed and what would be nice to have. I set a budget for what I was comfortable spending and began saving for it.

I have had a few setbacks along the way, unexpected medical bills that hit us out of nowhere and we needed my preciously hoarded funds to meet them. Necessity overruling wanting.  I also knew that there is a time and season for everything and that I needed to wait until the right moment to make my investment to get the most bang for my buck.  Because I didn't run out and buy the first camera to catch my eye when it caught my attention I was able to learn all I could about the the camera I decided on.

Now comes the fun part, learning how to use it and taking all the incredible shots I have been dreaming of.  Now I have had a perfectly functional point and shoot that I paid 100 dollars for on clearance that did what I needed it to do.  It took pictures of the important moments in our lives.  But many times I spent hours working in a digital darkroom cropping, lightening and trying to save those truly important moments in the absolute best framing possible.

I do not regret waiting almost 6 months to make this investment and the test I went through I think made me appreciate it all the more. Sometimes our bliss doesn't happen overnight. Sometimes we have to work and struggle and fight for what we want out of this life. Sometimes just about when we are about to give up hope something will happen and our bliss will magically appear in our hands or in our lives.

Right now is a really busy time in my life.  I am raising chicks to add to our home flock of laying hens, as well as 5 ducklings.  I am planting like crazy because it turns out there is a shortage of individuals who can raise a plant from a seed and I actually found someone who will purchase my surplus plants to help support my other passions, my animals.

I am also back in college finishing up my degree and struggling with scheduling because some days there just isn't enough hours in the day for all the things I want or need to get done.  I have also been sick and actually had to take a sick day which for me is very rare, but sometimes you body says OK we aren't going to fight this if you keep pushing us the breaking point.

But all in all I can honestly say I am closer than I have ever been to my bliss.  I am getting there one small step at a time.  I am still fighting the good fight for the dogs I love.  Recently our state decided that they were going to try and pass some legislation that created issues for those who have a particular type of dog.  I was right there in the foxholes fighting along side those who love these dogs and refuse to allow them to legislated into extinction in our state.

I have waiting and planned and dreamed of things that are still outside my reach but with each passing day they get closer because I truly want them bad enough to make it happen.  I don't rest on my past victories I take note of them and press forward, ever learning and evolving into the creature I was born to be.

I have had some failures and setbacks, yes.  But all in all I have found that if I am persistent enough and patient enough that with time all that I want will come to me, just sometimes I have to work a little harder at obtaining them. If they do not come to me when I want them there is more often than not a reason. Perhaps I am not ready to experience that happiness, or maybe I wouldn't appreciate them the way I will a few more months down the line. I guess what I am trying to say is don't give up.

Just because your bliss isn't falling into your lap doesn't mean with time and dedication it won't. Sometimes you just gotta fight a little harder. You gotta try a little more creatively, or you have to want it bad enough.  Sometimes thing fall into place when you least expect them to or things fall apart when you least expect them to.  I have learned that during this journey first hand.  But just because something does work out this time or every time you have tried it in the past doesn't mean it won't. It just means the universe is testing to see how badly you truly want it.

I know everyone finds their bliss in different ways. For some it might be a goal of having enough money to never stress over bills again. For another it may be to lose those stubborn 10 lbs that you just cannot seam to shed. For some it is simple things like enjoying a cup of coffee with a loved one while sitting on an old porch watching a beautiful sunset together. Every individual has their own dreams and ideals and no one should ever knock another persons dreams or goals.  Who are they to say what is worthy of being a dream and what is worthy of someone else's time and attention.

So today I leave you with this thought.  If you could do anything on this planet and it would make you blissfully happy, what would that be?  Why aren't you taking active steps to make that a reality?  Even if it is nothing more than in the planning stage. Trying to figure out what needs to happen in order to bring that dream into your reality.  Never give up and never give in when it comes to your dreams.  Only you can say what is truly worth the effort you put forth to make them your reality.

Until next time blog buddies, stay safe, stay sane and be happy.

One of the incredible shots taken with my new camera. Beauty is all around you if you will only take the time to look and appreciate it.  I have been dying to capture some photographs of our peach tree in bloom. I finally am getting the chance to do that.  I am amazed at nature in all her wonder that even when the temperatures here are in the 20's she still finds a way to struggle through and show her beauty to those willing to look.

Your Bliss can be Contagious

When I lost my father in 2011 my life fell apart.  He had started a rescue to help dogs who were at the end of their road.  Dogs who others had given up hope on. Dogs where abused, neglected, left to die due to age or disease, or dogs who had seen the worst humanity had to give and still had so much love in their soul to give someone.  He wanted to make a difference in the dogs because he had seen first hand how these dogs changed not only the lives of their owners but also the lives of those who adopted them.

His personal dog was a former fighting dog.  She had been overbred, fought, starved, and beaten.  At first she was afraid of everyone and everything, but over time she became an amazing animal.  She was wonderful with small children, aka his great grandchildren. Learned through positive reinforcement to get along with other dogs and cats and other animals.  He helped her understand that not all humans are evil nor does every life have to have a bad ending.  Her name is Casey.  She was the first official dog rescued by his rescue.

Casey and my dad had a very special relationship.  She opened up his world and helped him find happiness he had never known in his last days.  They only had 18 months together but to me it was the happiest I had ever seen him.  They were partners in crime and he often shared stories of her antics with others as well as made himself happy with her companionship in his life.

When my Dad died of pancreatic cancer I stepped up and took over his dream, it becoming my own.  Every dog we save ever life we change reflects on his dream to help as many as we can.  He worked tirelessly to educate others about these dogs and the wonderful companions they can be. Even though in younger years he may not have been as aware of the problems faced by them he put everything on the line to help them in his golden years.

After my dads death I thought my world would fall apart. He was the base of our family as well as being the foundation on which our lives were built. He was the one person on this planet we could all reach out and touch to find solace in our dark moments be that with a joke or a laughter or a hug or whatever you needed.  I began caring for all of the animals in his pack when he became to ill to care for them any longer.  I found that by getting up every morning no matter how badly I wanted to lay in bed and cry made me realize that life went on.  It made me get outside of my own head and move forward with my life.  It made me understand why he worked so hard to save these dogs.  They really do change lives.

I have learned a lot from these dogs.  I have learned that no matter how dark yesterday may have been that tomorrow is always a new day.  I have learned that not all people are evil self serving animals but that there are good people in the world.  I have also learned that not everything is as it appears and sometimes things that appear to be great on the surface hide a much deeper secret behind closed doors.

His bliss wasn't mine in the beginning.  I was the one saying this would be so much easier if you didn't do this but in the end I learned the motivation behind his actions and respected him all the more for having the heart to lead me to this life.  Through it I have met some amazing people. I have changed lives for the better and I have a purpose that drives me even during my darkest days.

I know this isn't like many of my previous blogs. This isn't just about happiness.  It is also about doing something that impact your world for the better. Be you led there by your own heart or the heart of another.  It is about taking yourself out of your own comfort zone and doing something you may have never pictured yourself doing simply because it is a part of another persons bliss.  It is about stretching and learning and becoming more tomorrow than you are today.

My own personal pup wasn't "categorized" as a pit bull by the shelter that had her.  Her paperwork read "lab" mix.  But I still fell in love with her gentle ways and decided that this was the dog who would change my life for the better.  Her name is Karma.  She was a death row dog in a shelter that only allowed a set time for adoption. Her time had run out.  Now when we did our first vet visit the vet informed me that this dog was a pit bull mix.  I had not had a lot of experience with pit bulls and the limited amount I had not been bad or good.  My ex husband's parents had one when we got together and he was a huge bulky monster who they warned me didn't like strangers but he and I got along famously.

Being told by our vet that the dog of my choosing was a pit bull was a bit of a shock but I didn't care.  She was mine and regardless of her "type" I loved her.  She is the most gentle loving animal a girl could ask for.  She had time and time again proven her dedication for me and now accompanies me most everywhere I go, with very few exceptions.  She never leaves my side when I am home and although she doesn't like small children (some dogs are just not kid friendly and although not aggressive towards them she avoids them like the plague) together we work through that.  I couldn't imagine my life without her and I am really glad I gave a death row dog a chance at her own happy ending. I adopted her on February 15, 2010.  I have had 3 amazing years with this dog and am thankful for every single one of them.

Even my husband lost his heart to one of these dogs. She came to us as a foster and ending up being adopted by our family.  Her name is Phoenix, she came to us from a kill shelter with a spinal injury.  She had been hit by a car best our vet can figure and has a long lasting injury from her great adventure.  She was pictured in an email sent to us to see if we could help her.  He went with me to meet the transport for  her and fell in love on site.

Sometimes bliss can be contagious.  Sometimes it can seep out of your life and into those you share your life with. My Dads sure did.  It may have begun as his bliss but soon became a mission of our family to save as many as possible.  Of my three daughters two are now involved in rescue efforts and volunteer their time with animals to help and find homes.  So the beginning bliss of one man not only saved many dogs it saved countless people from themselves as well.

When my father began following his bliss I am pretty sure he didn't have any idea how far reaching his dream would be.  In his eyes he wanted to help those he could and save the ones he could afford to save. Sadly many times when a dreamer dies so do their dreams. I am fairly sure he could never have pictured us working with other rescues to save dogs of other breeds and types as well as having a wonderful group of volunteers and sponsors who help us follow those dreams.

Companies like Chris Crafts stepped up to donate and help sponsor our rescue efforts and some pretty amazing people across our country have stepped up to volunteer their time and expertise to help get dogs seen through networking and sharing.  My Father's bliss was highly contagious.  What do all of these people share in common you may ask. Not all are huge fans of the type of dogs we help, but they see them as being dogs not vicious animals the media portrays them to be.

Dogs like Zeus once abandoned at a boarding facility left to die from arthritis and age alone and without a family now have loving homes that they are given because someone did a good thing and shared or posted his story.  People like Penny Eims who not only took an interest but also did a story about Zeus to get him some air time and be seen by thousands of people and we had over 75 applications in the space of 4 hours for this handsome boy to ensure his final days were spent surrounded by those who love him.

Don't hold your own bliss so tightly that you don't allow it to seep over and involve others. Let those around you know what is going on, they may decide to tag along for the ride. They may find their own bliss through the actions you take or the things you learn about yourself.  There is entirely to little happiness in the world. It is often filled with sad stories about bad people and bad things.

My personal motto has always been to grab life with both hands and hang on for dear life.  If my Father hadn't followed his bliss my bliss would never happened, or at least not this aspect of it.  The dogs have changed how I see the world. How I interact with my fellow man.  The friendships I have formed along the way have helped me evolve into a better person and helped me learn that even in our darkest days there is hope and there is a chance of finding our own happily ever after.

I hope my words today have given you all food for thought. On how your own bliss can affect those around you. Perhaps even changing the world into a better place to be.  A small ripple in the waters of life can create an outwardly flowing effect. Share your bliss with others.  Share your stories with others.  Help someone else find their own bliss and in return the universe will pass that good Karma along to you and those you love.  Never give up on your dreams no matter how hard they may be to follow because about the time you do is when great things begin to happen.

Until next time blog buddies, stay safe, stay sane, and stay happy.