Happy New Year!!!

Ahhhh, the relief of a new year....feels like anything is possible.  A fresh new calendar, a blank slate, a chance to reset and imagine a life where you can achieve that beautiful balance of taking care of yourself and your people.  Jotting down ways to shape a life where you prioritize love and joy and health and happiness.  I love a new year so hard.

I woke up this morning about 6:30 and got dressed before I went downstairs.  I was talking to myself the whole time....convincing myself that getting out for a walk first thing was the right way to start the day and the year.  Get it done even before coffee!

SIDE NOTE:  I weighed myself this morning for the first time in probably a year and it was not an encouragement to me.

Cooper was beside himself when he saw me already dressed and in tennis shoes coming down the stairs.  When he realized there was going to be a walk to start his morning, he started spinning and whining and celebrating.  Oh, how I wish I could channel his unbridled enthusiasm for getting his steps in. He tried to slide under the garage door as soon as a crack of daylight showed as it was opening.  Sometimes, I worry his halter will get stuck on the door as it is lifting, but you cannot stop that boy from urgently getting his nose and body squeezed under that door and out into the world.  His excitement is real.  As we moved down the driveway, I was thanking God for another year, another day, so much grace and love and all the things that make me feel loved and cherished. So happy that I have two legs that let me walk.  I was proud of myself for getting the year started on a good note. A great note really!  Taking the first step out the door is the hardest part, but once out of the house with the garage door closing behind me I felt great.

Before we even got out of the cul de sac, Cooper had gone behind the neighbors hedge and gotten his leash tangled around a bush.  He was stuck.  Breathing hard.  Kind of panicked cause he wanted to get out and get on with our walk but he was going no where.  We have walked out of this cul de sac hundreds of time and never has he gotten himself into this predicament.  So, I found myself crawling on my hands and knees into the hedge with a very excited dog wondering why I was on the ground crawling towards him.  I was able to unhook his leash, hold on to his harness, untangle the snared leash, reattach it to his harness and crawl backwards out of the hedge.  Sticks and leaves in my hair, a little mud on my pants.

So within 30 minutes of opening my eyes in the new year, I was quickly reminded that it won't all be shiny and fabulous.  More than likely there will be challenges and obstacles thrown in to overcome.  That's okay.  That is just life.  That is what it means to be human.  That is what I love most about humans. We all have challenges. We all have to work hard at something. Finding the humor and the joy and the worry and the frustration in those things and sharing it with other humans is the best!

I hope the new year is filled with endless possibilities for you and that when you end up crawling through a hedge to untangle a mess that you will laugh to yourself and remember to share that story with me.

Bring on 2019!