It's not about the fame.

Those with no talent are the ones who feel the need to display it the most. 

I think there is something to say for those people who can get up again and again, and not care who watches them triumph. They could care less about the compliments and views; Because it doesn't matter who is watching, how many, and what they are saying. They get up for themselves, they push because they need to, not because they want to look good. The quest, while filled with glory and titles and ribbons and medals, is strictly internal. It isn't the recognition or acknowledgement that make it all worth while. Its the sheer joy of knowing you have done what you set out to do, knowing that you haven't "made it" anywhere...each achievement is simply one accomplished goal in a never ending journey, of not perfection, but of knowledge. Not of knowing it all, but learning everything you don't know. 

Spooked...

Today for the first time in over 12 years of agility I was absolutely terrified. A very special buddy of mine, Rigby ( the standard poodle) had a melt down in his novice jumpers run. He was all stressed, and scared, and didn't want to play the game at all. I excused us, and took him back to his crate. My only thought was; What if I've lost him for good? I can't explain how special some dogs are, you have to feel it, know them, understand them before you can truly appreciate the personality and character. Rigby, he is one unique character, and though I haven't quite figured him out, I just know he is one of a kind. I've never met another dog like him; To have our agility partnership end with him refusing to run with me, would kill me. 

Luckily, with some moral support from his family (dogs and humans) and some extra yummy meatballs, we got back into our normal rhythm winning both Novice Standard and Novice FAST. 

Sorry just a random mind blowing moment for me today, figured I'd share. Also kind of put in perspective how attached I really get to my rent-a-dogs. I know some people think you can't truly enjoy and love a dog that isn't your own. But agility, any dog sport really, builds a special bond between handler and dog. A single language, handling system for a unit, it is all teamwork. At that point, I'm not sure it really matters who owns the dogs papers...in some small way you're connected to them whether you like it or not. 

Life Moves Forward...

Life is simply one of the most wonderful things, when one chooses to live life. Life left alone, becomes nothing more than existence. A missed communicated, poorly designed set of stops and go's that lead you nowhere. After all what's life without a destination? Or rather, an ever changing aspiration to arrive at the ever elusive, yet somehow obtainable target encircled in passion, expectations, ambition, desire, and the pure  joy of the quest for success.

The funny thing about life is that its always unpredictable, inflicting the most sudden jolts that seem to alter time itself...but only for a moment of course, and causing a change in the predetermined course, a variation of how life could have been, but due to a serious of not necessarily unfortunate events isn't meant to be. While change may seem unconventional and/or quite terrible at first, it is always there to be accepted above all else. 

A poorly directed life is a rather wasted one and a life stuck in reverse is one that will never go anywhere. 

You're Your Own Creation.

Life isn't about finding yourself, it’s about creating yourself. People tend to forget they have a creative license over their own lives; they let the people around them dictate what they will become. Unfortunately for all the empty canvases of the world, society doesn't like to paint a pretty picture.

Those dark piercing stabs from a pencil’s unforgiving tip, delve much deeper into the skin then the gentle sketch of a beautiful soul. Inky images painted by the world manage to outlast every drop of florescent paint. The scars left by others are written in only the most permanent of pens and no eraser will ever touch them. The sad thing is most people adopt the picture society paints them as. I'm just hoping I'll outlast the lashes of dull watered down paint, so that I can create a masterpiece within myself. 

Winning is Everything.

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If you don’t win, you loose. There is no second place, good effort, nice try… either you get it done or you don’t. That’s it. End of story. Winning is the only option, without that accomplishment every single time you leave the ring, you are wasting your own time. In my opinion you shouldn’t even be doing agility if you don’t know how to win.

Now the question is, what are you competing for? What is winning? Getting that first place blue ribbon of course, not. What you should win every single time is knowledge. No matter how brilliantly or horribly the printed results are there is always something to gain, something to learn, something you can use.  Without learning from every mistake, knowing what went wrong, why, and how you can make it better, what you can do to prevent the mistake, or looking at every success and pulling apart, what made it so fantastic, then chances are you’ll never improve. Knowledge is without a doubt the greatest prize and the only one that anyone should be focused on.

Learn to Jump.

It's amazing how glory, pride, arrogance, a little success, and some ass kissing can make someone feel like they are on top. Hot shit, untouchable, undeniably the best, haven't you heard? Yet for those of us below, we can see not only their bulbous head, but the crippling fall from grace slowly creeping up on them. It knocks anyone and everyone who isn't truly great back down to reality. The great, who truly are amazing, don't fall... 

They jump and land on their feet read to start the climb again because they understand. They know, that no one is at the top forever. We all fall and rise. Just because you win today, doesn't mean you'll Q tomorrow. So before you flaunt that stack of blue ribbons or rub your success in someone's face, remember that one day soon you'll be average once again....and what will people have to say about you then? 

For mature adults.

Maturity is doing what you are supposed to without being told to do so. Owning your own decisions, taking responsibility for everything you do, understanding that just because you can doesn't mean you should. 

I know that is all quite redundant and everyone from the age of 7 to 107 has heard it a million times and probably said it a few more million. Unfortunately in our society it is something that has to be reiterated over and over and over again. It's not a concept easily grasped and many go through life without realizing how to define themselves as mature adults. And yes there is a difference between adults and mature adults, because maturity doesn't come with age. The defining moment for maturity is realizing that you no longer need to say you are mature. There is no question, it doesn't have to be stated. You do what you have to do, you do what is right, you do what you feel is best, without feeling like you should defend your actions. For maturity doesn't come with age, it comes from wisdom gained through experience, not time. Understating and the application of what is appropriate, it isn't a task or a learned habit. Maturity is part of what makes you, you.