My little red tether is my anchor in running with my friends. A beautiful guide dog has been my tether/anchor in mobility and independence for 17 years: 1. Pantera 2. Cricket, and now my beautiful 3. Georgina (Georgie). A life of family and friends is my joy and anchor in life.

The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it. CC Scott

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Coral Smudges & Surrendering

This has been a long day.  It started out with our run.  Three miles today.  Tapering back for the 1/2 on Saturday.  It feels good and my yearning to do a marathon is in full force!  It was a pretty typical day with thankfully not much creativity needed on how to get where I needed/wanted to go.  Steve dropped Cricket and I off for our hair appointment.  We have a system that generally works every five weeks when this fast growing hair needs a cut.   Cricket settled in for an hour of Marina and I chatting about life.  Steve picked us up and dropped us off next for a pedicure and manicure.  I had a break in my schedule before clients began that allowed for just enough time.   Natalie had told me coral was the color of the season so I asked someone else to help me find a coral polish.  Apparently, it was super bright orange and luckily the lady asked me -- is that really the color you want.  I said, I want coral.    They started bringing me some other options, and I said, sorry I can't see the colors but my daughter is suggesting coral.  My colleagues are often saying -- can Natalie help us :).   At this point, one of the ladies who was also getting a pedicure tried to explain to them what color - coral was -- she said its close to the color of her sweater - referring to me.  Great information for me to know -- didn't realize this!  They kept bringing out different colors and she would say no not quite until they finally found one that she agreed was coral!  I was pretty touched by her kindness and the 'village' of ladies that were working to find coral polish.   After I finished, we walked up to the store nearby.  I said to Cricket - Find the basket, (awesome) then left/left, right/right, Find the counter -- ta da to a Raspberry Fritter at the Bakery.  Oh my.  Yummy.  As I was juggling my sweet Cricket and way too big purse with too much in it, I smudged my Coral Nails!  I found myself thinking ... oh I could navigate back and they would fix it but then so not worth it.  The smudge coral nails are reminding me to surrender to what is and its just not a big deal :).  Cricket walked back to my office with such confidence and purpose.   I had some super difficult cases where I had to do what is one of the hardest things for us to do - call and report a tough situation.  Thus,  I was a little late getting a class started.  I finished teaching the mindful class where we were reminded to Breathe and Surrender.  I may have benefitted more than the others in the class this evening.

I spent the day in Ann Taylor clothing (jewelry, clothes, even shoes!) - funny how often that happens.  Steve fixed these shoes for me so I'm hopeful they have many more miles to go this summer.  They are a fun little dash of animal print with the belt and necklace :) and now I'm happy to know that the sweater I am wearing is coral to match my smudged nails!
Oh how I love this happy, silly dog. 
Wednesday is International Guide Dog Day.  What a fabulous day to celebrate!  I have been blessed with a guide dog by my side for almost fifteen years now (Pantera 9 years and now Cricket 5 plus years).  Incredible blessing.  We have a full day at the office but in the middle is a break to go for a nice long walk enjoying the joys of a guide dog in my life.     

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Happy International Guide Dog Day, Cricket! She is pretty fantastic! I love your analogy of "coral smudges" representing what we want to fret over in life and what we want to take deep breathes through and surrender. WOW! This is such beautiful inspiration. I think I'm going to paint my nails just so I can smudge them today. Thank you for that!

Infrequent Flyers said...

Perfection is overrated! A bruised apple can taste just as good as a perfect one. What freedom we can experience by embracing the smudges in life! Thank you for that reminder, Becky!

Anonymous said...

It's taken me a while (a long while) but I've learned that everything DOESN'T have to be perfect (boy, my toenails sure are not!) and that sometimes others only see our flaws when WE point them out!! Ha!!

Karen said...

Good message. Thanks! HAPPY HAPPY DAY CRICKET. WE ALL CELEBRATE YOUR GOODNESS.

Beth and Alfie said...

What a beautiful story -- I love your nails, smudge or no! Spring is here, I think I will break out the coral too. :-)

That last pic of you and Cricket is one of my favorites ever!!

wendy said...

Well, I think those shoes are smashingly cool...and I love Coral.
I hate it when I get a pedicure, and smudge it.
Happy Guide Day Cricket !!
blessing for sure

3 labs 4 me said...

Happy Guide Dog Day 'Crickers' from your Oregon friends! We love you!