Oh Gracie... Anything for a Treat!

Ever wonder when you walk a dog, who is actually walking who? LOL! My neighbor asked me just that the other day while Gracie was having a bit of a spastic moment by the park and the trees where she was running laps around me.However, thank you to Cooper at Petco for talking about high value treats and the second she heard me reach in the bag for a slice of her favorite turkey bacon treat from DogNation, she immediately stopped running and sat directly in front of me, tail wagging, panting heavily, covered in dirt and leaves (evidence in the photo)

but fully acknowledged that the only way she would get that piece of bacon was to sit quietly and patiently wait for her command to receive her reward.

I am looking forward to this weekend and the beginning of Gracie's second phase of training. She has become incredibly social, with people, children, and other dogs and I know this next phase of training will be work but she is ready (and I think I am too)!

Today is Day 15 of the journey, but it is also 3 months to the date since my life was completely changed. I have come to learn a lot about myself within these three months. I have always believed everything happens for a reason, people come in to your life for purpose, events happen for purpose (good and bad) but all of it shapes you to become greater than you are today. I have definitely not figured everything out but I do have more confidence in myself today then I did yesterday.

Taking life one day at a time and knowing that failure and success are not much different in the terms of you can't be afraid of either or let either determine exactly who you are. Failure has been the word that has lingered over me for the past 3 months. But on January 1st, I changed that "F" word from "Failure" to "Forward". Just a reminder to myself each day to not let my past define me but to recognize it for the lesson it was and move forward with faith for my future. Wherever and whatever that may include. Life is only lived with the moments we embrace and with each moment derives opportunity to make a change. So we (Gracie and I) will continue to move forward. Forward with training (for each other), healthy choices, more exercise and time outdoors together and hopefully with a new job opportunity soon. But for now, I am just going to enjoy the time that I have to myself with Gracie to spend days on the beach, walks in the park, cuddles on the couch, time at the gym, time with my Dance Trance tribe, with my friends and family and at church with faith in what will come.