Posts Tagged by Stairs
Bravely back on track
| September 9, 2013 | Posted by Ruth under Inspirational & motivational, Lifestyle, Music, Pup culture, Videos |
I took a break from writing for 2 weeks. I don’t think it was a good idea.
I promise me: Next time I travel, I’ll write every day, no matter what – even if I have to scribble it down on my Philly cheese steak’s sauce-and-drool-covered napkin. (Oh, man – that was one helluva sandwich!)
Writing is my salvation & my force field, all wrapped up in one glorious, gremlin-free creative flow.
I cherish it. But there are chinks in an unmaintained force field, apparently – small cracks where haters can enter. External critiques setup house for internal gremlins. That house party crushes creativity. It’s a sad, sad party of uninvited guests: self-doubt is the biggest party crasher of them all.
So here I am trying to write a post about love that I’ve postponed too many times already.
But I’m busy cleaning up after the party. The voices of naysayers are strewn about my psyche like beer empties drained margaritas, pinatas & “The Hangover” tiger.
My poodle muse, Rusty.
My human muse: Jennifer Lawrence, Vogue 2013.
What are the discarded party favors, beads, & tiny umbrellas?
They’re suggestions that I censor my writing and not get new photog gear for this blog (cuz why bother?), coupled with learning that loved ones aren’t TSP fans. So what’s a girl to do? Gather up those party favors into a bouquet and flaunt those beads with flair, that’s what. Embrace the debris as part of my style, I say. Besides, the tiger’s kinda cute. Nice kitty.
But how to get back on track? In reality, I was never entirely off the rails.
I’ll grow from the criticism, and put down deeper roots as myself-the-writer. Looking at Rusty, I realize that he’s joyfully & genuinely himself. He’s sweetly uncensored & decidedly unencumbered by “what would people say?!”. Lesson learned, Rusty, my teacher. Getting back to me means being authentic, trusting in what lights me up, & not dwelling on what tears me down. Voila: Force field up!
That said, how about a little reminiscing & music?
In my very first TSP post, I talked about recovering triumphantly from a fall & conquering challenges. Rusty & genuine girl/fashion icon, JLaw, were my muses for that message, and they still inspire me. Music lights me up even more than fashion. A good tune & a cute shoe: heaven!
Come to think of it, The Soulful Pet really needs a soundtrack.
So I’m happy to present TSP’s first Music Monday. Sarah, take it away!
Be kind with your words, folks. They have power.
Use them for good, not evil – with animals & people. Be brave enough to be someone’s muse, not someone’s sad party empties. As Sarah says, “Say what you want to say, and let the words fall out honestly. I wanna see you be brave!” I’ll be right here, honestly & bravely writing.
Do your pets make you brave? Do they keep you on track? Who (animal or human) inspires you? How do you keep your force field intact? How do you celebrate freedom of self-expression? Is there a song in your soundtrack?
Please share your thoughts (& tunes!) in the comments. You could be someone’s muse today! xo ~Ruth~
©2013 The Soulful Pet
I’m obsessed…..
| March 8, 2013 | Posted by Ruth under Inspirational & motivational, Recipes, Soul food, Training/Behavior |
……with Brussels sprouts. Who knew?
I’ve hated them all of my life. Too bitter, too smelly, too cabbagy. Just “too”. The thought of cooking them was intimidating & unsettling. Yet, all of my foodie friends were enthusiastic about them. So a few months ago, I went on a mission to figure out what all the fuss was about. I tried all incarnations of sprouts in restaurants & in recipes at home. Much to my delight, I finally stumbled upon an easy way to roast some charisma into the little green guys. And now, I’m a fan.
Ruth’s Brussels Sprouts:
Trim & halve 2 lbs. of sprouts. In a large bowl, toss sprouts with 2T olive oil, 2T maple syrup, 3 slices of bacon cut into 1/2 in. pieces, and sea salt/ground pepper (to taste). Roast @ 400 degrees for 30 min., turning every 10 minutes or so, until sprouts are tender & caramelized, and bacon is crisply golden. Yum!
What does this have to do with pets? Everything, in my opinion.
We all (us & our pets) get stuck in ruts that prevent us from trying new things. New is suspect. New is hard. New is scary. But new can be wonderful. It’s in the absence of stepping outside your box that you miss the wonderful. Here’s an idea: Today, try something new, and include your pet. It’s uber-easy, really. For example, walk in a new neighborhood or in a different direction. Or – Wake up & consider what you’re grateful for. Sit silently with your pet as you do this. Just breathe & be. I think you’ll find that your day is a little brighter, and your pet will respond to your light.
My little guy, Rusty, had to try new things when we adopted him.
I know that my attitude about “new” is contagious to animals, so I presented each experience with a balance of enthusiasm & patience, @ his pace. Soon, Rusty’s list of things he never knew he liked grew rapidly. He now loves tuck-ins, the stairs to our bed, catch games, rides in his car seat, and beach walks. (See? Once you get started, you’re more optimistic that the next thing you try will be fun, too. Suddenly, you’re craving & relishing “new”.)
Rusty, lovin’ the tuck-in.
That brings us back to those crave-worthy Brussels sprouts. Can your dog try them?
Well, maybe just one from your batch. But ideally, roast a few separately when you cook yours. Only use olive oil & a bit of honey (optional). No salt, pepper or bacon for Pup. Cool completely, and only give 1/2 a sprout to your dog, as a treat. If all goes well, a sprout a day for only a few days should be fine. (As always, check with your vet 1st before changing your pet’s diet.) Sprouts contain isothiniocyanate, a chemical from mustard oil that can be a gastrointestinal irritant. Fortunately, roasting seems to minimize its offensive effects on humans & dogs. Same goes for other members of the cabbage family: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage itself.
So I’m taking my own advice, and I’m on another quest to like something new: Cooked cauliflower.
I love it raw in salads or dips, but cooked is another story. Roasting might be the way to go again. What do you think? If you have a tried & true way to tastily cook cauliflower, please share. Please.
©2013 The Soulful Pet
First steps
| March 4, 2013 | Posted by Ruth under Inspirational & motivational, Pup culture, Training/Behavior, Videos |
Hey, we all fall. Just ask Jennifer Lawrence …… or me.
As a teenager, I fell down the front steps to my high school while wearing cute new heels. (Everyone saw; 5 guys were on the stairs, too; no one helped.) It was not a fashion moment. I was a hot mess. So what’s a girl to do? Don’t let the fall define you, that’s what. Pick yourself up, be charming & move on. Your attitude during your recovery dictates what happens next.
Sometimes, you get a standing ovation & gracefully accept an Oscar.
Sometimes, you grab your shoes & catch the bus home, barefoot. (Me, then.) Sometimes, after a bit of burnout, you realize that you’re really a writer who took a 20-year detour as a pet trainer/behaviorist, and you start a new blog. (Me, today.) Sometimes, you’re just a young pup navigating your first stairs. No matter what, a little help & inspiration along the way is always appreciated.
(I love how Simon knows just how to balance leading by example, never force, with comforting/nudging little Daisy while she takes breaks. He sets a great example for humans socializing pups or fearful dogs. Simon doesn’t pity Daisy or consider that she can’t handle the stairs. Simon says, “Let’s go, girl!”)
Most of the time, folks are happy to help. (What is up with high school guys, really?) So chin up, get up & try again. Ask for help if you need it. You can do it – in pumps or on paws!
My little muse, Rusty, proudly conquered the steps to the “big bed”.
©2013 The Soulful Pet
