Selfless

Knowing who we are is an ongoing process.  We never really know what we are capable of until we are challenged.  But we find out more about ourselves when we do something not for ourselves but for someone else.  But it is not the intentional acts, it's those selfless acts that show our true strengths and our weakness.

We all have weaknesses and struggles that we go through.  But when we dig deep within ourselves to do something that is better, not only for us but for those around us.  Those are the moments we know what we are doing is worth so much more. 

Never giving up, no matter what it is, whether it's on someone or something, but believing that we can always do better.  Some days we never realize how much of what we do everyday effects others.  Those are the moments of selflessness that can change the world.  We all lean on each other every day, though we may feel like we are standing alone, those are the moments that we are being held up by so many we don't even realize are reaching out. 

When we do what we need to, don't forget to do what needs to be done as well.  Those are the moments that sometimes count the most. 

Be selfless, be who you are, but try to be better every day.  Your true selfless dedication/devotion/love will always shine through.  And will be returned to you in more ways than you can ever imagine.

Remember everything always starts and ends with you and what you do or don't do.  Make what you do count, if you don't no one else will.

DDPYoga Retreat 2013 recap, my personal journey

So I have waited to do a full recap of the DDPYoga retreat intentionally.  As I did a video update already.  This may end up being a bit more personal... So bear with me as I have no idea where this will go, as I don't go back and edit after I write, it just comes from my heart.

This was my FIRST DDPYoga retreat, and it could not have come at a better time.  As you may already know I lost my buddy Sipe the Sunday before the trip.  And I believe that was how it was meant to be.  Sipe made it thru the campaign we set up "Be the ONE", and we raised some money and brought awareness to canine lymphoma, and helped out our friends at Middle TN Boxer Rescue.  But that didn't make it any easier.  But don't let me get to far off track, as I have already written about Sipe in the "Starting to breathe again" blog entry.

I left out for the retreat on Wednesday July 10th.  Sure I was a bit apprehensive about going with everything that had just happened, but I knew I had been looking forward to this for way to long, and I knew that I needed this, but I did not realize just how much, and how much of an effect it would truly have on me.

My brother went with me as well, but we ended up taking different flights out due to scheduling, but that may have been a good thing, as I needed a little space.  My thoughts were all over the place... but one thought I had and I knew what I had to do... be social, as I wasn't feeling very social after everything.  But I knew I would have to push the urge to hide myself away during this trip, as that would not help me at all.  It's my life, and this was one of the times when I had to deal with the 10% of life.

On the way to Mexico I meet a fellow DDPYoga peep, and we flew together from Houston to Cancun, and that help as we chatted the whole way down.  Once we got our transfer and we made our way to the resort (El Dorado) I thought of my days traveling to different countries when I was in the Navy, and again gained appreciation for what we have at home. 

Arrived at the resort and OMG... it was gorgeous.  Got checked in and it all began.  Took a lil nap,  mentally I was wiped out, and then went down to the beach and there everyone was for our first workout.  Everyone that we chat with daily on line, and some folks that I have meet before were there.  It was like going to a family reunion.  Even meeting people you have never meet before.  As DDP had told me when I first started:

 "one thing I will say for DDPYOGA is we have the BEST support team in the world at teamddpyoga.com they are there to support and encourage you along your journey to OWN YOUR LIFE. you do not just purchase another product, you become part of our FAMILY"  -DDPYoga

I have experience this before at the workshops and on line, but this was so much bigger.  We did our first workout on the beach, and the setting could not be more peaceful and warm. The first workout was just a lil warm up to what was to come, but it was phenomenal. 

The night was just getting started as we meet up later then for a few beverages, and had a chance to get to know each other off the mat.  And I have to say we all clean up pretty good!  Then we would move on to our Welcome dinner, and this was a all DDPYoga dinner, and just a taste of what to come.  The food there was fantastic, oh and GF free.

So the fun was just getting started as we were starting to experience the retreat.  Some had been before and there were many, as myself, this was their first time.  But no matter we were ready to have fun.

Let the workouts begin... We had 2 days of 2 a days.  A 2 hr workout in the morning and then another 2 hr workout in the afternoon. But there would still be plenty of time for other stuff.  

Everyone in the workouts were at different levels.  Some had just started DDPYoga, and some were 3+ years into it.  But it did not matter, as we were all in it together.  The energy in our "DDPYoga studio" (which by the way was the nite club in the evenings) was amazing!!!  You could feel it running thru the whole room. We had so much encouragement and energy flowing you could not help but to smile as you had sweat dripping all over your mat.

There were so many accomplishment made by so many during this trip, not only physical but emotionally as well.  For me this was just what I needed and it came just at the right time.  A lil bragging, I was able to straighten my leg for the first time EVER (while holding my foot). and then I turned that into a full "Flying V" straight leg.  I was in shock when it happened I screamed out during the workout, and then that evening as we went back to DDP's pool to relax, I could not stop doing it.  So ok.. here was my after workout story...

After the workout we were walking down to DDP's pool and I was walking with a couple of the guys, and I was not in a hurry at all, just taking in the ocean air and thinking about life, and the accomplishment I had just done.  I stopped on the way, on the path just to see if I could do it again... and poof... I did it.  Then I looked and the guys were way down the path ahead of me.  No worries, I was going to get there eventually, I was not in a hurry at all.  Then I got to the pool and I could not stop, I was in the pool that evening and I keep doing it, why??? Because I could and I was still in shock that I was able to do it.  But that is just part of the power of the DDPYoga family and the energy.

So we would have the final 2 workouts one on Saturday and then one on Sunday.  But we also had an amazing cooking demonstration put on by Chef Bill (Stacey Morris's husband), and Sam Smith, along with Mike Mullins.  And more DDPYoga family time away from the mat.  The food was great, and it was all GF.  And there were beverages available but more importantly we had more time to mingle and chat.

Have I mentioned how amazing the DDPYoga family is?  Well I won't mention any names as I don't want to leave anyone out.  But everyone is always so supportive.  Not just with DDPYoga questions but for each other.  Everyone genuinely cares.  You would think with a group this big (there was 80+) there would be some sort of drama.  Well if there was, I never saw it.  I made so many new friends from around the world on this trip I really hope to see them again before the next retreat.  We had people there from around the world.  From the UK, Australia, South America, Canada, and from all over the US, and I'm sure other places as well.  Did I get a chance to chat with everyone? unfortunately no.  But I tried to chat with as many as possible.  But there is always the DDPYoga Retreat 2014.  And I will be back again.

So let me wrap this up... The last morning, I woke up super early (5:30am), don't know why really, but I knew the night before that I wanted to walk the property in the morning just to take it all in one last time and maybe take a few "pretty pics".  Well I went on my "walk about" and it was so peaceful.  I had no intention to do a video, but something came over me to do one.  So I found a spot and recorded "DDPYogaretreat 2013 thoughts from Don".  I brought it home, and thought about editing it, or not even posting it.  But then I thought, no this is real, and I would let it be, as it is.

We all started to leave El Dorado and the DDPYoga retreat a couple at a time.  The time seemed to come too soon, but we all had a fantastic time together.  For me this was so much more than just a DDPYoga retreat, it was a time for me to step out of my world and regain my footing, and begin to breathe deep again.  My brother was on the retreat with me, and it was good to have him there, but we did our own thing as well while we were there.   But after everything it was good to have him there, as I know he needed a break from life as well.

The DDPYoga Retreat 2013 was so much more than I could have ever expected when I first decided to go, after a lil prodding from a friend, C.A. THANK YOU.  I decided that I was going to do this just after I started DDPYoga way back in September 2012, which was 85 lbs ago.  Am I where I want to be yet, No, I don't think I will ever be "done".  Life does not have finish lines in the middle, but it does have moments and events you can mark down as "Special" along the way.  This was one of those Special ones.  But there were so many lil special moments all wrapped up in this one trip for me.  From the people, workouts, quiet time, healing time, and the family time.

Life is always changing, it is up to us to choose what we will do with it.  We are given what we need when we need it.  But we are also given opportunities along the way, and it is up to us to make the most of them.  As DDP and others have said... "Live life at 90%, Life is 10% what happens and 90% how you React, Adapt, Take action, and Breathe thru it." 

We all have so much potential in us, it is up to us to make the most of it.  No one person or one event can change you, but they are all part of who you are.  Never stop reaching to be the best you can be!

So until the DDPYoga Retreat 2014, where I WILL do "Black Crow kick out" and "Wrap and burn", enjoy where you are and NEVER Give Up.  We all can do so much more, we just have to choose to do it.

DDPYoga retreat 2013 thoughts from Don

Starting to breathe again

So today I am not very "inspirational", but this is part of my journey...

Feeling a bit lost and empty, but I am having to dig deep inside, as my buddy  has moved on.  If you know me and have been following what has been going on in my world for the last 3 months then you know that on Sunday night, my dog passed away.  Sure to some a dog passes and it's no big deal, you move on.  But for those who know and appreciate the unconditional love and support they provide is priceless.

But let me step back a bit as this is more of a release for me right now (so please bear with me)...

Sipe and my story begins back in 2008.  I had just bought my first house in February of that year.  I had a plan in mind... get the house, got the new car, got the promotion at work, get the dog, get my bike, then find the girl.  I thought it was a solid plan.

So I had moved into my home, and I started looking around for boxers.  You see I have a special place in my heart for boxers, as me and my brothers had them before when we lived together, but I had never had a "dog of my own".  So I started searching, and while I was searching Sipe found me.

Sipe was a 4 month old lil "Knucklehead" that was like a lil piece of velcro on my leg.  Every where I would go he was stuck to my leg.  Even though I was looking at the lil ones he was by my side the whole time.  I had told myself that I was NOT coming home with a dog that day, and I did not.  BUT instead I went shopping for the essentials of bringing home one.  Because I knew that the lil white "knucklehead" with big brown spots around his eye had already picked me.

 So I brought him home and thus we started our adventure...

We went thru what every boxer parent goes thru, the destruction, the training, and we went thru alot of schooling, we were fortunate enough to meet a fantastic trainer, Rita.  Sipe stole her heart right away.  But you see he had a habit of doing that.  He knew how cute he was and milked it for everything it was worth.

Anyways... Sipe was great he was always there by my side, and we would go everywhere together.  He rode great in the car, he was great with kids, and he always knew when I needed a hug!

Here is a link if you want to see some of Sipe growing up...Sipe's Flickr photos

So we move forward  The last 3 months he and I dealt with quite a bit.  But we where dealing with everything one day at a time.  You see I had started my DDPYoga journey back in September 2012, which probably saved me from the downward track I was on.  But we ran into a situation back on April 7th, that would be the start of changing both of our lives.  But we managed to work thru that and ya'll know the rest of the story, but here are the cliff notes... Salmonella poisoning from tainted dog food, and then diagnosed with Stage 3 aggressive Lymphoma.  During this time, I had to keep myself  grounded and try and maintain some sort of sanity.  There was little that I could do with all of this going on.  But I did what I could and Sipe was right there working with me.  You see something that I learned from DDPYoga, and more specifically, Diamond Dallas Page, and I have taken to heart is to "Live Life at 90%"  Sometimes that is harder to do than it is to say it.  But understanding that the 10% of what happens in life and the other 90% is how you deal with it, more specifically how you "React, Adapt, Take Action, and Breathe" thru it.

I was trying to do a little of each but at times I felt like I was waiting to "Breathe" again.  We set up an Indiegogo account  to raise some money for the local Boxer rescue.   Why would we do this you may ask... Well it was 2 fold.  One to keep me focused on something other than what was happening, because I needed to have something besides work that Sipe and I could do in Honor of him.  And Two, to bring a lil awareness to canine cancer, and to help out others boxers find their forever home.  I know there are a lot of good people out there that could give a special boxer a home like if not better than Sipe had.  Now you may wonder where did I dream this up from, well it rolls back around to DDPYoga, and what DDP had already done for his buddies Jake and Scott.  I thought if he could do it, there was no reason I couldn't do it.

So we did and I was getting worried that we wouldn't complete the campaign before Sipe left me.  But Sipe made it thru the campaign and we did pretty good.  But I knew that his time was running out.  He still had a lil wiggle in him, and he would sing with me while I played my harmonica, but he was getting weaker.  Then came July 7th.  That was exactly 3 months after the initial "situation" occurred.  And that Sunday was one of the hardest days.  The night before I was up with him until around 3 am, and knew our time together was coming to a close, as he was acting like he did when he was a puppy.

So I continued to fall back to the "Live Life @ 90%" I was reacting to the situation, trying very hard to adapt, taking action, by taking care of my buddy, but I still felt like I was waiting to breathe.  Then the moment happened at 9:37pm.  I was there with my lil "Knucklehead" as he took his last breath.

Now I don't tell you all this for sympathy, but more for myself as a way to document.  Also to let you know that we CAN deal with anything.  Why because we have to.  There are some things in life that we cannot control, as life will happen when it is suppose to.  But we can always take the steps to "React" to the events,  "Adapt" to the situation, "Take action" to make a difference or a change, and remind ourselves to "Breathe".  Which was the one thing I kept trying to do over the last 3 months. But it seemed I could not catch my breath.  But today Tuesday July 9th I think I am breathing again.  not completely, but that will come in time.  But little by little I am able to catch my breath again.

So now that I have went all over the place in this blog post.. My final thoughts are simple Breathe... It's not only people that come into our lives but pets too.  Though I never considered Sipe a pet, as he was part of my family.  But he was here for a "Reason", and he will remain in my heart for a lifetime.

Will I be a better person because of the time that Sipe was with me, will the events that happened change me forever, will Sipe's life be remembered?  I don't know the answers to those and the many other questions that are running through my mind.  But I do know that Sipe will be remembered, and I will continue to work on being a better person.  Will it change me, well every event changes us all in one way or another... BUT it is all up to us on how we let it.  So I will continue to work at Living Life at 90%, it still sounds pretty good to me.  And I am starting to breathe again, so that's a good start.

One Day...One Moment

Everyday we are presented with something to deal with.

It may be the simplest of things, and it may be something we feel is an insurmountable mountain to climb.  But we have to remember that we can overcome anything.  But it is up to us.

If you are on the DDPYoga journey than you have heard several phrases... "Own Your Life" and "Live Life at 90%".  Well those are keys, just like the keys you carry to get into things, and keys you use to start things.  But you have to remember you are only given, what we call "obstacles", that will make us stronger and better in time.  We can overcome ANYTHING, it goes back to OUR choices.  We can choose to either let these life events take control or we can choose to "React, Adapt, Take Action, and Breathe".

Sure I am quoting what we have all heard before but if you stop overthinking and make a choice anything in life can be accomplished.

We are all on a path, and no 2 paths are the same, some may be similar, and some may be very different.  We all deal with different things and events in our life differently.  No one can say one way is better than another.  As long as we deal with what we have in front of us and keep moving forward we will get to where we need to be.

So remember "One Day, One Moment" at a time.  Have a plan of where you want to be and do something to make it happen.  When you run into an obstacle, deal with it and keep on moving.  It's there to only make you stronger and assist you on your journey.

Possibility vs Reality

Life is full of possibilities.   But we all have to live in the now, the reality of our lives.  

We all have heard people say "Anything is possible".  Sure anything is but to make a possibility a reality WE have to do something to make it happen.  The trick is you have to start moving and keep moving forward.  Sure it can get tough at times, but anything worth doing is going to have its challenges.  

We can make an excuse or try to justify to ourselves why something is not possible.  But all we are doing is doubting what we can do, which is defeating ourselves.  

-Everyone has a mountain to climb, a desert to cross, an ocean to swim.

-Everyone can find a reason not to do it, or an excuse to avoid it.  

BUT...

You can always find just as many reasons to do it.  

The road ahead may not be the smoothest, the most popular, or the shortest.  But if you stick to it you will make that possibility a reality.  

In the end who are we short changing?   Aren't you worth the effort, isn't your family worth it?   

Sure the possibilities are endless.  

But it all starts with YOU.  

Your possibilities can become your reality if you are willing to invest the effort in YOU.  

Don't worry how many times you stumble or fall.  Celebrate each time you get back up, knowing you are making your possibilities a reality.  

"Own YOUR Life", don't let it own you.