Is it Spring yet??

Winter and I are not friends. I don't even try to act like I like her :) She is cold, bothers both my friends and family--and well, I think she and I just need to part ways :)

However...she is apparently the needy type...and seems to show up every, single, year.

My goal NEXT winter, is to not have to be outside more than about 10 minutes a day :) There is a lovely agility building going up about 30 minutes from me :) The land is purchased, matting has been decided on (the same kind as at Clean Run's facility), the plans are almost finished and the equipment will be brand new :) I will be very involved in everything to do with the building, which is very exciting and I am sure will be very time consuming...but I am so ready for it :) Still looking at some names though...feel free to put some you think of in the comments section :)

Never having to train in the cold again...taking my dogs to work everyday, training my dogs at work...How AMAZING is that!? I feel very blessed!!

So from the house, to the training building, back to the house again. My life will be complete...and I can avoid winter as much as possible :) Sounds like a plan to me!

On another note...I had a blast at the USDAA trial this weekend :) It was nice seeing people I only see at trials, nice watching all the new dogs running (and SUPER NICE I might add!)and just enjoying all the great runs :)

AND, on a personal note,I was enjoying the mistakes we made...I laughed, at my dogs, at my mistakes, at lots of things on course :) I laughed at Zip breaking her startline stays (SOOOO very naughty!)and I didn't care :) OK...other than the time after Gator having a CRAZY standard run when he, after the run decided my human parts needed to be bitten INSTEAD of his leash...I didn't laugh then...that freakin' HURT! I will let you just guess to yourself what parts I am talking about...and stop being perverted...geesh! :)

But I laughed...after every run I took my dog directly back to my crating area, to a group of people who are always supportive of me, who are always positive and I thanked my dog for playing the game with me :) I swear who you crate around is almost as important at a trial as your mental preparation! The wrong people (not necessarily BAD people...just those with a different mindset than you) can really mess with your mental game.

I think I have really had quite a journey this year in my outlook on life and agility. Lots of changes have been made in professional and personal choices...and I am starting to focus more on ME and my dogs...and less on what others think or care. I am less tense, more relaxed and as a friend noted...I seem different :) I feel mentally more relaxed--which is great :) Things just happen and I don't worry about it. I don't analyze it into the ground, or try to fix everything...sometimes things happen and I am OK with it...it is so nice I can say that :)

There is a person that I talk to a lot at trials, very good handler, and they NEVER appologize for being successful. They work hard with their dogs, and in response they win a lot...I admire this persons confidence and how they are relaxed and confident at trials :) Someday maybe I can be in that place when I am at a trial. For now I will trudge forward :)

Next time you are at a trial...look around who you are crated with...do they help or hinder your mental game?