Hawaii

Was It Supposed to Go This Way

Three days a week I go paddling in an outrigger canoe. I get to be out on the ocean in the morning, soaking up the healing energy of the earth, the water, the sun. I develop relationships with those I paddle with.

As with any group there are certain personalities one is more attracted to, and some not so much. It is those that fall into the “not so much” category that has me really thinking this last week.

A couple of months ago I changed paddle crews. There were a number of factors that went into that decision.

I have always been one to want to workout at a level that is somewhat uncomfortable for the majority. I wasn’t getting that wow factor.

I’m also one to shy away from complaining, arguing, and just plain difficult to be around people. There were a few on my old crew that held these qualities for me. And lastly which probably falls into the same category, I’m not good with crude comments, sexual innuendoes, that type of thing.

So I moved on. I am grateful to find a crew to paddle with who are not only supportive and enthusiastic about life, but they paddle hard and enjoy so much about the ocean. We’ve scene whales and dolphins together and celebrated life as it is in the moment each day.

We’ve supported one another in just a simple, “Great job today, it was so much fun, have a fabulous day,” comments. It honestly is those little things that I love about this crew.

Of course it doesn’t mean that each and every one of us doesn’t come with our own issues. The movement we do, the focus on the togetherness, one rhythm and blend, all the paddles working as one on this particular crew has drawn a common joy while out in the majestic Hawaiian waters.

Tragedy on the Ocean

I received a text from one of my current paddle members this week about an accident with another paddling club. I looked at the time the crew went out and knew without a doubt before I opened the link, it was my previous crew. It was the boat I would have been in.

A double hull flipped while caught in a wave. Waves were rolling in. Everyone went suddenly from a recreational paddle like every other morning to survival. There was a high surf warning and this canoe though it was big and stable, fell to the power of the waves.

People who have been in the ocean for years did things that they normally wouldn’t consider, like swim into the rocks instead of parallel to the shoreline and into the safety of the bay. One person on that crew did not make it that day. It is more than sobering to think about.

Was it supposed to go that way?

I’m not sure why tragedies happen. I’m not sure if things are supposed to go that way. How can someone go out for a recreation morning paddle like they do all the time and not make it back?

What I do know is it made me think about each and every day and all the people that are part of my life. I may not paddle with that crew anymore, but I was deeply affected and connected to every one of these people.

It made me realize how practicing the habit of mindfulness is so important. It made me think about how complaining and crude comments may not strike me as something I want to take part in, but those in my life who happen to fall into saying things out loud are still good people. Their mindfulness may be out of practice and they may be seeking the attention we all crave in ways they don’t even know. But they are all good people.

We are all connected.

How many times have I complained? How many times have I been less than enjoyable to be around? How many times have I said something inappropriate? Many. We are all connected.

My heart goes out to the paddle crew that lived through this tragedy and to all of those who lost someone that day. It makes me more mindful of every single day and every single person that comes into my life. It makes me realize that gratefulness is about the good that happens every single day as well as those moments that may feel uncomfortable. After all, it could be a mirror on how to deal with difficult people including ourselves.  Today I am here to see the mirror because I too am sometimes difficult to deal with. We all are, right down to our own well trained and not so trained dogs on some days.

I want to use the reflection to create the best day possible for me, my life partner, my dogs and all those people that are in my life.

Thank you for reading. If this resonated with you in any way subscribe for more on replacing bad habits with good habits.  A concept I’d like to fill everyone’s mind with!

 Jt Clough lives on the Big Island, Hawaii, and practices health, happiness and natural remedies, while working as a Habits Coach for people looking to live healthier and happier lives.  She is a dog whisperer for our best friends; and studies natural dog remedies, nutrition and communication.  Her latest e-book is How to Swim through Your Fears and Come Out a Champion.

Walking on Clouds a Mauna Kea Perspective

When one thinks of Hawaii, images of beaches come to mind first. The Big Island Hawaii is different and quite majestic in that it has several volcanoes, one being 14,000 feet tall.  It is called and celebrated in the name Mauna Kea.

We went to Mauna Kea to watch the sunset this week while a friend was visiting. The feeling of walking on clouds and gratitude was what came of it.

Mauna Kea and Walking on Clouds

The visit was one where unexpected connection came to mind. We traveled from our home to the top of the mountain, about an hour and a half trip by 4 wheel drive with our two dogs and our friend, who is originally from India. As I stood at the top I thought about what would bring these beings together and how we got here. We’d all come from very different places yet the grounding of the earth, at 14,000 feet and above the clouds was a shared experience.

There were moments where we all stood at the top and looked out in our own awe of the beauty and it felt as though we had each realized the vastness of our lives, the real beauty of the earth and the amazing feeling of actually being above the clouds. It was a time where we did not have to say it out loud but a feeling of gratitude for our mere existence was shared.

Nature and the Lesson from Dogs

I often times wish my dogs could tell me exactly what they are thinking. On this particular trip simply riding in the car with us one could tell was pure joy. I try to take those moments and apply them to the things I do. In this instance just simply to enjoy the ride with my life partner and our friend and the dogs.

Once on the mountain the connection to outdoors, breathing, running or moving is easy to see.  My Weimaraner is much like me in that she gets cold easily. She dealt with it by moving, checking out all that was around her and the connection to the earth. Movement is a natural course of action for a dog.

Why is it that we humans tend to become sedentary when the feeling of uncomfortable comes over us? Another lesson I have learned from the dogs.

  • Move
  • Breath
  • Warm your body by taking in all of the surroundings, especially when in nature. Even if it’s just a walk around the block to replace a sudden feeling of anxiety the movement works.

Perspective

Somewhere in the hour and a half drive to the top we encountered cloud cover. I’m one to love the sun. Clouds make me feel not so happy. The perspective I gained from this particular trip once we broke through the clouds as we started for the summit was a matter of perspective.

The sun is here. It is shining on us. It may be covered by the clouds but it is still above shining in all it’s glory. Though it may be covered by the clouds if we dare to get out in it, we will soak it up. It may look different under the clouds, it is a matter of perspective. It is a matter of how we choose to look at it.

Yet another lesson from the dogs. Given the chance they will go out and play, or run or simply smell the outdoors whether the sun is clearly shining or not and the benefit of the oxygen, the movement and the time outside bring good in, stale out!  The excuse of clouds is not one to stop a dog from enjoying and the belief that there is sun anyway is the beauty of a dog’s attitude towards it.

Go outside today. What is your perspective? What does the movement, the breath, a plant, the smells, the sounds add to your connection to the earth do for you?  Can you soak up the sun from any perspective?

 Jt Clough lives on the Big Island, Hawaii, and practices health, happiness and natural remedies, while working as a Habits Coach for people looking to live healthier and happier lives.  She is a dog whisperer for our best friends; and studies natural dog remedies, nutrition and communication.  Her latest e-book is How to Swim through Your Fears and Come Out a Champion.

 

The Nasty Grip of Anxiety

Anxiety. If that word resonates with you I don’t even have to go into all the feelings that it brings on.

Unnecessary feelings, but never the less they are alive and real for many. Most the time dog owners rub it right off on to our own dogs as well.  After all, our own dogs do in fact reflect our behavior.

If the word anxiety doesn’t resonate with you. Good for you! Stoked for you.

Those who do feel anxiety on a regular basis this is the year to get rid of it once and for all.  It is like worry, which is a total waste of time.

As a dog trainer it is obvious when an owner comes to me and says their dog has separation anxiety or fear aggression. However, it is usually not apparent to the owner.  It is a realization to the owner that it can actually be about them.

You do emulate the 5 things you hang out with most.

You see, we spend much of our time covering it up, not addressing that it’s a real issue. We stay the same. In fear. In anxiety.  That ugly nasty grip stops us from doing so many things we hold as dreams and aspirations.

When it comes to coaching people without dogs, sometimes it is actually harder to read. Again, dogs have no filter and tell all. So without the mirror of a dog’s behavior it becomes even easier to hide behind.

The Way To Anti Anxiety

Wouldn’t it be great if I could just lay it out here and have it resolved once and for all?

Anxiety is a complex problem but the truth of the matter is we must address it to do anything about it. We must first admit that it affects our lives. And for those who can already admit it, we need to move on to doing something about it.

Or…. guaranteed it will get worse over time. What you think about you become.

So here is a quick and fast answer to get your started to no more anxiety in 2012:

GO INTO ACTION.  It’s a natural anti anxiety remedy that works.

Let me give you an example.

This morning I was outrigger paddling in the Ocean with 9 other people on our crew. We had paddled out for about a half hour, came around a point off of the pier here in the magical, healing, yet very powerful waters that surround the Big Island and… WAHOO… big swell.

What that means for those who don’t paddle is the little tiny canoe in comparison to the great big Ocean starts rocking and rolling and becomes in great danger of going over.  It means the front end of the boat was completely covered with water and our job was to keep paddling to come out the other side and get back on top of the water.

I found myself beginning to freak. I had already started all the “what if’s” in my mind. I already had me and all of my crew flailing around in the water, trying to find our paddles, trying to grab an overturned canoe to flip it back over, trying to not get bashed by big waves or the boat while bailing the water out before we could get back in.

My comment out loud was, “Oh shit, I’m sorta scared.” One of my paddle crew sitting at the front along aside me who is strong just like I am when it comes to paddling, said in the midst of it all just after I made the comment, “Don’t think about it. Just paddle.”

Guess what? It worked! I just paddled. Smoothly, with rhythm.  I became calm in the powerful  water and used it to my advantage to keep moving forward.

The realization later is once again the lesson came about how to deal with anxiety, how to get rid of anxiety.

Do something. Go into action. Don’t waste the time spinning out about all the “what if’s” Move. Take action.

In my experience, it works for people and it works for dogs. It is a habit one has to practice though if you happen to be afflicted by the nasty grip of anxiety.

The Anxiety Busting Virtual Tour

Yes, a blatant promotion coming your way. And know I don’t promote anything I don’t truly believe in.

Anxiety is one of those things people tend to put on “wait”. Wait and see if it goes away. Wait to see if things suddenly change. Wait to see if the New Year will make it better. Wait to see if the love of my life comes along and makes it better. Wait to see if when I lose weight I will feel better. Wait to see if the anxiety gets better.

Wrong answer. Wait.

The only way to get rid of anxiety, to change it from entering your life and literally stealing your plans to live happily away is to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

The Anxiety Busting Virtual Tour starts Jan 23. Get on it. Check it out. And have yourself the best 2012 ever.

*Note to dog owners who are looking for help with what seems to be a dog anxiety problem:  This is for you!  If you understand anxiety you can help your dog.  If you don’t understand anxiety, considering the lack of communication methods we have with our dogs, it will be a difficult fix!

Thanks for reading.  My hope is to give you inspiration and thought provoking ideas to take your very next step in creating your own paradise from where you are now!  Please subscribe to Big Island Dog and follow me on Twitter.   Retweets are cool too.

As a 9 time Ironman finisher, change maker, author and creator of  5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs and K9 Cross Fitness Classes in Kailua Kona Hawaii I encourage you to make that change you want so badly today!

Mahalo 2011 and Aloha 2012

It has been a most fabulous year for me and Big Island Dog.

Look back and spend some time to be grateful for people, experiences and the things you love in your life. Make a love list about it.  It’s a much better way to put your New Year’s Intentions out there instead of thinking in terms of Resolutions!

I love that I took the action to live a dream and move to Hawaii.

Still, I’m a little amazed that it all happened. It all aligned and what I’m taking from it is to go ahead and amaze yourself. If you love it, when you amaze yourself, not someone else, it will take the expectation part out of the picture and put your best self on for everyone else for real… no pretending. That changes everything.

I love that the love of my life, my life partner did all it took to get our family to Hawaii.

We had a quest to live with less and spend our time creating experiences to share with others. In the last 8 months we have had people here for their own retreat and friends and family come stay with us. Wonderful times have come from all of it.

I love that our dogs are with us.

If only you could hear the conversations with Emmy the Lab it would be quite clear that we are experiencing pure joy. We have had lots of it this year.

Even through all the NEW, it brought us to practice reaction. I’m finding the reaction to come to the positive side of everything in the moment, to have a grateful view of all that is, has made fear and anxiety vanish more often.

I love that I started eating much much more healthy.

This one has changed the way I feel in a HUGE way. It took some sticking to it, and I’ve got a lot more foodie nutritional healing ways to go. But I love the challenge to eat mostly things that are not processed.  I love learning about it and sharing it with others.

I love that I started doing yoga on a regular basis.

It has brought balance to my very busy mind, and created flexibility in my body where there was pain before.

I love that I got rid of so much of my stuff.

It was one of those things I didn’t realize.  I was holding on to things and not using them out of fear of not having enough.  When I gave most of it away or sold it, I realized how abundant my life is and how less can actually create more of the most important things in life.

I love that I started outrigger paddling and met some wonderful people.

They help me in my observations to write many articles because of our experiences on the Ocean. My new Kona crew rocks it as far as working out goes with happy ready to go attitudes too. I love that.

I love my website and blog.

I got the chance to write my story. And I get to use my gift of teaching. I get to be an author and I get to have people read my stuff. I love that I published an e-book this year. It’s on Amazon and everything. It’s so cool.

Huge Mahalo Courtney Carver

You are so amazing and the contribution and professional awesome-ness you brought to putting the site together has your magic intention flowing at all times even here in Hawaii. It makes me think of you often.

*Courtney’s writing on How to Make a Love List was the inspiration for this article as well.

Be In The Moment while Looking Forward to the Aloha of 2012

I look forward to all that I can do in 2012 for myself, for my family and for others. I’ll leave my wonderful readers I appreciate so very much here to write your own Love List of Mahalos 2011 and Alohas 2012. I’ll be at the beach this year, celebrating all that is and all that is to come. I plan to write my 2012 Love List there. Stay tuned.

Aloha wags!

Thanks for reading.  My hope is to give you inspiration and thought provoking ideas to take your very next step in creating your own paradise from where you are now!  Please subscribe to Big Island Dog and follow me on Twitter.   Retweets are cool too.

As a 9 time Ironman finisher, change maker and author and creator of  5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs and K9 Cross Fitness Classes in Kailua Kona Hawaii I encourage you to make that change you want so badly today!

 

You Are Here for a Reason

Kindness keeps the world afloat.

When negativity surrounds… I know someday it will all turn around.

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” ~Plato

Random acts of kindness. The Christmas holiday gets lost in all the shopping, spending and more, more, more. Doing something kind for those you love and those you don’t even know will in fact bring you more, more, more….

JOY

As Courtney says from Be More with Less, “You Can Stop Now.” Christmas will come even if you don’t buy one more thing.

Enjoy….

your home
you dog
your family
your friends
a beautiful sunset
a quiet moment with yourself
make a list of all you have to be grateful for
say it out loud
smile

Make plans to be the best version of you. 

Here is what I’m planning on participating in. It will be good for me and for everyone around me including my dogs!

Help people and dogs through the 5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs

The Trainer Method – A mastermind to to bring out your super power and live the life of your dreams.

Make your plans and do more with less stuff from here on out!

If an act of kindness has the ability to shift someone’s bad day into a better one, then why not try to be that change?

Aloha wags!

Thanks for reading.  My hope is to give you inspiration and thought provoking ideas to take your very next step in creating your own paradise from where you are now!  Please join us at 7 Ways Dogs Make Your Health Better and on Twitter.   Retweets are cool too.

Jt Clough is a 9 time Ironman finisher, change maker and author and creator of  5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs 

Your Content

What Is Occupy Love

The day after Thanksgiving. What we’ve come to know as Black Friday. As I think about even that phrase “Black Friday” it sort of sounds like it should be a warning.

We’ve come to a place where one way or another change is gonna happen. It has to happen. I find myself living more and more along the lines of the video on Occupy Love.

 My Occupy Love

It’s a full paradigm shift I find myself in after deciding to move to Hawaii. Getting rid of most of my things and realizing that I don’t need the things. That time to spend with my loved ones, sharing our thoughts and food and activities is way better than all the things I used to have stuffed in every single closet and filling the garage to the capacity not one car could actually fit in it. Stuff I never used, I just spent most of my time occupied with working to pay for it, really busy in my mind about how to get more.

It’s lovely. Watch. Click the Heart.

White Friday

Today I’m choosing to participate in White Friday written by miss minimalist.  We’ll also spend our day with a picture of gratitude in mind like the photos posted in Be More With Less.

Those are the things I’m choosing to fill my mind with. How about you? Where are you and what do you need help with to move yourself to your own paradise?

Thanks for reading.  My hope is to give you inspiration and thought provoking ideas to take your very next step in creating your own paradise from where you are now!  Please subscribe to Big Island Dog and follow me on Twitter.   Retweets are cool too.

As a 9 time Ironman finisher, change maker and author and creator of  5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs and K9 Cross Fitness Classes in Kailua Kona Hawaii I encourage you to make that change you want so badly today!

Kona Dog Training Gone Hawaii Style

Dogs are fun. They teach us lots of things if we take the time to spend with them.

Some of the things I like most, taught so very well by dogs are:

Give your attention to what is right in front of you.

Use what you have.

Be in the moment.

Wag over it.

Dogs are ones who do not dwell in the past and are not ruining their day today worrying about what may or may not happen tomorrow.

The one thing I hear around Kailua Kona is, “There really are not a lot of places or things to do with dogs here.” I’m sure I’d hear that same thing in many places on the mainland as well.

Not true.

But let me say that may mean finding new things to do with your dog if you are accustomed to dog parks or dog friendly events. It is true that many places don’t allow dogs on the Big Island. That being said, you’ll need to start creating it in places that may not at first come to mind, or may be an adventure in itself.

“Happiness is where we find it, but rarely where we seek it.”

J. Petit Senn

 

There are trails in the mountains and by the ocean on the Big Island. It’s an integral part of it’s majestic beauty. You can find them, hike them, walk them, run them or find a beach trail as a destination play adventure.

All you need is you, your dog, a leash, some poop bags, water and bowl. Make your own version of Nerd Fitness or create your own K9 Cross Fitness Workout. Get out and enjoy this Healing Island and spend some time with your dog.

 

Thanks for reading.  My hope is to give you inspiration and thought provoking ideas to take your very next step in creating your own paradise from where you are now!  Please subscribe to Big Island Dog and follow me on Twitter.   Retweets are cool too.

As a 9 time Ironman finisher, change maker and author and creator of  5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs and K9 Cross Fitness Classes in Kailua Kona Hawaii I encourage you to make that change you want so badly today!

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