I don’t mean to be rude. Quite the opposite in fact. I make it a business of mine to speak the truth in love. Even if it hurts. And even though I can’t speak. (At least not on command).
Truth. From the ground up, I have some to share today. It occurred to me as I watched more snow diamonds fall from heaven. Snow is a pretty common occurrence in the beautiful state of Wisconsin, but it never ceases to amaze me with its understated beauty. In today’s peaceful stillness of the snowfall I found myself counting the flakes, each one a reminder of the blessings I have in life.
Family. Love. Loyalty. So many things money can’t buy, all at my paws at a moment’s notice. But I wouldn’t say this makes me lucky. The truth is, I wouldn’t call myself lucky. Friends and family call me this all the time and I tend to disagree. But not for reasons one might think.
I’m not bitter. I have no reason to be negative. But I believe in a lot of things, and luck isn’t one of them. Luck implies happenstance. Chance. Random good fortune. I’ve had too much good in my life happen to believe in such things.
Instead I count my blessings. Each one is unique and brings me a different kind of joy. Like today when baby Carter grabbed my paw in his sleep. My heart surged in that moment and I instantly forgave him for all the screaming he’s been doing morning, noon and night.
No snowflake is alike, and no true and lasting moment of joy is either. Each is a blessing of its own, entirely separate from this think called luck. Truth. From the ground up, I mean no disrespect to anyone who believes in luck. Instead I tend to side with World War II general Douglas MacArthur, who once suggested “the best luck of all is the luck you make for yourself.” And my luck isn’t luck at all. It’s joy. From the ground up, this is the truth I speak in love.
Wiley's Wisdom 
I believe as you do Wiley.
High paw to us, then, dear Jackie!
Me, too, Wyles – I’m with jackieP. Grin. How on earth did your Mom just happen to have the camera in hand to capture that picture?! Wonderful. Love HuntMode
Mom cheated. She and her sister were taking all kinds of pictures of baby Carter and I that day (they called it a photo shoot) and I got bored. In my boredom, I snuggled myself into dear baby Carter and then this picture happened. The rest is history. 😉
Lots of love to you!!!!!
Wyles
wyles, I was away for a bit. 39 comments! Yeh! Wyles! Lots of love to y’all. The HuntModes – (grin).
Indeed you were away for a bit. And you were missed. Lots of love to the HuntModes!
Keeping you busy today, Messr. Wyles! 😉
that’s so lovely…
🙂 Thank you.
Absolutely. As a wise Jedi once said, “In my experience, there is no such thing as luck.” Abundant blessings yes, luck no.
That photo is gorgeous, Wiles xx
A wise Jedi?! My dad loved this comment. He’s an avid Star Wars fan. I could take or leave it, but that’s beside the point. This wise Jedi you speak of…it was Yoda, right? That’s how mom remembers it anyway, but she could be wrong.
Thanks for your kind words dear Lyn!
Lots of love,
Wiles
LOL no, that was Obiwan. Your Mom needs to watch Star Wars – it’s great 😀
She has seen it…and she does think it’s pretty great. It’s just been a while…she needs to dust off her Jedi knowledge. 😉
LOL
So true, W. Mom read a book about luck a long time ago, and that’s pretty much what it said. You bring the luck to you (or not) by focusing on good and counting your blessings. People sometimes say I am lucky. I tell the (in my mind) that Mom is the lucky one. She agrees. And we both count our blessings.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
You and your mom have the right idea. That is no surprise to me. 🙂
Lots of love to you both,
Wiles
It’s better to believe in blessings and joy than in luck. Luck is a “one-hit-wonder” mostly and Lady Fortune is a capricious girl and very inconstantly. Thanks for sharing this wonderful photo with me, Wioley :o)
Luck is a one-hit wonder! Well said, dear brother! You always know just what to say. 🙂
Amen Wiles
High paw, dear one!
Brilliant! This is what I do every day too – focus on the beautiful things in life. 🙂
You know your stuff then! It’s the only way to live. So nice to see you here as well – please come visit me again soon!
I will! It’ll be my pleasure! 🙂
Yay! 🙂
I have nominated you for the Sunshine Award. Check it out at http://myriad234.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/the-sunshine-award-and-some-honorable-mentions/.
A Sunshine Award!? Wow! Thank you!
Wiley is bringing sunshine to so many, it is only fitting that there is an award to acknowledge it. 🙂
Aw. Dear Deborah, I am touched by your words. Thank you!
Grabbing you paw all ready – I know you two would be great pals!!
One can only hope. 😉
Thea way you see it , I do too Wiles. Carter grabbing your paw, how sweet, what a special moment and memoty to cherish!
It was a moment to remember, indeed. Thank goodness mom’s little sister was there to capture it so it can live in our hearts forever. She and my mom breathed a collective breath of awe when it happened – that touched my heart almost as much as the event itself. Almost. 😉
Lots of love,
Wiles
You are very wise Wiley. And sweet. And joyful.
Goodness gracious. You are very kind. Please come visit me again soon!
Well said Wiley – luck is haphazard and fall perchance but blessings are purposeful -which has so much more meaning and depth.
Hello new friend! I love seeing new paw prints on my pages. And your words are so true – the importance of purpose is something on which I put a very high value. Please come visit me again soon!
Lots of love,
Wiles
🙂 chat soon Wiles
🙂
That is amazing. Carter has known you all of his life and knows that he can trust you. : )
Trust. It’s such an important thing these days, isn’t it? It’s funny you should say something too – so many of mom’s people friends have been over to visit and meet baby Carter, and a few have even shown some concern as though I would somehow hurt him when I snuggle….silly people. That is absolutely the last thing I would do.
Lots of love,
Wiles
Oh dear – either they don’t know you well or else they are not dog people. With a little time and the stories that your mom and dad will tell them about you and Carter, they will know soon enough that you love Carter and that you know how to handle your self around him.
p.s. I imagine that Carter might suck on your paw sometime??
Dear Sandy,
The problem is always when people don’t know me better. I love all people and love getting to know different personalities. This is what makes me who I am. Even if Carter does try to suck on my paw. I’m certain this is among the crazy things I have to look forward to as my little person gets less little.
Lots of love,
Wiles
Reblogged this on Wiley's Wisdom and commented:
So many things in life money can’t buy.
That was beautiful, and worth to be remember with that photo, Wiley. Great moment of total confidence in your haired paw!! …..Wow!!, that means a lot about our even “unconscious” loving boundaries with your kind. But you know Wiley…. there was something else that stood up for me in your talking about “luck” here today…..,And I just totally joint your opinion…..but, still pounding in my ears……remember that Sir Churchill fraise, that you mentioned in another post?… just something clicked in again while I was analyzing this post, and it was about “success”….Sir Churchill says”….”success is not final”……. Wiley,….would you abound around this for me too??. I know you most have a lot to say…..”Thank you, Wise Wiley”, “Love you”. And… sorry for, if I interrupt with this request any of the more important ( “I know” ) tasks that you have to perform for baby Carter, but I thought that you probably will enjoy in your writing times too, answer to somebody, that will love to hear your opinion about this “four words statement”. It is really tempted to relax after success, but there is still a long “new”, very important, and “challenging” way to go into after the achievement. Tell me,… how do you visualize it, and what your always ready to make decisions nature, are going to do, next??…… “Hugs Wiley”.