Wiley's Wisdom

Joy: From the Ground Up

Made More Beautiful April 19, 2014

Filed under: Man's Best Friend — Wiley Schmidt @ 9:45 pm
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I don’t get out much. Sure, I get to explore the neighborhood on walks. I have complete power over my backyard paradise. And I know the dog park like the back of my paw. But in the grand scheme of things I spend the majority of my time inside. This is in no way a complaint, as I am fortunate and thankful to have the roof of my forever home over my head.

I don’t have to worry about where my food comes from or finding clean water or having enough toys or feeling loved. I have all of these things in the comfort of home. But today I got to thinking how life would be different if that wasn’t the case. If I spent more time outside the safety and security of this house.It Wasn't Me

In every possibly way I see the same dog in that scenario. Probably slightly scruffier looking, but pretty darned close. Just as its what is inside a house that makes it a home, it is what is in our heart that makes us who we are. It’s what on the inside that matters.

As I daydreamed about this parallel reality I did find one not-so-tiny thing that made me wish it were true. If I was out and about more I could touch more lives. I would want to do the right thing and remember the person behind the people and keep in mind the power of the little things. I would want to paw it forward.

“True generosity is an offering,” suggests American author and motivational speaker Suze Orman, “(It is) given freely and out of pure love. No strings attached. No expectations. Time and love are the most valuable possessions you can share.”

I don’t get out much. And that’s okay. Because if I did, I’m not sure how different life would look. I would still seek the good in people, places and things. I would live to spread joy from the ground up. I would find ways to make life more beautiful.

I think it would look something like this:

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True or False? March 16, 2014

Filed under: Man's Best Friend — Wiley Schmidt @ 8:20 pm
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It happens pretty frequently if you ask me. Not so much to me personally, for which I am thankful. But it seems to happen a lot to the people I love. You see, I am a big supporter of the meaning of the little things in life. The simple things. That is why I can with absolute certainty that the unknown confuses me on a pretty regular basis.

Again, this is not of my own doing. I have a pretty simple life devoid of stress over the big or little questions. Most of my big questions are answered by others. What will I have for dinner? Where will I spend my day today? What is my purpose in life? It’s a fairly sure thing that every day will bring the same answers to these questions.  My regular kibble will be in my bowl in the forever home in which I will spend my day doing what I do best – bringing joy to whoever will take it.

Be What You BelieveThe same cannot be said for people. I frequently observe lengthy conversations about things as simple as what to have for dinner and as complex as one’s true purpose. And I’m not going to lie – it confuses me. Oftentimes I wish there would be a way for me to provide an answer as easy as the question seems.

I thought of this today as I watched baby Carter sleeping. I thought of all the questions – big and small – he has to encounter throughout his life. And so I wished I could tell him some of what I’ve learned from my observations – the first being that things that are true are often also false. It depends on how you flip the coin or how you view the glass. Since my glass is half full, so are three of my most important life lessons.

Believe what you think. It might not always be good, but follow your heart and you will find peace with your choices.

Believe what you feel. Good or bad, another person’s opinion is only as real as you let it be.

Be what you believe. What you feel in your heart is powerful. Embrace it and let it guide you.

I have so much I hope to teach baby Carter in the time we have together, but these simple truths are among the most important. Especially since it seems to happen pretty frequently among the two-legged population – this game of questions and answers. Most times I am thankful for not having the same questions to answer every day. But today I realized that it wouldn’t matter even if I did. Because in spite of it all, I am what I believe.

 

Joy: From the Inside Out December 21, 2013

Filed under: Man's Best Friend — Wiley Schmidt @ 9:43 pm
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I don’t even know what to say. That’s right, all. Something has rendered me speechless. It’s shocking, I know. Almost as shocking as thinking about the meaning of today.

On December 21, 2012 I felt inspired. It was snowing, and mom and I were happy together, and I didn’t know which came first, her laughter or my joy. It fell from the sky that day. And I remember the moment like it was yesterday. It was like a light bulb turned on in my heart and I knew what I had to do. I had to share this magic with whomever would take it. Joy. From the ground up, it became my 365-day mission to share it with the world.

Dog Blog with a CauseAnd that’s what I’ve done. Every day for a year, I have written about everything from existential philosophy to canine poop rituals. Because that’s life. It’s random and messy and beautiful and heart wrenching and hard and fabulous all at the same time. And I love every minute of it.

That doesn’t stop just because my one-year commitment has come to pass. Quite the opposite, in fact. I have grown, over the last year, to better understand myself, the world I live in, and how those two things interact and create the blessing that is life.

This knowledge has empowered me to take on a new mission that promises to be challenging in a whole new way. I want to continue sharing my unique perspective on joy. From the inside out, our understanding of joy in the Schmidt house is bound to change in the next year. Any day now, my little person is going to bring his or her joy into our world. If we thought we knew joy before, I think we have a whole other thing coming.

I know there will also be sleepless nights and dirty diapers and (gasp) a little less attention coming my way. And I may not be able to share these happenings quite as regularly as I have for the last year. But that’s life. From the ground up, the biggest lesson I’ve learned over the course of my blogging journey it is that this thing called life is certainly worth living to the fullest.

“Nobody gets to live life backward,” advice columnist Ann Landers suggested. “Look ahead, that is where your future lies.” The past has become my future and my future will soon become my present. From the inside out, joy is most definitely upon us. So today I turn the page. I start a new chapter. And I’m not going to lie – it’s one I can’t wait to read either.