You Get What You Give April 5, 2013

Four months ago, it was just an idea. I was playing in the snow with my mom and she smiled the most beautiful smile and it came to me. I want to find a way to make more people smile like that.  A few days later, I began my blogging journey on a quest to share joy: from the ground up with whoever needed it. While I obviously hoped that my joy would reach people, I nearly fell out of my little doggie bed when I got my first couple of followers. “Believe you can and you’re halfway there,” as Teddy Roosevelt said.

Today, I celebrate you, my inspiration, my supporters, my friends. The blogosphere has brought to life the words of Ronald Reagan who once said “we can’t help everyone but everyone can help someone.” What a powerful impact we can have through simplicity. What a blessing to be able to be the difference we want to see in the world. Dear blogging world. You’ve been so good to me. While I set out to share my joy with the world, I did not expect the joy you would share with me.

Thank you especially to Kuruk, Lissa and Lisa who have most recently nominated me for the Versatile and Very Inspiring Blog awards. Both types of awards make a similar suggestion to include seven facts about yourself and then paw forward the appreciation to other inspirational bloggers.

Getting to Know Me

1) I recently got a new collar that says Rescued on it. It might be my new favorite thing.

2) I don’t bark, except when animals (live or animated) appear on the television.

3) I believe in being the change I want to see in the world. Change starts in the mind, but it lives in the heart.

4) I purr like a cat when I’m getting an especially nice scratch in the right place.

5) Little people are wise beyond their years if you ask me.

6) I own a more than one doggie Packer jersey.

7) My favorite place to sleep is right between my mom and dad in my forever home.

I learn something new every day and a lot of that is thanks to the relationships I’ve been fortunate enough to have in the blogosphere. Again, I mean no disrespect to those who nominated me in doing this, but I nominate you – reader and supporter of my blog for these awards. There are so many deserving partners who inspire me on a daily basis with their words, commentary and friendship. Thank you all for being you.

Four months ago, I had no idea who you were, and now I consider each and every one of you a valuable part of my life. “Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle,” suggested Buddha, “and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

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Real Simple Awards February 19, 2013

I find joy in odd things. Among the oddities that entice my innermost insights are simple complexities. Contradictions that meet the eye but test the mind.

Less is more, for example. Less can’t literally be more, and yet is in so many cases. Or, as one of my most favorite artists Leonardo Da Vinci said “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

So I shall take a canvas from Da Vinci and keep this short and sweet (like me). Lately, I have found joy in accepting several blogging awards from some of my friends in the blogosphere I have come to respect. This utmost honor might seem small to some, but not to me.

My sincerest of gratitude to:

Leisa at http://tarotalchemist.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/reality-award/

Ms. Seeker at http://theseeker57.wordpress.com/2013/02/17/the-nominees-are-drum-roll-please/

Loneshewolf at http://theloneshewolf.wordpress.com/

Acceptance of each of these awards involves its own set of rules, which I have outlined below.

In response to Leisa for the Reality Award:
Rules: Thank nominator, answer five questions, nominate five blogs and notify them of their nominations

• If you could change something, what would you change? I would want for us all to live by a simple commitment inspired by Gandhi himself: be the change you want to see in the world.
• If you could repeat an age, what age would it be? There is value in respecting where one is at in life. I wouldn’t change a thing about my age right now.
• What one thing really scares you? Leather belts and all the physical, emotional and psychological pain they are capable of inflicting. I’d rather not discuss it.
• What one dream have you not completed yet which you think you will be able to complete? Publish a book titled 365 Days of Joy: From the Ground Up by Wiley Schmidt.
• If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be? This is a tough one…I think I’d want to be my adoptive mom so I could get in her head and tell her she’s beautiful.

In response to Ms. Seeker for the Shine On Award:
Rules: Thank nominator, tell us one thing about yourself, nominate 15 blogs and notify them of their nominations

• My one thing about myself is that I am grateful to Ms. Seeker and all the other bloggers I’ve come to get to know on my quest to spread my perspective on joy with the world. Thanks to you, I have reasons to give thanks daily for the new blessings in my life. Your words are a constant source of inspiration, and for that I am more thankful than for this award.

In response to theloneshewolf for the Very Inspiring Award:
Rules: Thank nominator, list seven random things about myself, nominate 15 blogs and notify them of their nominations

• Mrs. Prickles is no longer my favorite toy. I have moved on to Mr. Prickles. He was a Christmas gift from my grandma Schmidt and I love him for the same reasons I loved Mrs. Prickles.
• I discovered this week that I have an almost paralyzing irrational fear of balloons filled with helium. Even if they say “I love you” on them.
• I wake up each day with a mindset to see good in all people and things.
• I am currently reading Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy. It inspires me daily.
• I find myself missing those I have loved and lost a lot lately. What is that about?
• I occasionally lick my mom’s legs when she gets out of the shower. And she let’s me. (Shh, don’t tell anyone).

I mean no disrespect to my nominators in this, but with each award came the request to nominate a number of other recipients. I’m feeling the joy today, so rather than pick just one, five or fifteen bloggers from whom I draw inspiration, I nominate you. Yes, you. Reader of this blog, please consider yourself nominated for any or all of the awards I have described and paw it forward as you see fit. Without your support, I would just be a little terrier mutt with a big heart and a lot to tell the world.

I find joy in odd things. Thank you for seeing the more that is less in my life.