Everyone has “their story.”  Think about your life. Our stories are a collection of defining moments one stacked on the next that have created the life we now enjoy. Who we married or didn’t marry, what adventurous trip we decided to take or not take. A new hobby we took up or a course we enrolled in…or didn’t.

Shelby, and Keegan

Defining moments are the decisions we have made, the actions we have taken or were afraid to take. Below are excerpts from an interview shot at the end of 2014. During this shoot I remember having several “ah ha” moments as I shared key decisions I have made in my life. It is amazing to me to look back and see how those pivotal decisions have guided my life as a dog trainer. I still get chills at the 3:40 mark, I can’t imagine where I would be today if I had made a different decision.

 

Defining moments are mysterious things. We often don’t know “why” we are making a certain choice until we look back years later and then it all makes sense. Three times in my life I have made a decision to adopt a puppy I had no intention of owning. Those three puppies; Shelby, Buzz & DeCaff were definitely the most pivotal dogs to my growth up that steep learning curve of understanding dog behaviour.

Buzzy as a 10 month old puppy.

DeCaff as a 6 month old puppy.

In Bermuda winning an obedience class under Judge John Blenkey…prelude to a defining moment?

The funny thing about defining moments in life is that they often take us outside of our comfort zone. A place many people don’t like to venture, but a necessary journey for growth. Too often when people come upon a “pivotal decision” they think that by allowing that opportunity to pass them by is avoiding having to make a choice.

What they don’t realize is that by allowing that opportunity to pass them by they HAVE made a choice! A choice of non action is still a choice…however it is a choice where nothing changes.

Heres to 2016 a year where all of our choices are conscious acts taking us a step closer to all of our goals.

Today I am grateful for all of the dogs who created those defining moments during my life. If you are still reading, I’m sure you have defining moments of your own that came to you through the love of a dog.

Leave a comment below and share one with me!