Positively Tuesday- Order and Calm

      One personal act I need to get more of a habit is meditation, or at least moments each day of absolute calm. No screens, no manufactured sounds, just me in a comfortable place for 10 minutes or so to block out external chaos. I think it will help me minimize the stresses, support better breathing, and help gain perspective. I can think about the ways and causes of smiles this week. I can let my mind wander to visions of beauty. I can really hear the normal sounds of life like a dog barking, a child playing, or the wind blowing. With that, I tried to include snippets beginning Tuesday, everyday this past week. Other things that make the Positively Tuesday cut are below, by day.

Tuesday: Let's say perfect summer. I got up early for coffee, shower, then I logged on early. However, I took a 10 minute walk with pup before meetings. It helped my back, and he got the relief he needed. 

Wednesday: I joined friends for trivia. I'm glad I did because Thursday was a stinker day. I kept to soda as I just wasn't feeling alcohol. We did well first half, tied three way for first, but the dreaded sound round did us in. It's always a fun time.

Thursday: This was the day from... Fortunately, DH could take pup for a walk after he got upset at the Fed Ex delivery instead of barking through my meeting. Not good for us, but he also picked up BK lunch with a Diet Coke for me. Sometimes, a day calls for comfort. 

Friday: I got a call from DD1, that a dog she had shown interest in adopting was potentially available...that night. We got to briefly meet him, but she wanted to get him safely home. She used an old travel kennel from pup, but had to invest in everything immediately, like both a hard crate, gates, and toys. He's so sweet, but a rescue dog, with all the potential past trauma that he may have come with. He's skittish, not sure of new people, cars, and other animals. I know they'll develop a bond, but she's in for a ride in the short run. 

Saturday: I helped my daughter by late morning at her house with the grandpup. She's very overwhelmed, but I kept assuring her it was an adjustment and they'd both acclimate. We practiced a short day crate training and found a new to us beautiful wine bar in the middle of nowhere near her house. I ended up sleeping over to help her establish norms. Bonus, the wine bar is dog friendly. 

Sunday: I came home Sunday morning, with my pup ready for me. My daughter wanted to  do a slightly longer time in the crate and came over. Successes? He has not had a poop accident since first morning when he knew nothing yet. Later he went to door to tell her he needed out. Hardship? He attacked his bed during day crate train. But, he didn't overnight. Other positives was a late call from DD2. It was short as she was exhausted after an afternoon at an amusement park and it being nearly midnight but she's enjoying her first few weeks in Spain. I also chatted with DS about the House of Dragons and the Lord of the Rings prequels.  A kid trifecta!

Monday: DD1 was able to work from home half the day. Grandpup did really well while she was gone. She managed to actually get her work done from home too. He was naughty last night, but what she described was normal puppiness, and testing boundaries. I'm doggy daycare tomorrow and Wednesday afternoon, and will work from her house. I think it was a positive day in her new dog parent world. She's learning there's a sort of adoption remorse/post partum like depression that is real, and much more common than advertised. She's got support and a plan, and following the 3-3-3 rule of adopting a dog. "The 'Rule of Three means that you can gauge the time it might take for your dog to fully acclimate to his home in threes: three days, three weeks, and three months."

     Our pup is work, but he's such a joy to me, I can't imagine what life would have been without, just like the big guy before him. Grandpup is going to fill holes we all didn't know we had. Pup is 11 1/2, and we won't be getting another. Grandpup will fulfill that need for us, but hopefully we won't need him to for many more years.