As this year draws to a close and I find myself pondering the age old question… 
WTF Was that?
In 2019 I had a very high level of expectation for 2020, big travel, possible move to another country, more and bigger shows to attend on behalf of the APDT Australia etc. Life was full of endless possibilities and I was “on point” with my “2020 clear vision” of what direction life was headed in.
After a very busy and successful year, I had a well deserved rest and as I geared up for my PR work with Dogs in the Park NSW, a feeling of unease fell over me. Maybe my break had been a little too long, I started to contemplate my place in the universe and what I was doing with my life. I suffer from “SSDD” syndrome (Same S#*T Different Day or Dog as is the case in my profession) and it is the reason I refer to myself as “A Jack of all Trades, Master of Some.”
So, I am standing in the Showgrounds on March 9th on the beautiful Central Coast of NSW, after having opened up the house for my parents, who were getting back from their cruise on the Ruby Princess (that name will go down in infamy here in Australia) watching all the people and their furry companions go about their business and I am struck by this thought. I look up at the sky and say to myself “yah know, I just don’t know if I want to keep doing this.”
I had no idea how powerful putting that thought out into the universe could be! For the very next week the entire world went into “lockdown.” All the plans I had… obliterated, all the work I did, gone in an instant. They say (not sure who “they” are but I love that term) HINDSIGHT IS 2020. That is certainly true. Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda and Gunna, needs to be removed from our collective thought process. None of these words matter in reality and yet I find myself using them all to often in creating my own existence.
Covid threw some major changes at us, I doubt the world will ever look the same again. I am a big believer in “going with the flow.” It has held me in good stead and given me a happy life (mostly). It allows me to adapt to changes, even though I don’t really like change. I am a realist however and I know that change is inevitable and constant. We are all of us in a constant state of flux, even when we feel that we are sinking into the quagmire of our existence and it looks like there is no way forward.
So, what do you do when everything you were doing comes to a grinding halt… why online courses of course! I have taken part in so many summits this year I feel like my brain is going to to explode! The silver lining was the last one of the year, The International Empowered Dog Trainers Winter Summit 2020.
It has filled me with inspiration and a renewed sense of vigour for the year ahead. All of the summits I took part in, were offered freely and I met so many awesome people doing wonderful things in the service of others. It took away my fear of moving through the “Virtual World” with all its cyber terrorists, bullies, criminals and the like. The world is still an amazing place with so many cool people doing amazing stuff. They have helped me get through a very trying year and taught me that a “virtual hug” is almost (but not quite) as good as the real thing. My heartfelt thanks to you all, you are listed in my resources pages.
I still keep my “virtual world” very seperate from my “real world” experiences. I refuse to talk or interact on my “devices” when I am out and about. For me, 
having a clear separation from the “physical realm” and the “virtual world,” helps me control my addictive personality traits. We all have our crosses to bear. I love the fact that 2020 has broken down many of my fear based barriers and helped me become a more compassionate person if the face of adversity. It is in the helping of others that we truly shine.
We are as always, in this together and we all bring our own special gifts to this party called life. My hope for 2021 is the same as it was for 2020… because after all, some things never change!
Enjoy your Journey.