I dug out this picture because it captures the essence of the professional me...focused, confident and ready to take on the world. A licensed therapist of 28 years, president of Women Business Owners Association in San Diego, an award winning Toastmaster, radio-show talk host, seminary professor and published writer...to name a few professional achievements. These are the accolades I rehearse in my brain as I squat to pick up still another pile of dog poop in my newly found vocation...Dog Adventure Guide. How have I stooped to this? I know "shit happens," but this is just a bit too literal for me!

As I hit my mid 50's, something snapped inside of me...something restraining and restrictive. My therapist teflon wore thin and my septic tank of pain absorption began to overflow. I could have sought out therapy myself, or at least supervision to recoat the teflon and drain the tank, but I just didn't want to. It was time to let go. Time to recreate myself. Time to move. Literally. No more sedentary listening. No more walls to hold me in. No more hours carefully measured in 50 minute segments to stay on schedule. It was time.

As I shared before, the overly zealous rangers had a lot to do with the creation of my new self, but I must take responsibility for what evolved. My love of animals merged with my desire to be out of doors and my desperation to express myself with physical movement. I first mulled around the idea of hosting spiritual mini-retreats called "Getaways with God," but had few takers. Then I tweeked the name "God" to "Dog" and sure enough, something began to take off! People wanted getaways for their dogs! And I wanted to do them! It's been my own daily "getaways with God" that have given me the freedom to shuck off all my old defining labels, get hairy with the pups and clean up their inevitable waste products. (See Riley posing in illustration of this phenomena). I am thankful for my illustrious past, and I'm sure my "successes" have quieted the achievement demons inside of me, but it is truly the security I derive from God's love and acceptance of me that has allowed, even encouraged me to redefine myself in my 50's. I have nothing to prove to Him. His love is a done deal! And I have the quintessential privilege of passing it on, to canines and humans alike.

I must admit, when I forget this freedom and begin measuring my worth by my titles or income, I have to recall the words of one of my professionally-careered customers, "Lynette, in my next life I want to do what you do!" Why wait? Maybe doody calls!