The Art of Being a Green Dog - The Method Behind My Madness (By Maritsa Solares)

In the beginning, I was just an ordinary child.

Nobody suspected that I would become what I am today, that Wyrd eccentric, the loud, opinionated freak in conventional clothes.

I truly doubt anyone would want to follow in my footsteps, but since stranger things have happened, here goes a method-admittedly not fool proof - to becoming that odd creature, the one that freezes smiles on saintly matron's faces, the one that men can't get far away from fast enough - except one, bless his sweet, Scottish heart... -, the one that smashes the expectations of those who can't see beyond the tip of their nose to smithereens.

So without further ado, but with a grain of salt, I'll launch myself headfirst into the Method of Green Dog Development.

1. To truly grasp the concept of what a Green Dog is, I'll give you a description. Think of a herd of cows,... do you see it in your mind? They're grazing on a field. It's a sunny day... everything is perfect. All of a sudden, they hear a bark,... and they look around expecting to see a dog. And yes, It's a dog, but, the color?? Green... no, it must be a frog. Dogs aren't green... But the strange dog-like creature barks again... it barks, thus It's a dog. It sits patiently down and says " hello!". Shocking!! It tells them stories and amuses them with its witty tales. Everything's going fine until one cow realizes that the dog is not only green, but It's got some pretty strange ideas.

- Hey you, dog, or whatever you are... you don't exist, you can't exist... dogs aren't green and they don't tell stories like yours.

- Don't you like my stories? Do they offend you in any way? - replies the dog with a smile.

- Well... no... But you can't be real!! Dogs aren't green! I'm leaving, you're too weird.

So the cow turns away and the others huddle together and start to inch back from the dog.

- Oh, please... think... why would I hurt you?... hey, don't leave, please, I like telling you my stories. We're not so different you know.

The cows start turning and almost stampeding in their haste to get away from the strange being who dared to defy what was established as true. So the Green Dog is left alone in the field, barking absurdities.

Are you still there? Wow, you're brave! I would have left by now if it wasn't that I can't just up and leave myself! Now that we have a definition, I'll tell you what... Go get yourself a cup of coffee or tea, my treat. You'll need it.

2. How do you go about the fastidious task of becoming a Green Dog? Well, I've got news for you: you already may be a Green Dog inside, only you probably don't know. The Green Dog is the little voice inside that we hear in our heads when we want to say something we know will set us apart from that most comfortable place, Conventionalia.

You know how it goes. A neighbour starts bragging about how awesome their new car is and you feel the urge to jump in and tell them that they'd be better off buying a bike and doing something about that paunch of theirs. You don't REALLY say it, but you have to bite your tongue. You distract yourself with thoughts about the latest book you've read, which they've probably never even heard about. And that's where the Green Dog takes over. You take advantage of a pause in their monologue, that you didn't sign up for and mostly didn't hear, to state that you find Sartre fascinating, or that Robert Burns' Red, Red Rose moves you to tears. The look of utter disbelief on their face means that you have just entered the category of Green Dog. You can then expect either an accusation of extreme impoliteness or an exclamation of bewilderment.

Keep it coming, Oh, Wyrd One, and you'll get yourself a reputation for a wide variety of labels such as odd, strange, aloof, politically incorrect, unbearable snob, idiot, lackey of the extreme left (I know, I know... but it DID happen to me for questioning things I shoulda known not to... ),foolish, unnatural mother (??), pretentious, and an assortment of looks that would make a zombie stop dead in its tracks.

3. This one is easy: repeat Step 2 often, and you'll see your Green Dog chase the more conventional souls out of your way, far and fast. You'll experience moments of total bliss as it rids you of social events that hassle most other people, like family reunions, weddings, christenings, soccer mom or dad get-togethers, etc. The downside is that unless you're lucky enough to have a few - VERY few - close friends and/or family, you won't have ANY social life. Being a Green Dog is not for the faint of heart.

4. Reject conventions that don't do you any good, or that you don't understand, or that you simply oppose because you find them morally dubious. Make sure you do so often and without any sign of remorse or concern for the outcome. Stand your ground. Got it? Congratulations, you just made it to the next level of Green Dog expertise. You can be sure that by now, whoever has stuck with you will most probably be there for the long haul.

5. Finally, do a 180º change in your life and watch the reactions. Some may applaud. Make sure you get their numbers if you don't yet have them and they're still there after a few weeks.

Some will tell you you're crazy straight out. If you can't find an adequate phrase to counter them, just smile and slowly turn and walk away.

Most will be too cowardly to say anything, but will disappear like a wrestler's deodorant - fast.

Then there's the weasels, who'll try to get you to trust them with your secrets to gain status with the leaders of Conventionalia.

(For your information, you're admired and detested in equal measure, and also feared. However, the leaders will not want to get their hands dirty being too close to you, so they will rely on their agents, the weasels.)

If you've read this far, thank you and congratulations! I hope I've given you an insight into the Wyrd World of Green Dog Development. If you feel in any way reflected by these lines, well, you know... we'll see each other out there and wink.

See you soon in #GreenDogRepublic.

If you liked this, head over to 'The Green Dog Chronicles. My life in Navia' for more views and a bark or two.

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Message From the Universe: Your Difficult Journey in Life!

"Courageous is the soul who adventures into time and space to learn of their divinity. For while they cannot lose, they can think they have, and the loss will seem intolerable. And while they cannot fail, they can think they have, and the pain will seem unbearable. And while they cannot ever be less than they truly are - powerful, eternal, and loved - they can think they are, and all hope will seem lost.

And therein lies their test. A test of perceptions: of what to focus on, of what to believe in, in spite of appearances.

YOU are divine - 

The Universe"

Even though the Universe is preparing what can be the biggest change in your life, it will ONLY do it on his own schedule, which, in most cases, never coincides with yours. You feel like all hope is lost, and whatever effort you put in today goes in vain. Even though the path you are taking isn't so clear, the Universe knows exactly where you are headed. Everything seems to be blurry at times, and that is because of the fear that you implement in your mind on a daily basis. As you are going for your dreams, you have no clear direction that will guarantee you from making any mistakes. They are inevitable so wrap your mind around the high probability of falling hard and it hurting badly. You will get a lot of cuts and bruises throughout your journey to success, but it will be all worth it. As long as this journey doesn't kill you, it will ONLY make you stronger. I can't be giving you any promises that your path to success will be all nice and calm, and I would lie to you if I did. Expect turbulence, just like flying on a very windy day. Imagine the empty pockets of air that the plane flies through and pushes it downward, losing altitude, or going side to side while navigating the treacherous weather at 35 000 feet altitude. There will be times where you feel like the plane will crash. These feelings are similar when working towards your dreams. You feel like everything will fall and crash, taking your dreams down the abyss of hell and disappointment. Will these fears stop you from pushing forward? Not knowing with accuracy what will happen following failure, is it worth it to just stop everything and abandon what you worked so hard for? How much tolerance do you have? How many more failures will you accept before calling it quits?

No one is you to make a decision of that sort. When working towards your dreams, expect naysayers to be the first ones to share their negativity with you, trying to stop you on your track and not allow you to pursue your dreams. They will do everything in their power to aggravate the results of failures and make you feel embarrassed even before it happens. The "I told you so" will be said numerous amount of time because of how it makes them feel of being right if you DO fail. But what is right or wrong here? Did you fail because they said you would or did you fail because you didn't put the required time and effort to make this work? Was their negativity so destructive that it made you believe that you can ONLY fail throughout your journey because you lost all belief in yourself? No one can really predict what will happen but what I can suggest is to eliminate these naysayers by not divulging ANYTHING at ANYONE at ANYTIME. Remove the negative elements from the equation by NOT sharing anything. Work on yourself and find the motivation from within yourself to pursue your dreams. You are an entrepreneur, you are self-motivated, so you DON'T need anyone to approve of your actions and goals. You feed your own ego with what is needed to move forward and be the biggest success of the 21st century.

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Why Change Is Important in Your Life

You have heard it said many times, the only thing constant in life is change. Change applies to every area in our lives. Moving into a new apartment or home, happy or sad occasions within the family, economic changes in career or business, and so on. We cannot avoid change in life. We can dig in our heels, or we can cope with change, or better yet, adopt a more optimistic outlook. Let's see how we can make change work for us in positive ways, and why change is important in our life!

Change leads to opportunities

You will realize that each change in your life is actually an invitation for new experiences. You should take advantage of each new opportunity. Remember, every new experience has its own benefits. You can be tempted to dismiss these chances, whenever they come, but it is always advisable to consider the benefits that those new opportunities will bring. If you accept change in your life, you will profit from each new opportunity.

Change ensures excitement in your life

Change is one thing that makes our lives interesting. If you are used to doing the same thing over and over again, for years on end, you may get bored, and lose the excitement in your life. Change ensures that your experiences differ from day to day, month to month. Remember that the world is always in a continuous motion. Technologies, trends, and politics keep on changing. This makes life exciting. Another reason you should remain positive about change.

Change means progress

If you look at your life ten years ago, you were a very different person, from the person you are today. There are many things that have happened in your life, that made you grow as a human being. This is called progress. And these growth experiences are the reason you should appreciate changes in your life. George Bernard Shaw said, "Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. If you come this far reading this, and you are still having a bad day, let me tell you that you have the power to make every day a good day, by just changing your mind.

Today, many people find themselves trapped in chains of various types. It could be that of an unreasonable employer, toxic relationships, mountains of debts, bad habits, or addictions, you name it.

Worse, all of these require too much energy to maintain. The most awesome thing is, that you can set yourself free, and achieve personal independence, by making hard and uncomfortable choices, by severing your ties with those traps, you find yourself in. That's how you declare your freedom, and personal independence.

Pride, will then be a byproduct of your success, that is achieving personal independence. It will, in turn, strengthen you to become even more successful in other areas of your life. In fact, the right type of pride in who you really are, and what you represent, will certainly assist you to achieve mastery in your life.

When you are independent, you will not allow yourself to be controlled, or limited by other people, since you are already the master of your own destiny. You are a person of great accomplishments and qualities. And that's something you should really feel proud of.

Remember, pride is like being completely aware of yourself, and accepting the power of your mind and body. And personal independence unchains you from intolerable and vain pursuits enabling you to experience this terrific feeling that is personal pride.

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Live A Fulfilled Life, Take A Chance, You Deserve It!

You have the power to break through and live your life to the fullest. It's your choice to take action now. Start with a clean slate, take a chance, make a choice, Why? Because you deserve it.

There are 3 C's in life, Choice, Chance and Change. "You must make a Choice to take a Chance or your life will never Change.

If you want a change in your life you need to choose to just go for something you want, instead of whatever life has given you. Life gave me cancer, not once, but twice. I did not let it stop me from getting what I wanted out of life.

Steve Jobs once said, "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition."

You are destined for greatness, but unless you make a choice to change your life, you're never going to know. I made a change in my life. I went through what is called 'The Champion Project.' I always knew what I wanted out of life, but didn't know how to get there until I found the Champion Movement. It helped me find my true self, my meaning in life, my why.

You need to accept the fact that when you do decide to go for your dreams, there might be failures and naysayers. So you need to step away from the crowd and create your own path in life. There will be failures, but that's just part of the process, just like growing up, only then they called them, growing pains.

The founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, said: "I could accept failing, But I could not accept not trying... and never knowing what if."

If you ever stop going for your dreams, how will you ever know if they would have become real?

All of us want a life that is magical, magnificent and one of fulfillment. But many of us think that a magnificent life is something that happens, as if it is something done to us without us doing anything at all. We think that a life of fulfillment is something reserved only for the lucky ones. We can all have a life full of memorable moments and happiness regardless of our circumstances. You just have to believe it and want it.

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away!"

Understand that when you feel dissatisfaction, that it is really the first step to a better life. It is nature's way of saying that there is something better out there for you, you just need to go out and find it. Without hate, we would not know love. Without tiredness, we would not know what energy felt like. Without Darkness, we would not know how beautiful the sun is. Any champion will tell you that you must experience pain and discomfort along the way in order to achieve a great life. Accept that the pain is here to serve you and start looking at what the first step is you can take to make a change.

One way to feel great about your life, is look for more things to smile about in it. No matter what it is or what happens to you, just smile. You'll be amazed at how much a smile can change your attitude and change the way others look at you.

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