Today, I Will

Today I have lots of obligations. Tomorrow I have those same obligations, but we are only going to talk about today. Because of today's to-do list, I currently suffer from acid reflux, a sour stomach, a headache, eyes that are on fire, and cold feet. (Well, to be fair, the cold feet are the result of chasing one contemptuous Chessie into the icy yard to cease her digging up our entire yard, as well as the neighbor's, in her quest for moles. While in hot pursuit, I eliminated shoes from the equation and only wore my socks. It was not my brightest moment. I also did not stop the dog from her hunting instincts, which kind of makes sense when you think about it.)

It is fairly easy to get caught up in negatives. Being a natural defiant personality, I will attempt to list some positives to rebut that initial tempation:

**Right now, one overly repentent Chessie is curled in front of the fire, quiet and behaved and ever the model of dog obedience. She also licked my face several times upon finally coming inside. My read on this was an apology for her earlier ill-tempered refusal to listen. I don't know if dogs' brains really function this way, but I will stubbornly hold to my thoughts that they do. I can't stay mad at her because she doesn't ever stay mad at me, even when I did lose my temper and swat her nose. We love each other like that.

**Concurrently, one lazy Beagle is curled at my feet on the couch, snoring away into the afghan-covered pillow upon which she is snuggled ever so sweetly. I know she wants up on the couch because it is warm and fluffy and comfy. Sometimes, I like to think she also wants to comfort me as I trudge through my numerous have-tos. There is something about a Beagle at your feet which makes even the dreariest of tasks perkier. She is such a baby, and that is why I baby her...or the other way around.

**Tonight I get to go to dance class, where I can lose all sense of stress in favor of physical challenge and laughter with a bunch of teenagers. Never, in all my life, have I ever felt better or more myself than when I am dancing. I might not be the most technically proficient dancer and I might never master all the skills, but my soul is happiest when I am trying. Unlike any other thing in my life, being even mediocre at this one hobby has made me happier than any of the other things I have tried or mastered. Who cares if I could (literally) be mother to my classmates? They remind me of all the best and worst aspects of being a teenager. I am happy with my place in life and happy to test my ablities with theirs. It makes me a better dancer and gives me a better outlook on llife, too.

**Yesterday, I found a specific dress at Target which I have loved, loved, loved since Christmas-shopping season and it was half-off. And it is super cute and I love it even more now that it is in my closet. No matter that I have no less than one hundred dresses hanging beside this new one. I will not apologize for my love of clothes, nor will I ever again make a ridiculous statement like, "Please stop me from buying any more dresses." (Which I uttered this past summer after one dress spree too many. Perish the thought those words even escaped my lips!)

Because if I wasn't buying too many dresses and dancing, curled up with dogs at my feet, who would I be? Not someone I would want to know, I'll tell you that!

So, back at it now, acid stomach and all. At least I know what's really important. And let me tell you: a Beagle can do wonders for icy cold feet - they are almost completely warmed up now! Sometimes it really is the littlest things that bring the most peace.