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2010: The Year of Panic
Dec. 31st, 2009 09:53 pmI can't believe the year is over, 2009 seemed to go by so quickly. I've been looking back on my year and am happier more than ever that I have Panic. He keeps me level headed and motivated to get up and go even when things are going horribly (and 2009 was sure riddled with those times!). There is never a dull moment with Panic, he constantly keeps me on my toes. Yes I love my other dogs to death, but Panic no doubt has a special place in my heart. We have a connection that I've never felt with any other dog.
Agility wise a big evolution occurred with us. My attitude has changed immensely. At the beginning of the year I had a really tense mindset all the time, now I just let myself go and run. When I step into the ring I feel no pressure or nervousness, just excitement at getting to run Panic. And man am I having fun, every run is a blast no matter what he does. I don't know why this changed for me, but I am enjoying this new found go with the flow attitude towards agility while at the same time maintaining my desire to improve and reach my goals. Perhaps this has something to do with our switch to running contacts, which we did in April of this year. I feel like running contacts force me to let go of my sense of perfection and worry in the ring and just run. And I HAVE to run, otherwise I simply won't get there!
Panic has exceeded my expectations this year, going from a 0% Q rate at his first three trials, and basically just being off the wall every time we stepped in the ring, to being in excellent jumpers and one more leg needed for his open standard title. Not counting those first three Q-less trials, we've done this in five shows. I always have so much fun running him I can hardly stand it.
Now I'm looking ahead to 2010 with even more excitement. I have more shows planned for us and a lot more USDAA, including SE Regionals (where I get to meet Tori and Rev, and probably many other awesome people!). I feel like Panic is definitely getting the game now. We are actually becoming a team. I would love to go to Nationals since it is moving into our area (and for that reason I'm going to go regardless if I even qualify!) 2011 AKC Nationals is still in the back of my mind but it's not something that I'm all too concerned about, especially since we aren't in Ex. B for either class yet. It just depends on how we progress. Overall I am pretty much letting go of my expectations for him, which is in stark contrast to how I felt this time last year. There are things I would like to do and hope we get to do but I am not dwelling on anything. Instead I want to focus on improving myself as much as possible and most of all having fun (something I always do, how can you not have fun with a dog like Panic?) If I do that the rest will come easily. This is not to say that I am not going to be attempting to reach those goals--if I wasn't striving for something I don't think I would get anywhere at all. I'm going to try my absolute hardest to get where I want to go. But I'm certainly not afraid of failure, it's the only constant in my life.
Aside from agility, I'm going to ClickerExpo in March which I am REALLY looking forward to. There is so much knowledge I don't have yet and things I am dying to learn. I love agility but I also just like training in general as well as behavior. I love to learn! I also get to meet Devi and Fever, hooray! :D
The most exciting thing that is happening in 2010 is of course the start of my senior year of high school! I'm so ready to be DONE! Then again it means I will have to start seriously considering what I'll do for college. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
We will see what 2010 brings for us, but I think it's going to be a very good year!
"We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done."
Agility wise a big evolution occurred with us. My attitude has changed immensely. At the beginning of the year I had a really tense mindset all the time, now I just let myself go and run. When I step into the ring I feel no pressure or nervousness, just excitement at getting to run Panic. And man am I having fun, every run is a blast no matter what he does. I don't know why this changed for me, but I am enjoying this new found go with the flow attitude towards agility while at the same time maintaining my desire to improve and reach my goals. Perhaps this has something to do with our switch to running contacts, which we did in April of this year. I feel like running contacts force me to let go of my sense of perfection and worry in the ring and just run. And I HAVE to run, otherwise I simply won't get there!
Panic has exceeded my expectations this year, going from a 0% Q rate at his first three trials, and basically just being off the wall every time we stepped in the ring, to being in excellent jumpers and one more leg needed for his open standard title. Not counting those first three Q-less trials, we've done this in five shows. I always have so much fun running him I can hardly stand it.
Now I'm looking ahead to 2010 with even more excitement. I have more shows planned for us and a lot more USDAA, including SE Regionals (where I get to meet Tori and Rev, and probably many other awesome people!). I feel like Panic is definitely getting the game now. We are actually becoming a team. I would love to go to Nationals since it is moving into our area (and for that reason I'm going to go regardless if I even qualify!) 2011 AKC Nationals is still in the back of my mind but it's not something that I'm all too concerned about, especially since we aren't in Ex. B for either class yet. It just depends on how we progress. Overall I am pretty much letting go of my expectations for him, which is in stark contrast to how I felt this time last year. There are things I would like to do and hope we get to do but I am not dwelling on anything. Instead I want to focus on improving myself as much as possible and most of all having fun (something I always do, how can you not have fun with a dog like Panic?) If I do that the rest will come easily. This is not to say that I am not going to be attempting to reach those goals--if I wasn't striving for something I don't think I would get anywhere at all. I'm going to try my absolute hardest to get where I want to go. But I'm certainly not afraid of failure, it's the only constant in my life.
Aside from agility, I'm going to ClickerExpo in March which I am REALLY looking forward to. There is so much knowledge I don't have yet and things I am dying to learn. I love agility but I also just like training in general as well as behavior. I love to learn! I also get to meet Devi and Fever, hooray! :D
The most exciting thing that is happening in 2010 is of course the start of my senior year of high school! I'm so ready to be DONE! Then again it means I will have to start seriously considering what I'll do for college. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
We will see what 2010 brings for us, but I think it's going to be a very good year!
"We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done."