The eager eyes. The wagging tail. The soft lick. The dancing paws and jingling dog tags. How can anyone resist that furry little creature – the family dog?

I will admit right up front that I may not be half as crazy about your dog as my own. In fact, I never imagined being a dog owner. I am a neat freak – and dogs are so… messy. However, in an effort to “complete” our happy, growing family and answer the pleading from two insistent children (three, if you count my husband), I relented, and the rest is doggy history. It was one of the best decisions I ever made.

The kids hand picked a fuzzy, buff-colored Cocker Spaniel from a sea of puppies at the breeder. We named her Shane (boy name, girl dog – whatever). And she stole our hearts. Thirteen years later, she still greets us at our bedside every morning as if she is thanking us for another day to share together.

Thirteen years is OLD in Cocker years… way past “senior” and “mature”… she’s into “borrowed time.” Shane is deaf, has limited vision, sports an army of warts beneath her curly coat, limps and is an impossible snorer. She is showing all the tell-tale signs of aging. But, this beautiful female canine can teach us all a thing or two about aging gracefully:

1. She never complains or broods. Whatever her ailment, she adjusts to the new circumstance and moves forward.
2. She has an incredible pain threshold. The ONLY time she demands attention for her pain is if it is a serious situation… she never cries wolf.
3. She has abundant enthusiasm. She will always say “yes” to whatever the family suggests.
4. She has NO guilt about napping when necessary.
5. Even with her arthritic legs and back, she gleefully takes her walks every day. She intuitively understands that no matter one’s age – daily exercise is important until the day you die.
6. She maintains a proper diet… dutifully eating the prescribed, appropriate meals.
7. She remains social and loyal to her friends and family.
8. She harbors no grudges. She displays unconditional love with every rush to the door to greet us – and with every wet, messy lick.

The kids are grown and gone now. That shift in family life seemed natural. But I can’t imagine life without Shane. Every day with her is a blessing. She has no idea what she means to her family. I am grateful for her unwavering loyalty and for the lessons she is teaching me daily.

The moon was perfectly round and full tonight on this January evening. As I drove my car, I kept glancing at its brilliance. The clouds were passing over the great orb – but just ever so featherly. Instead of obscuring the view, the vapory wisps-o-clouds were highlighting the illumination. This scene appeared to be a painting of an evening winter sky; it seemed way too perfect to be real. I playfully thought about this marvel for several minutes. These moments of revelation awakened me from my everyday commute – they reminded me that I want to admire the fascinating details of life more often. I want to slow my day, my breath, my observations and my general pace in life.  As they say, I wish to “live in the moment.”

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Some folks call it mindfulness. If only we all could pay attention to what’s really going on and being said… there would certainly be less frustration in the world and more appreciation. I believe that if we go about our day with a focus on minding what we do, we will find greater pleasure around every corner. For we know, both natural and man-made miracles and mysteries abound. We just have to be receptive to them.

Yoga helps tune your mindfulness radar. My instructor, Michelle, is incredible. She is teaching us at practice to regard each day as a gift. I imagine the day unwrapping itself and its many beautiful contents spilling out. Yoga is good for my tight muscles AND my mind through meditation and reflection.

Living in the moment and mindfulness requires acute senses. The ability to appreciate the scent of wet earth, the sight of geese in flying formation, the sound of crickets on a summer evening, the feel of freshly laundered bed linens, the taste of freshly squeezed orange juice… it takes practice.

1.  Sense it.
2.  Experience it fully.
3.  Account for its wonders…
4.  Consciously appreciate it.
5.  Repeat.

If I truly do follow through with my intentions, I wonder just how rich my days will feel and how much more satisfied, happy and relaxed I will be as I lay my head on my pillow at night.

I can see that same full moon now – only from a ninth floor perspective. Off the ground, I feel that much closer to the warm glow… perhaps I could lean out over my balcony and grab that moon. The moon will be my new symbol for viewing ordinary life in an extraordinary way.

The flip of the calendar presents a perfect opportunity every year for each of us to evaluate where we’ve been and where we’re going. Maybe, you start clean with all new goals. Perhaps, you just tweak your long-range plan. Or, do you shun resolutions entirely?

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I am a resolutions advocate. The exercise of “listing” my intentions provides a framework for my actions. Actually, as a runner that’s not surprising. We’re all a tad “goal oriented.” Increased mileage, more stretching, smarter training, additional cross-training, PR’s, consistent strengthening, better nutrition, attention to sleep and rest days, injury prevention… does this list look familiar? Well, this year, I am not making specific running goals – I have decided to declare my Gazellutions. Here goes:

1. I love my work as a Gazelle Sports sales associate. My promise is to demonstrate this enthusiasm every single shift.
2. A thorough understanding of the benefits and features of every product in our store is extremely important. I will read, ask questions, trial products and avail myself of training opportunities.
3. As a long-distance running coach, I vow to support our participants with expertise, effective training plans, and loads of optimism and smiles.
4. I will regard each interaction with a customer as a unique challenge to find a solution to the stated need – whether it be running shoes, thermal tights, comfortable yoga pants or a bikini for the spring break cruise. And if Gazelle Sports is not equipped to answer a specific need, I will make every effort to suggest an alternate source.
5. My fellow employees are valuable members of our “team.” I respect their experience and youthful energy. They amaze me. I will strive to prove my worth.
6. Practicing what I preach… I will be a role model for healthy, active living. Because my primary exercise is running – well, we’ve gone full circle because my action plan goes back to the goals listed in the introduction… more mileage, etc.

There it is – my 2012 soul revealed. I would love to hear what’s on your mind for the coming year! And best wishes to you and your family for a happy, healthy new year!

Looking for a healthy way to cheers to the New Year? The below mocktail is Party Perfect and will be sure to satisfy your taste buds!

Sparkling Pomegranate Mocktail

YIELD: 6 servings (serving size: 3/4 cup)

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice
1/4 cup grenadine
1 (750-milliliter) bottle non-alcoholic dry sparkling wine, chilled
6 lime slices (optional)
Pomegranate seeds (optional)

Preparation
1. Combine pomegranate juice and 1/4 cup grenadine in a 2-cup glass measure. Divide the juice mixture evenly among 6 Champagne flutes or wineglasses. Top each serving evenly with non-alcoholic wine, and garnish each serving with lime slices and seeds, if desired.

Raise your glasses to Healthy Holidays!

Nutritional Information
Amount per serving
Calories: 164
Fat: 0.0g
Saturated fat: 0.0g
Monounsaturated fat: 0.0g
Polyunsaturated fat: 0.0g
Protein: 0.3g
Carbohydrate: 21g
Fiber: 0.3g
Cholesterol: 0.0mg
Iron: 0.1mg
Sodium: 11mg
Calcium: 11mg
For this recipe and many more healthy recipe ideas, log on to www.cookinglight.com.

The below appetizer recipe is a real crowd pleaser. Plus, it’s easy to make and a MUCH healthier choice than your typical cocktail party “munchie.”

FETA CHEESE WEDGE

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3 T extra virgin olive oil
1 T lemon juice
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
1 pinch coarse salt
1/2 lb wedge of feta cheese
1 T fresh rosemary leaves, coarsely chopped
Zest of 1 lemon, chopped fine
1/2 cup pitted olives
1 sprig fresh rosemary

Mix olive oil, lemon juice, pepper and salt in a bowl. Place cheese on a serving plate and pour the oil mixture on top of it. Garnish with the chopped rosemary, lemon zest, olives and rosemary sprig. Spread on crusty bread or crackers.

 Gazelle Sports customers are “off the charts” wonderful any time of the year, but they really rock at the holidays.

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In December, we welcome shoppers into our store who might not otherwise frequent a running or soccer specialty store to fulfill their personal needs. These customers are hunting for the perfect gifts for their loved ones. Sometimes our customers are armed with a copy of an e-mail wish list with a particular brand, style and size – but more often they visit us with just a twinkle in their eye as they plot their surprise treasure for their active spouse, parent, offspring or friend. It is an absolute treat to assist these eager shoppers who are lovingly selecting  “the” remarkable gift. We bear witness to true acts of kindness over and over and over.

Perhaps you would imagine frantic, harried and unhappy shoppers during retail’s busiest time of the year… but that is not what we experience. Take the sweet 30-something young man who researched, debated, vacillated and AGONIZED over the selection of the A++ running jacket for his wife. One well-studied hour later, he chose a beautiful Pearl Izumi wind shell. Now that’s love. Or the gentleman and his son who, with my assistance, assembled a winter running “wardrobe” for his wife who, he tells me with enthusiasm and pride, is preparing to run the Boston Marathon in April. And the woman, whose grown daughter recently had her first child and was feeling poorly about her physical fitness… together, we packaged a “return to yoga” outfit to encourage her daughter to take good care of herself while she learns about balancing the demands of parenthood. One final example is the grandma who purchases Smartwool socks for everyone on her gift list every year. She was especially thrilled to see the Smartwool socks for infants… for her newest GREATgrandchildren. She was so sweet; she gave me a hug as she departed. Mrs. Claus?

Gazelle Sports employees often take the time to write a little note to a new customer or when a special relationship develops. However, at the holidays, we are VERY careful not to mention specifics or to not mail a postcard if the gift recipient is in the same household. As your co-conspirator “elves,” we respect the element of surprise!

To all of those gleeful holiday shoppers that we encounter daily, we wish for you year-round happiness. And for those new customers, we invite you back in 2012… perhaps shopping for gear to support your own active lifestyle. I know that I can’t wait to assist you.

Ho, ho, ho!