Day 236

1/6/23

Once again, Ranger was a TV star this morning! QCTV invited me (and Jimmy) to do a cooking show in the absence of the usual host, so I told them I would do it if I could make dog treats and bring a Therapy Dog! They were beyond happy!

Ranger, Jimmy and I (Mac too) headed over to the studio and the cameras rolled! As an actor, Jimmy loves the limelight! Ranger has no trouble looking great on camera, but I am always a bit anxious when it's time to face the floodlights!

Stepping outside of my comfort zone has always been a challenge for me. I may look cool, calm and collected, but inside it is a different story. Throughout my life, there have been many "opportunities" that have stretched this Minnesota Girl to the max. Some have been professional challenges (speaking to an audience of hundreds at the University of Minnesota) while others have been personal (snorkeling among the turtles and possible sharks in Hawaii).

Looking back on the times I have actually pushed myself to do something I wasn't sure I could do, I realized something. True and exponential growth occurred every time I took the leap! I found strength and self-respect after every experience where I confronted a true hurdle in life.

I also discovered that these "opportunities" became building blocks for future challenges. Each time I pushed myself to the edge of my comfort zone, that "edge" became more stable and larger under my trembling feet. Eventually, that zone expanded and I found myself more comfortable with events that would have made me run the other way in the past.

So today, even though I had some trepidation, I walked on the set with confidence, my son and my Golden. If my confidence gave way, I knew I had Jimmy, my partner in crime, and also one of the best Therapy Dogs around!

When the episode airs, I will let everyone know. In the meantime, I am off to watch a Hallmark movie with Mac, the pups and a bowl of popcorn...well within my "comfort zone"!