disillusioned Duo’s AventurA To Redemption
A heartwarming story based in Medellin, Colombia of a man and his new bestie sharing an immersive experience, embracing discomfort and relishing the unpredictability of a foreign culture.
They continuously sought challenges, experiences that would inspire them to THINK DIFFERENT, THINK BETTER.”
— Publisher of Daily Inspired Life
New findings from Michigan State University PROVES dog’s and their human’s personalities can start to mirror each other over time.” Can this really be true?
What you’ll learn
A serendipitous source of external stimulous isn’t sufficient to activate motivation.
Turning potential energy into kinetic energy requires an ‘open, ready, and anxious’ for change mindset.
Maybe just one simple yet bold act could be the ‘tinder’ to get the flywheel started.
Now that the flywheel is churning are you satisfied to just keep it going, or do you want to accelerate it?
With tailwinds howling, let’s create an energizing ‘manifesto’ to start the sparks flying.
Let’s dial up discomfort ‘to eleven.’
With brash confidence, let’s dare to do ‘things’
Let’s celebrate the journey in every moment, all the goods and bads TOGETHER.
And reflect on how WE learned to ‘Think Different, Think Better!’
Why Am I So Fearful of Change?
Tom enjoyed a 25+year professional career loaded with affluence, entitlement. Then decided to take a ‘sabbatical.’ Removed from what brought him self-worth, joy a deep depression began to slowly engulf him. A seemingly justifiable decision had him on the verge of emotional bankruptcy.
Feeling cornered, Tom knew he needed to change but was powerless to do so.
Then a ripple in the universe. The ex-sister-in-law calls, “There’s a problem with my sister, ya gotta get Twinkles, quick!”
Given their prior encounters Tom and the dog, a 2-kg, 6-yr old chihuahua shared feelings of mutual indifference.They were constrasting personalities, ‘Tirade Tom’ v. ‘Timid Twinkles’ and no budging. In some ways they were mirror images: Ok on the outside, but they both were miserable on the inside. Such a shame, both loaded with so much potential.
Slowly the embargo began to soften, but an impasse remained. Tom hoped Twinkles presence alone would be the ‘external motivator’ but that strategy wasn’t working. Maybe it was because Tom wasn’t trying.
Maybe external motivation was waiting for a second chance. Maybe it needed to be candy-coated in something that brings him joy. One of his favorite movies perhaps.
Tom was in his normal vegetative afternoon rountine flipping the channels, WHAT?? ‘THE JERK’S ON!!! He must have seen that movie a hundred times, but today something was different, a certain scene resonnated like never before. It evoked a visceral reaction. It related to his life situation IN THAT MOMENT.
Not surprisingly it was the iconic scene where Steve Martin drags his newly adopted dog Shithead out the door to go for his first walk. To say the dog was doing it against its will was an understantment.
Inspired, he worked up the courage to take Twinkles for her first walk. Uncomfortable for all, but that would be their ‘success formula.’ And that day everything changed. Tom quickly realized that Twinkles might just be external force to get his flywheel going after all. And vice versa.
Collar on, he dragged her out the door only to be met with downward dog, matador pose. Got serious when cobra pose emerges. “Sorry dog, you do not have a choice, it’s for your own good. And my good too.”
An external motivational force was present. But nothing was happening. Their flywheel could’t start until internal motivation, a courage to embrace disruption entered the scene. That force turned their potential engergy into the kinectic energy of taking the dog for a walk.
As her confidence grew, she felt safe, knew somebody there to help. Tom and Twinkles continued their walks together. Twinkles' progress was remarkable. With each outing she became more comfortable, more curious, and less fearful. Tom was there every step of the way, offering her encouragement and support.
‘Apoyo y Ayuda Siempre’ (help and support forever) would be their foundation. Seemingly, the small successes in their albeit brief history were subliminally attributed to the presence of their new bestie.
The duo needed each other to unleash the capabilities that lied dormant their entire lives.
They would embark on a journey of courage, discovering that sometimes, the smallest steps could lead to the most significant transformations.Tom and Twinkles were no longer just owner and pet; they were inseparable companions, ready to face the world together.
The new besties had discovered a powerful growth formula (growth through change to keep the flywheel going) and began to contemplate an audacious challenge. Tom proposed a manifesto …
“Let’s shatter some prejudices, live on adrenaline and curiosity, embrace daily variability and surprises. Go someplace that most are afraid to go, learn to accept and embrace not just an unfamiliar language, also an unfamiliar culture.”
“Be subject to a high level of scrutiny, gradually break down barriers to acceptance and defy perceptions. A tall task, destined for failure but it could be the ultimate catalyst to elevate our game.”
We Will Do Daring Things
Do something you didn’t want to do
Do something you never imagined you could do
Do something you weren’t supposed to do
And TOGETHER WE WILL DO INCREDIBLE THINGS!!!
And so ‘Mission Impossible’ begins.
Is This a Dangerous Situation, or an Opportunity to Engage, Learn?
As they went through immigration at Jose Cordova Airport, Medellin body language is checked with equal scrutiny as your credentials. Same too as you enter customs. Especially with dog! Tom ‘El Jefe de perrita paquena was shaking from top to tail. They were immediately greeted with the frustrations of a radically different new home. Tom realized it’s ok to be nervous inside, but must maintain a presence of confidence on the outside.
Forms, delays, lines, and general confusion will be daily ritual. The pomp, the privilege, prestige they once enjoyed immediately evaporated. The “power of regret” sets in on all levels. They had a comfortable life, Why leave for the the allure of a risky unknown? Tom sighed, “Twinkles this will be tougher than thought, but this is our destiny tiny dog.”
Meanwhile their old Dallas friends, knowing Tom’s prickly demeanor, questioned their long term abilities to thrive in a less predictable, less comfortable environment. Most bets had them returning in three weeks. Many of them parlayed that with ‘and return in a body bag.’
But could the folly of La Aventura in fact be an opportunity for personal transcendence? An opportunity for not just fun and games but also growth and redemption? One thing become immediately clear.
Tirade Tom must become ‘Tranquilo Tom. Relax, go with the flow, read the room, accept the beauty of imperfections.
Timid Twinkles has an opportunity to become ‘La Princesa.’ Tiny yet ‘large and in charge.’
Their first day in Medellin, a city with shrouded by a sordid past, there was a palpable sense of fear. Paralyzed, afraid to even walk out the hotel door. But they resolved not to let fear govern their lives. The ‘gringo freaks’ figured that when facing the torrent of change, just fall back to what brings joy, happiness. “Vamos Twinkles, ir a parque.” A walk in the park was their simple paradise and on this serendipitous day they would learn a lesson critical to their integration.
And ironically, doing somehting IN their comfort zone they would discover a skill to get them OUT of their comfort zone.
Enjoying a bucolic stroll through one of Medellin’s glorious parks, two curious Colombianas spotted them and were captivated by the tiny dog. They asked, “Como se nombre de la perrita?” Tom replied, “Twinkles,” which was met by thorough confusion. There is no ‘kulz’ sound in Spanish. Thinking quick, Tom told them “Her name is Twinkle, como se ‘brilla estrella.’”
Expressions on their faces simply priceless, then they started singing (in Spanish) “Twinkle, Twinkle little star.” Gringo SPOKE the Spanish language but realized that in finding a commonality, something as simple as a universally known lullaby, was the ‘common denominator’ to effectively COMMUNICATE the language. And spread joy.
The grey-haired gringo hauling his diminuative dog in a pink bag started feeling increasingly more comfortable in their unfamiliar environment. Slowly, deliberately they began to ‘expand their paw print’ pushing the bounds of their ‘exploratory radius.’ That strategy never allowed them to get TOO comfortable. As their fellow foreign adventurer Ted Lasso said,
“Taking on a challenge is a lot like riding a horse, if you’re too comfortable you’re not doing it right.”
They ventured to Comuna 13, Medellin, poorest area in town, once basecamp of notorious narco Pablo Escobar. He made a significant financial investment to repair this broken barrio and in doing so defied perceptions.
So in the spirit of defying perceptions, the gringos proceeded to a back alley which had a series of small store-front restaurants, take out only. They super-naturally gravitated to a place where hot dogs were the featured item. But not your usual hot dog, rather a tiny value-priced hot dog with an amazingly coincidental name.
The sign said, ‘Chihuahuas, el mejor amigo del hombre. De venta aqui.’
“Well, Twinkles, Chihuahuas are in fact man’s best friend. They look delicious and I’m hungry, let’s go see what ‘man’s best friend tastes like!”
He perched the chihuahua Twinkles on the counter right next to the sign. Despite Twinkle having no idea what was going on, she looked nervous. As they snapped a pic, the entire crowd of amigos, ‘La Gente’ (the ordinary people) got the joke and were laughing their ‘colas’ off almost as if to say, “We like these gringos.”
They learned to understand the root of prejudices —What you look like, how you act, dialect in which you talk. Then developed a formula to defy them.
Be likeable, relatable, authentic; spread joy
Adopt a mindset of curious-courteous
Seek to understand, slowly adapt to social and cultural norms
Realize you’ll never be fully ‘adopted’
Reflect on setbacks
Maintain positive attitude, sometimes ‘executing it right’ still might not work
Time to reflect on a this day’s roller-coaster of drama .. is this our new normal? They came to grips with the reality. They’re living in a very unpredictable, highly variable new world. They’ve never remotely seen anything like this.
“Hopefully tiny one, the countless daring interactions will spread joy could possibly inspire everybody to re-think the way they think, Twink.” Tom looked down in concern and mumbled, “Or something really bad might happen.”
Fasten those seat belts.
“Don’t Challenge Yourself to be Brave, Challenge Yourself to be Open and Trust In The Higher Self”
The wisdom of Mooji!
As Tom became increasingly more confident, convinced of his Latin American ‘success formula,’ he began pushing the bounds of La Aventura envelope beyond belief. And his faithful companion, Twinkles the dog, was forever by his side seemingly mirroring her Dad’s boldness.
After a 24-hour trek from Colombia to Peru they arrive in Machu Picchu. Tom knew no dogs allowed into the Sacred City. It was a colossal risk. All that time, money and effort could dissolve with a minor hiccup. It defined ‘All duck, no dinner.’
If dog couldn’t enter, everything would be wasted. But they took a risk, had a plan.
As they prepared to leave the hotel early that morning, Twinkles noticed there was some all too familiar behavior. The tiny dog was a veteran of covert ops. As she saw her dad Tom assembling the ‘cloaking materials,' she thought, “Here we go again, another ‘NO DOGS ALLOWED.’ Snoopy’s my leader and hero. He inspired me to take a ‘no more prejudicial dogshit’ attitude.”
“All this dog-crimination does is solidify my desire to prove their rules of injustice wrong! I do belong here and when I’m here I’ll deliver joy.”
As they ventured into Machu Picchu town square, Tom delivers the familiar phrase, “Twinkles go pee.”
In doing so she found herself face to face with a local dog, a daunting yet curious Peruvian canine. The same breed as Simon Bolivar's faithful companion Nevado. The giant dog was forever by El Libertador’s side in battle. Nevado’s descendant, an equally Big Fella bore the proud heritage of Bolivar’s nobility and it showed in his demeanor.
Unimpressed, Twinkles, informs Nevado Jr, “I am La Princesa, nobility right there with ya.” She then has audacity to pee on the Big Fella’s turf. As on-lookers expressed concern for her safety, Tom chuckled, assured them, “Nope she’s fine.”
Twinkles had evolved from a place of fear and uncertainty to a point where she could brazenly interact with a dog more than thirty times her size.
Transformation complete.
As the Tiny One showed Nevado Jr. who’s the new boss bitch in town, Twinkles said, “Damn straight, I won’t back down, I will stand my ground, don’t be pushed around.”
With one of the Seven Wonders of The Modern World looming in the background, Tom and Twinkles were ready to take what seemingly would be the final leg of their adventure, united in their determination to explore Sacred City.
That would be the ultimate place to celebrate the victories, both big and small, that had brought them to this extraordinary miracle. A true capstone to achieve redemption.
On the wicked bus ascent, first step in the entrance to Sacred, City Tom laughed, “The legend Mark Twain once said ‘It’s not the size of dog in the fight, it’s the size of fight in the dog.’”
Twinkles confidently replied, “Damn straight. Cute, feisty, loyal is a solid combo.”
Goal Accomplished: THINK DIFFERENT, THINK BETTER!
After the three most adventurous, frustrating, fulfilling years of our lives they returned to America. ‘Tirade Tom’ and ‘Timid Twinkles’ didn’t make the trip. Instead they were replaced by ‘Tranquilo Tom’ (more patient, empathetic) and ‘Twinkle La Princesa’ (more confident, intrepid.)
They both proclaimed, “We did things we didn’t want to do (go for a dog walk), weren’t supposed to do (get dog into Sacred City), never imagined could do (assimilate into Latin culture), and TOGETHER we celebrate the joy of doing incredible things!”
WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM THIS MOTIVATIONAL ‘AVENTURA’
#1 Change is scary but can be scary good. Growth begins where comfort ends. While initially challenging, discomfort often brings unexpected opportunities for personal growth & development.
#2 When you want to take a significant step to improve your life, embody the person you aspire to be (the person you are, without the weight of your fears) stand confident and take the first step into your authenticity.
#3 Laughter speaks universally. Find common ground and use your smile and sense of humor to bridge divides and create genuine connections.
HOW TO TURN THIS MOTIVATIONAL STORY INTO ACTIONABLE STEPS FOR LIFE
#1 Step out of your comfort zone. This week engage in at least one new activity that slightly pushes your comfort boundaries. This could be something as simple as speaking up on a topic you feel passionate about, trying a new craft, taking a different route to your regular routine, exploring a new genre of music, or going somewhere new where you'll meet different people. Reflect in your journal on how this new experience made you feel, any initial discomfort, and any positive outcomes or insights gained from stepping out of your comfort zone.
#2 Visualization and Confidence Journaling: This week spend 10 minutes each morning visualizing yourself as the confident and authentic person you aspire to be. Journal about the visualization experience, including the feelings, thoughts, and any mental obstacles that arise. Then, set a practical goal for the day that aligns with this envisioned version of yourself. Reflect on your progress each evening, noting any changes in behavior or mindset throughout the day.
#3 Reflect on the Role of Laughter and Humor: Take time to reflect on significant instances in your life where laughter has played a role in bridging divides or getting through challenging situations. Recall a specific memory that brings a smile to your face or a situation where laughter helped create a sense of connection. Journal about the memory, the people involved, and the impact it had on your overall well-being. Reflect on how this memory highlights the power of humor in fostering genuine connections and overcoming obstacles in life.
‘Ayuda y Apoyo Siempre’
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