Diminutive Dog’s Ambitious Aventura to Find Her TRUE STATE
“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. Stepping out of their comfort zones, they encounter challenges that become catalysts for personal growth, discover the power of embracing change.”
— Publisher of Daily Inspired Life, Karletta Marie
Hola, long hair chihuahua here on my Latin American aventura. Mi nombre era Twinkles.
Now I’m La Princesa!
Look at me lounging on my throne UNLEASHED. This tiny dog doesn’t want to wallow in a lap, I want to learn how to surf. Was chatting with los surfistas. They told me “Dogs don’t surf.” Reply back, dogs don’t get unleashed dude.
These series of ‘tails’ detail my Latin American ‘aventura.’ It empowered me to achieve aspirational goals I never thought possible. A bumpy path to get there though. If it was easy, anybody could do it.
First I had to accept, embrace the ‘case for change.’ Disruptive, certainly uncomfortable. Then realized solidarity was more fulfilling than isolation. Began to shed the confinement that gripped my entire life and replaced it with hope. Experienced a spectrum of events that either built self-confidence, enlightened perspective, furthered my resolve.
For once I felt safe, free, empowered.
And it’s all because I trusted, allowed resources necessary to facilitate the evolution into my life.
My stories celebrate the cornerstones of leadership, change, relationships, perseverance. They’re highly visceral, authentic. You’ll experience a range of emotions from joy to frustration.
‘Tails’ are relatable, memorable, with messages that are actionable. Might you just inspire you to GET UNLEASHED! THINK DIFFERENT, THINK BETTER!
“Choose to Let Go of The Fear and be Open to the New” — Mooji
Don’t like potentially traumatic events especially since I’ve been bunkered down my whole life. Great i got adopted, liberated, but found this outside world intimidating. I had no self-confidence, was afraid.
On that terrifying day, I vowed to put the ‘days of fear’ behind me. Just gonna take one step at a time and got somebody who I can trust to help, guide me. My new Dad.
This was my ‘before,’ and that Chinese gang of two baby shih-tzu more dangerous than you think. I was cowering in fear. Dad was in pasaporte office getting ready for our aventura. He looks out window sees me in a panic and seemingly delighted in my distress.
“Saw your struggles, did you really think you were in danger? No you weren’t. Just wanted to see how you navigated through it.” Oh Dad, it was just another one of your tests.
"The lady in Post Office laughed, even she noted how the situation was far from dire. You need to learn how to conquer your fears. But I understand. Six years you’ve never been outside not to mention have met other dogs. New can be scary.”
You mumbled something about an ‘aventura’ what’s that?
“You’ll find out. It’s time for this puppy to get out of her comfort zone. That was your ‘before.’ It’s time to achieve your ‘after,’ unleash your ‘inner fearless.’ Your new handle will be ‘La Princesa.’”
I like that.
“Don’t Be Too Quick to Interpret the Moment, Just Keep Quiet” — Mooji
We are feeling increasingly more comfortable in our new environment, but never TOO comfortable, heads on a swivel. As our 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.”
Dad takes me to this back alley place in Medellin, Colombia. Can smell hot dogs, Dad, I don’t read so good, translado por favor? As he perched me on the counter for a rare ‘couldn’t be helped’ photo opp, he’s doubling over in laughter.
He translates, “Jajaja Twinkle, in Colombia a ‘chihuahua’ is man’s best friend because it’s a bargain mini hot dog that makes for good eating.”
Oh that makes sense. Gracias dios, Twinkle isn’t comida (food.)
Dad I nervosa, you just darme another test. Meanwhile the Colombianos waiting in line got the ‘broma’ they’re laughing harder than Dad.
“Mira La Gente (the people) Twinkle, they got the joke, the context. The following basic tenets need to be upheld daily: Head on a swivel, hummingbird eyes, never too comfortable puppy. If we don’t do that, we’re not doing it right.”
Dad I like it. You’re really my leader, not my boss.
“Twink, I have a feeling someday soon, you’ll be leading me.”
“Don’t Challenge Yourself to be Brave, Challenge Yourself to be Open and Trust In The Higher Self” — Mooji
I’ve met hundreds of dogs. All but one smaller than me. But I’m bossy, crafty. Survive, thrive using my cute plus an occasional mind-trick. Dad, have you ever been in that situation?
“I’m most certainly not cute but see where you’re going. In the human world the standoffs are typically based ‘the power dynamic’ more than physical size. Key is to start prepared then use agile thinking mixed with a dash of jujitsu.”
We’re in Machu Picchu getting ready for the ascent. “Twinkles go pee.”
Next thing you know turns out I was invading the Big Fella’s turf. It caught the eyes of all around. Fellow tourist turned to Dad, “Aren’t you worried?”
“Nope, she’s fine.”
Dad, I laughed so hard. The big dog thinking, “Wow the tiny Twinkles is willing to defend herself against the mighty me? I don’t want any part of that!”
Damn straight, I won’t back down, I will stand my ground, don’t be pushed around. Oh see that tree Big Fella, I’m gonna pee on it.
Remember the Chinese Gang? Well look at me now. The Latin America UNLEASHED thing worked! Here I am exerting my authority in the face of that mucuchies. He’s 20x my size.
“You know that’s the dog breed of El Libertador Gran Colombia, Simon Bolivar. Nevado was loyal, stood by his dad battle, he won’t back down.”
“Twinkle y tambien, you’re a miniature Nevado. Mark Twain said, ‘It’s not the size of dog in the fight, it’s the size of fight in the dog.’”
Damn straight. Cute, feisty, loyal is a solid combo.
“The Place You Are Looking For is The Place From Which You Are Looking” — Mooji
“This daily life in the LATAM ‘particle accelerator’ was fun now it’s exhausting. Twinkles how do you know when it’s time to move on?”
When stuff that brought joy just doesn’t deliver the satisfaction it once did, the shine starts to wear off. Could be a hobby, a relationship, a job. Just no glimmer of hope, coming to conclusion ‘el mago’ can’t be replicated, resuscitated.
But maybe there’s a Twinkle, a sparkle of hope the passion might still be there. Maybe just needs a different angle, work harder to get the feeling back.
“Or maybe it’s time to move on just like we did. Get Unleashed, take a bit of a leap into the unknown. Scary, potential for huge upside, huge downside.”
“Twinkle, this is the ONLY Gothic church in all South America . Wow look over the mountains, that’s where Colombia’s ‘Coffee Triangle’ starts.’ Did you know that practically all materials used to build this church in early 1900’s were imported from Europe. Put the Colombians in charge it still would be ‘work in process.’”
DAD STOP! You fell back to the stereotyping and I’ve had too many of these ‘Aventura must go on’ sales jobs. We’ve done multitudes of these ascents with ease this one was different, seemed tougher for you. Maybe we need to take foot off the pedal.
Dad we got UNLEASHED. But to be honest it feels like our future growth is being a bit … caged, limited. On our life-threatening trip back from Manizales home to Medellin tomorrow we need to have a talk.
“You’re a girl. Every time a girl said ‘We need to talk,’ it was uncomfortable but usually deserved the scolding. This bachelor been with more than a few girls, none hold a candle to you. Te amo La Princesa.”
Y tambien, nice try on the deflection. I like to chew on bones, your ‘chewing’ is gonna last for a long time tomorrow. You started out disillusioned, now you’re increasingly more delusional. You have to work on the DISSOLUTION OF DELUSIONS.
“Anybody ever tell you look like Yoda young puppy? Starting to think like him for sure.”
“You Can’t Go Home Again”
“Wow three years young dog, we return alive.”
Dad, some of our bar buddies back in Dallas were making a betting book we wouldn’t last three weeks.
“Twinky, odds of us returning in body bags were 5-1. Philosophically whoever took the ‘body bag’ bet should be declared the winner. The spirit, the ‘unwashed’ of Twinkles and Tom have passed on. ‘La Princesa’ and ‘Thombre de Gente’ (Tom, man of the people) have taken their place. We started La Aventura with some serious flaws.”
Sure did Dad, yours were a lot worse than mine. I always hated your impatience, belligerence not to mention the prejudicial closed mindset. Gracias a dios you embraced the spirit of ‘Tranquilo’ y ‘Espero.’
“Yup. Tranquilo means calm, relax, let things come to you. Espero means wait, hope.”
“Recuerda when this folly started Twinkles had ZERO self-confidence. You were leashed, not ‘La Princesa’ we know and love today.”
“Aventura worked out for us both. Remember when I said, ‘Puppy in your new world you will live extraordinary life, become who you were destined to be. Do things you’re not supposed to, do things never thought you could do. Our new home will be uncomfortable, filled with monumental adversity. Good days will be extraordinary, bad days pure agony. We BOTH have to figure it out. Apoyo y Ayude Siempre.”
Yup Dad, our profound change happened because we helped and supported each other forever. But that’s how change will do ya. It’s tough, but the intrepid don’t cower in fear. They ‘GOT THE RESOLVE TO EVOLVE.’ We both have a new, enlightened perspective on everything. We do ‘think different, think better.’
“Corr-ectamundo puppy. In a metaphorical sense, ‘You Can’t Go Home Again. ‘ The guy who wrote that was a ‘Tom,’ last name Wolfe. Had a crazy ex-pat aventura to enlightenment just like us.”
Tom Woof! I like that guy.