Welcome to those of you who may be new.

I started these short “ruminations on life” called White Dog Walks because many of my best ideas came to me while walking my pooch, Sitka. Being a white dog (a husky, German Shepherd, Norwegian Elkhound mix) she is a guardian, spiritual guide, and harbinger of peace according to many cultures around the world. I’m not so sure about that—especially that last one since she is pandemonium on paws—but I do derive a lot comfort and inspiration from having her by my side.

Sitka loves balls and has a large collection of tennis balls we find abandoned at the park. She sometimes has several in the yard at one time and during a play session last week was frustrated and flummoxed over how to “have” all of them in her mouth at one time. She grabbed one, coveted the other a few inches away, dropped that ball to grab the new one, and on and on. Unlike some retrievers, she can’t stuff several in her mouth at one time!

This behavior of fixating on the next best thing and thereby abandoning what you already have put me in mind of similar human behavior. Myself included. I have a habit of setting goals and lusting after the next big thing when I haven’t taken the time to enjoy or show gratitude for what I’ve got already. Achievements aren’t celebrated for long before I’m lamenting my lack of progress toward the “next best thing.” Over the years with the benefit of hindsight and maturity, I’ve gotten a lot better, but I still catch myself jumping ahead and wanting more instead of working with what I have.

This “next best thing” pathology shows up in my author career as well. I run around trying to learn every mode of marketing, attempting to keep up on all social media platforms, and write the type of novel that is hot and selling. Stupid? Of course it is. There is nothing wrong with exploring and learning new things or trying out new genres to see if you “fit,” but is another thing to chase a trend that may be gone before you get any return on investment.

This whirlwind approach to be a people pleaser or to “do what everyone else is doing” is exhausting not just as an author, but in all aspects of life. It is far better to find what you have a passion for, what you enjoy, and dig into that. Whether it’s love or career or a hobby, if you love what you’re doing, “your people” will find you.

I think Sitka learned that as well, because she abandoned the bright green fuzzy tennis balls for her old tried and true favorite one that is “half naked” and cracked. She brought it into the garage for me to place it on the shelf for safe keeping. She left the others in the yard for the foxes to steal.

Have you every spread yourself to thin, chasing down every lead, trend, or opportunity only to lose who you are in the process? Please feel free to share your experience in the comments.