DMP – Jean's Master Key Blog

Week 2-9: Manifesting My DMP

My DMP has been manifesting nicely. One aspect is my work with feral cats. If you follow my main blog, you know I’ve been working toward catching Zelda to get her spayed. I know Zelda is the mama cat for Sapphire, Nick, and Daisy. I’ve begun to suspect she’s the mama cat for Walter and Junior. Daisy is from her latest litter, which, based upon game camera photos, was born September 30 (Zelda was absent from the camera that day).

I knew I had to get Zelda captured and in to be spayed before she had yet another litter, but we didn’t want to leave any unweaned kittens. Trying to catch her over Thanksgiving weekend wasn’t going to be good, because my veterinarian and staff were closed to enjoy the holiday. That meant Monday, November 28, was the day to begin in earnest attempting to trap Zelda and Nick.

I put the trap on the porch on Sunday to familiarize them with it. Monday morning, I stepped outside with a newspaper and a can of Fancy Feast, Nick and Zelda’s favorite. Nick and Zelda watched me set up and bait the trap. Zelda started eating her way in but backed out. Nick took her place, and (as I expected) he quickly trapped himself. Zelda watched. I covered the trap and headed for the veterinary clinic. They got Nick captured and checked in for his health check, neutering, and vaccinations. I took the trap and returned home. I walked back onto the porch with the trap and the rest of my can of Fancy Feast. Zelda watched me set it up, then she cautiously began eating, then backed out. She worked her way in and backed out. I went back into the house, and no sooner had I stepped into the parlor than I heard the trap trip. I covered it up and took Zelda to the clinic.

I have never had such an easy time trapping cats as I did yesterday, but it happened just as I’d visualized it.

Later in the afternoon, I saw Boomer on the porch. Was this too good to be true? I’ve been trying to catch this cat for two years, and last month he’d inexplicably began letting me pet him while he ate Fancy Feast. I grabbed a carrier and went outside to pet him while he ate, then I gently but firmly scruffed him and tucked him into the carrier. I took him to the clinic. The sad news is Boomer tested positive for feline leukemia and FIV. I expected this, because this poor kitty had been so clearly ill for some time, so I stayed with him while he was put down.

Nick, thankfully, at six months old, passed his FIV test, was neutered earlier in the afternoon, got his vaccinations, and he was ready to come home. The clinic staff put him into the carrier, and we came home. I released Nick to take care of his little sister last night while I await the fate of Zelda today. Nick and Daisy spent last night with each other on their first night without their mama. It’s mid-afternoon, and I’ve not heard from the clinic yet. I’m operating on the “no news is good news” theory that, since I didn’t have a phone call from them, that Zelda passed her FIV test, too. It could be the clinic got really busy today, and she hasn’t been tested yet, so until I get good news, I’m apprehensive.

I have (had) five cats in my colony. Walter has been neutered for three years and is well. Daisy is too young yet, but she seems healthy. I needed to catch Boomer (already suspecting he wouldn’t make it), Zelda, and Nick. That manifested perfectly yesterday. I now know I have a healthy outdoor cat colony. Walter, Nick, and Daisy for sure. I have high hopes for Zelda. I dearly want her to be able to enjoy her “retirement” from having kittens.

Four is a comfortable size for my immediate neighborhood. There are some down the street who venture to my feeder, and at some point, I may work with the man where these cats live to get them spayed or neutered to stop the explosive growth, but for now, my colony is safe and protected. That had to be my first priority.

Week 30: Belated Update

Last week got away from me! Despite that, I have something small but exciting to report. Several years ago, I tried not eating after 8pm. I found all kinds of reasons to be annoyed by this process. My husband didn’t make dinner in time. This, that, or the other interfered. I mostly complied, but I found the whole process troubling and unsatisfying, and eventually, I quit paying attention to it.

Enter this year, as a Master Keys graduate. I learned a few things from the course. When I decided to redo my Plan of Action card at the course completion, one thing I did was remove things I’d put on there that I wasn’t doing (for a variety of reasons). Having things on my Plan of Action I wasn’t acting on was not sending the right message to Subby. One area of my Definite Major Purpose (DMP) is manifesting well. I felt confident enough to begin working on another area of my DMP. I added “I eat before 8PM” to my card. Notice it is worded in a positive way. We learned in the course that Subby doesn’t understand negatives, so I spoke to Subby in the positive term of what I do.

The first couple weeks, I felt hungry after 8PM, but I kept reminding myself, “I eat before 8PM.” I did not feel anger or deprivation this time. I felt an acceptance of that plan in my head and continued with my activities. After a couple of weeks, I felt less need to remind myself of the plan. In fact, in general, I feel more satisfied. I’m pretty awed by this effect.

Last week, after some contemplating about what the next step in this DMP manifestation should be, I chose to add “I move in the morning” to my Plan of Action card. This has made it easier to get out and get my yard work done in the morning.

Simple.

Positive.

Steps.

I like this.

Week 3 – Puzzles

This week’s Master Keys touch one area I’m in the course to find a solution to.

In the Master Key – Part Three, the second and last paragraph of the intro area cover this.

Eliminate, therefore, any possible tendency to complain of conditions as they have been or as they are, because it rests with you to change them and make them what you would like them to be.

and

When you realize this, you will have found a source of power which will enable you to take care of any situation in life which may develop.

My DMP is approved for now. I’m going to “sit” on it and see how it resonates. Focusing on this week’s Master Keys is going to be helpful, I believe.

Week 2 – Impact

The impact of the course so far has been surprising. While an extraordinary number of things that would ordinarily go smoothly have gone…not smoothly (and I confess I’ve not been as positive about this as I would have preferred), I’ve also experienced a discernible shift in my approach and the results I’m getting in various areas of my life.

I’m getting stirrings of creativity in my dreams. My DMP feels like it’s coming together. My Personal Pivotal Needs (PPNs) were clear – Recognition for Creative Expression and True Health. This helped focus my DMP much more clearly. I submitted the updated DMP last night, and I haven’t heard suggestions from my Guide yet. After I hear back on that, I anticipate a little more refinement. While I was comfortable with the first draft, it wasn’t as focused as this version (version 8 by my count — version 2 for my Guide’s eyes).

I like the directions this course is taking so far.

Week 1 – Progress Report

We’re juggling schedules and preparing to head out on the annual October Trek to Hershey, Pennsylvania. I had a day procedure on my eyelid today (totally in keeping with the 2015 Left Side Makeover — knee replacement, carpal tunnel release, and eyelid growth removed), and my husband had a medical appointment in San Antonio. He’ll have a procedure on the 19th when we get back, so I changed my medical appointment in Temple originally scheduled for that day to a later date (mine was routine). For now, he’s less able to withstand the rigors of that three hour drive, so I’ll be driving him more than I have in the past, and that requires some schedule adjustments.

We’ll take the truck in then to hopefully find out why we have to remain in 4X4 to keep it from grinding. Our research tells us it’s a faulty solenoid. We’ll see what the Lincoln factory-trained technician comes up with. Before we knew putting it into 4X4 stopped the noise, they hadn’t come up with a cause.

Tomorrow, we pack the truck and take the cats to boarding school in anticipation of an early start on Wednesday.

I’ve submitted my DMP first draft (really my fourth draft, but the first draft to see another set of eyes). Two hundred and fifty-six words of a maximum of 400. I believe I’m going to need to add dates and other specifics, but I’ve written it in the present tense as if it’s already my reality, so adding dates seems tricky to me. I’m sure my Guide will provide guidance.

I’ve submitted my survey, and the blog entry is completed. Surveys and blog entries come easily for me. Other aspects of the course are likely to be more challenging, but that’s why I’m taking the course. If I would have figured it out on my own, I wouldn’t be here.

So far, the homework is going well. I can definitely feel the power of it working to kick my Old Blueprint out, and it’s only been a few days. I plan to discuss the course with my husband tonight, if he isn’t too tired after driving back from San Antonio. That will help us with various planning issues we’ll have to manage over the next month. I hope he will be supportive, because, of course, that tends to make things easier. Yes, I was silly to think I could do this course and not discuss it with him, but I feared he would be negative about it, and he may be, but I have to do it. It’s the one piece of homework for this week I haven’t done yet.

Week 1 – Definite Major Purpose (DMP)

While waiting for our first webinar session this afternoon, I did my mid-day reading and worked on my Definite Major Purpose. I had just made notes Friday and Saturday. This afternoon, I found some words I was drawn to in the Scroll. Coupled with the notes I already had, I constructed a first draft of my DMP. One hundred and fifty-one words. We have a four hundred word limit. Not so fast. I have a few areas to address yet, so that will add a few words. I need to had some specifics. And, of course, I don’t have the best choice of words yet, but I am pleased with this beginning.

I believe I’ll get a better feel for what is expected after today’s session. I still have to find the best time and approach for discussing this class with my husband. I’m getting some ideas. I just hope he’s receptive. He surprises me sometimes. And he’s always offended when I doubt him, so that’s something I will get fixed via this course.

Last night’s SIT was a little more challenging. Since I’d been around poison ivy earlier in the day, I took a shower before bed. I must have gotten water in my ears, because while I was sitting there, it felt like some insect had gotten into my ear and was buzzing. I had to clear my ears, and I started over. I finished the second time, but only if I don’t count the two time I peeked at the timer. I will do better. I also found thoughts were not moving through my mind, which did seem to make the time go more slowly.

The course tasks are feeling a little more routine after a couple of days. I expected this to be the case, but it’s encouraging to feel things falling into place.

Week 1 – First Impressions

We have the materials for the first week. Here are my first impressions. As expected, a fire hose effect, but that’s a factor of the newness and the desire to do it right. I’m going to do my best, but some of the honor tasks might not get done right. I’m going to do them one way or another, but it’s going to be strange.

At least blogging is comfortable for me. I was able to SIT last night before bed for the required 15 minutes. I was more still than in my previous meditation attempts, but I read a member’s blog from last year who had some troubles with it because of swallowing? Well, if I have to sit that still, I’m going to have some work to do, but last night was a beginning, and I know there’s much more to this journey.

I’m encountering resistance in the form of technology. My printer is giving me a hard time. All the color cartridges are replaced, but even though the drum has 13% life left, I suspect I will need to replace it, too. I have one. Not a problem. I’ll take care of it next time I go upstairs.

I like the idea of reading Scroll 1 three times a day for 30 days. My initial struggle is going to be reading aloud in the evenings for the next two weeks. We’ll be traveling, and I haven’t told my husband I’m doing this class yet. I see one of the requirements is we discuss this with our family, so I’m going to have to figure out a way to do that. In the past, he’s been quite negative about things similar to this class, but since one reason I’m taking the class is to get my Definite Major Purpose (DMP) right, and he’s part of my DMP, I realize I was silly to think I could do the class and not discuss it with him.

That’s one strong resistance area for me, and that’s a part of my Old Blueprint I’m here to change. See, I’m quite fortunate that many of the reasons other people want this course are not a factor in my life. Money isn’t a problem. Material things are only a problem in that I have too many. I had a comfortable career and was able to retire at 47 — something I never imaged doing in my wildest of dreams until it became closer to reality. My husband and I can and do travel when and where we want. Our homes and vehicles are paid in full.

My relationships with other people are superficial, and I’ve withdrawn from most in person relationships, largely because I retired to a small town where we didn’t know anyone, and all my friends and family are at least 500 miles away. I’m not too concerned about that except where it affects my husband and my parents. Perhaps my siblings. My husband and I have been married 21 years (October 15), and we’ve known one another for 30 years. For the first 14 years of our marriage, we were geographically separated. Learning to live together for the last seven years has been one of the more challenging things I’ve ever done. I don’t think I’ve done a good job. My husband wants to keep me, and I want to keep him, so I need to learn to communicate better with him and be a better wife.

Additionally, I have some health issues that would be improved all the way around if I lost a significant amount of weight — almost half of me.

Finally, I want to write competent fiction to at least self-publish.

The one thing I’ve been passionate about these last five years or so is my cats. I’ve been doing a one person rescue and have eight indoor and four outdoor cats I take care of. I want to expand those passions to my husband, my health, and my fiction.

I’m obsessing a little about the scheduling challenges of Week 2, 3, and 5 for the course due to required travel, but I suspect, as someone says, taking it one day and week at a time, and things will work out.