I am not ONLY a Chihuahua

On August 8, I took my pup to Cape Falcon for an incredible hike on the coast of Northern Oregon. It was a very popular hike, so naturally we ran into a lot of strangers. A shocking number of them mistook Ruby for a Chihuahua. “What a cute Chihuahua!” “Oh, look at that Chihuahua.” “Is she Chihuahua?” “Ohhhhh, a Chi-weenie!!!” 

While Ruby does have some Chihuahua in her (about 9% according to her DNA results), it really only makes up a very small part of who she is. No one called her an Australian Cattle Dog, Mini Schnauzer, Mini Pinscher, Pitbull, or Poodle, all of which she is more of than a Chihuahua. Or a Chow-Chow, Collie, German Shepard, or Lab, all of which is slightly less than Chihuahua in her lineup of dog breeds. For whatever reason, that day, on the 2026 Lionsgate Portal, in coastal Oregon, she was mistaken for a Chihuahua. 

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It really got me thinking about all the things that I am that make me unique and special. Just like Ruby’s DNA report provided percentages of all her breeds, I became curious about what percentages of each trait, characteristic, or attribute make up me. I am kind, loving, thoughtful, passionate, snuggly, driven, present, available, nurturing, responsible, loyal, fun, nerdy… I could go on and on. I can also be bossy, argumentative, stubborn, competitive, confusing, unsure, scared, controlling, and lots of other qualities that perhaps I’m less proud of or less vocal about on social media. I may not admire all those not-so-great features, but they still make me “me”. Therefore, I still love those parts, because I love all of myself. 

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I love my stubbornness, my competitiveness, my drive to succeed. I love that I can step in and take control, even if I prefer not to. I even love that scared little girl who’s uncertain and maybe gets confused when she communicates, or stumbles on her words, or accidentally asks a question when really she meant to make a statement. I see all those parts in me and I love them ALL. 

But, I try not to focus on those, because I know that where our attention goes, the energy grows. So, instead, I focus on the parts of me that are the forest faerie that emits a calming frequency all around her, the nurturer that holds space for others to heal, the giver who enjoys helping, the cheerleader that roots on her friends. I try to emphasize the peacemaker, the lover, and the incredibly caring person who wants everyone to experience immense joy daily. It doesn’t mean that those not-so-great characteristics aren’t there… or aren’t loveable, but I don’t feel as close to my best self when those not-so-great qualities  are in the driver seat, or are front and center. 

I see ALL of me, and I love every piece. 

But what do others see? Those people hiking that day only saw Ruby’s Chihuahua. I began to wonder if strangers see my stubborn nature or my flexibility to adapt and go with the flow? Do friends see my competitive streak or my desire to make everyone feel included? Would colleagues see my bossiness or my passionate drive? In many ways, it’s a choice to see specific parts of people in our lives. We get to decide if we want to focus on the not-so-great parts and build resentment or intolerance or annoyance. Or, we can focus on what we love about each other, what gives us the warm fuzzies, what lights us up when we look into another's eyes. And when we see those amazing qualities, we watch our loved ones flourish! 

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I want to purposefully surround myself with people who see my light and who want to help me shine as brightly as I possibly can. I want my friends to be able to gently point out when selfish-bossy-controlling-impatient-competitive Dannie is showing, but to also help bring out joyful-delightful-easygoing-giving Dannie. 

I don’t want to feel criticized, wrong, sorry, or guilty about all the parts that make me up, those parts I may not be too proud of, but are still so very loveable. I’m committed to growth and to evolution and to personal betterment. But, if the same person continues to only see my Chihuahua, when really that’s only 9% of my entire Being, then I need to assess how much to invest in that friendship or connection. In this phase of my life, I want to call in new relationships, or give my attention to growing existing relationships with people who see and extract the parts of me that I want to nurture and expand. 

Sure, I am human and also a Goddess, just like everyone else. My human shows that egoic demanding selfish little girl, just like Ruby’s Chihuahua shows too. I’d prefer surrounding myself with those that help the Goddess grow, who see all the parts of me that I am so proud of, all the percentages of my Being that I’m ready to fully step into and to lean into completely. Whether that’s friendships, romantic relationships, or co-workers, I’m am intentional with who I invest my time, energy, and love into, I prioritize those that see my light, encourage me to shine even brighter, and who motivate me to leave it on maximum brightness. 

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Journal prompts:

• Make a list of all your qualities and attributes that make up who you are. Which ones are you proud of? Which ones are you not-so-proud of?

• Do you love every part of you? Which characteristics are harder to love? Why?

• Make a list of relationships in your life that help shine a light on the parts of you that you love. What feelings and emotions arise when you spend time with them? How can you invest in those connections even more? 

• Make a list of anyone in your life that mostly points out the parts of you that you aren’t as proud of. What feelings and emotions arise when you spend time with them? Can you divest your energy or set boundaries to help protect your light?