A Special Day

With so many sad things happening this year – most recently the loss of Cabana Boy – it seems natural to evaluate where you are and where you are going.  I believe it is important to allow yourself to feel the sadness and know that it takes time for these feelings to dissipate.  I believe that it is also important to be grateful for each day and be mindful of your own role in the world.  I sometimes find this hard to remember when in the midst of day-to-day craziness, but then something happens to remind me of what life is truly all about.

This week provided me one of those days when ‘something happens’ that completely places life’s meaningful aspects into focus.  Actually, there were a couple of poignant moments that have caused me to think about it all through the evening.  

The first was this past Monday morning while riding in the outdoor arena.  A man who worked at picking up recycling materials for the county stopped by the road to watch me ride.  He watched for a while and, when I finished, got out of his truck to talk with me.  He told me that he had seen me riding before, and had been fortunate enough to visit a neighboring farm this past weekend with his family to meet the horses.  He told me how amazed and how comfortable he was when he actually got to meet them.  He realized what incredible animals they are – how loveable, sensitive, powerful and intelligent they are – in addition to being beautiful.   He said that when he watched me ride, he saw how proud and powerful my horse was, and realized what a special connection I must have with a horse to perform as we did.   He went on to tell me how thankful he was that he took his family out on Sunday afternoon, instead of staying at their house.  He said the journey to the farm, particularly connecting with the horses, brought his family closer together.  He then thanked me for doing what I do, and said that he is going to continue to take his family out in nature like this so that they can get closer together.  I could only reply that yes, horses do heal your heart.

I was just stunned – this man and his family ‘got it’ – this county worker who drives by the farm every week actually got the essence of horses simply by watching their beauty – and it made a positive impact on his family.  And for these moments, it is all worth it.

But not only did I have this one moment on Monday; I was fortunate enough to have yet another instance to appreciate the beauty of horses, nature, and music.   In the early evening hours, I was warming up to practice my freestyle.  The sun was starting to set, and it was a very quiet time of day.  While I was riding, the Maddlones put on a piece of music that I had never heard before; it was the most beautiful music I had heard in a long time.  As I was riding with the sun going down, hearing beautiful music, and sharing this idyllic moment with friends, I felt so fortunate and grateful to be doing what I do.

For the rest of the day and evening, I was in such a better place – thanks to those two, simple experiences.  They were moments that I wanted to share with you in the hopes that, as you ride on those special days, you will take a minute to realize the magic and blessings they contain on so many levels.