From setting our clocks forward tonight in most of the USA, to starting the beds for gardens and checking on our hay supplies - the Northern Hemisphere of this world prepares for spring.
In my home of New Mexico, we have had a lot of early winds blowing...
really blowing! I have talked too much about this with friends and on social sites and I have realized how powerfully we experience what we focus upon and obsess over! I read a friend's comment about how she rides her horse in all types of weather so that when they get to a competition (where she has spent a lot of money to participate), he won't be put off guard by wind or rain or snow or what have you. She is wise.
It all made me think about challenges. We all face them. Something that is overwhelming for one person can be a "piece of cake" for someone else. It is like my friend's philosophy about riding in all sorts of weather - we are like the horses. The horses that go out in the wind are not bothered by the wind. When I have to cook for a lot of people, I don't feel stressed because I have cooked for over 50 people.... breakfast, lunch and dinner! (at the organic herb farm commune where I lived a few years back). But, if I had to fly a plane, I'd be in trouble.
Challenges strengthen us. I have had to face days of cancelled lessons - therefore no income - and had to make myself see the big picture of lessons to come. To know that there will be more cash flow is an act of faith in the horse business; Faith in the foundation one has built that cannot be broken apart by some bad weather days and students going on holiday; Faith in the hard work that has pressed one forward to a family of horses and humans working together.
There are business people who believe we should not speak of our hardships or concerns - we should keep our clients bathed in the glorious light of our perfection... personally, I am much more inclined to trust someone with some humility than a person who always tells everyone how wonderful she/he is! I believe we are all wonderful. Animals and people - we are all doing the best we can and all come from our "wells of experiences" to act and react in what are totally appropriate ways, considering what we experience.
Want to change something in your own life or your horse's / dog's life; something about how you react in situations? Then change those experiences entering the "Well" - like drops of water in the well, each experience gathers and determines what is expected in a new situation. If most of the experiences are negative, you will expect something negative in each new situation. Same thing if they are positives!
I am facing this spring with a new attitude. I am looking for every positive thing to reinforce in my experiences. I can train myself to be happy, unconcerned and strong just as my friend trains her horse to be dependable in every type of weather. She and her horse face these things together. I can face my life with my
body, mind and spirit. Even when we feel alone, we never really are. We have our animals and each other and each day that comes to appreciate this fact. We can cherish what is, revel in what was and dream what will be.
Spring forward! Into life and spring forward with your dreams. Mine are simple because I like simple. I will "train" myself to expect the positives.
