Maintaining

Dec 112009
 

Gratitude creates it’s own attitude. It can give you a new perspective, a new focus. I am going to use this day as my opportunity to see those things.

The road onwards ... © 2009, Simrat Khaslsa

The road onwards ... © 2009, Simrat Khaslsa

By waiting to post my Thankful Thursday this week, I am able to share this with you. A guest blogger on The Pony Expression has asked a group of excellent questions. The pertinent one for me is… How do we maintain gratitude? At first, when new experiences of consciousness are felt, there is a rush of wonderment and it’s not too hard to be grateful for that. But what about when these come daily and become more part of the norm? That for me, is the challenge and one of the reasons that I started Thankful Thursday almost a year ago, January 15th.

As things have progressed for me, my challenge is not becoming complacent and taking my awareness for granted. You know how wonderful the flush of excitement is when you have a realization or an incredible meditative experience or other epiphany? What then happens when these come daily and the moments of wonder start to become connected into a continuous stream?

I want to share a second post from The Pony Expression, by my friend, Susan. I think that many of us now are being called to offer a space of healing to others. For some, like me, who are not already in a healing profession … we have to figure out what form that will take. For me, will it be a formal modality or just holding a space for others to find their way? Or will I manifest my vision to train horses as my contribution to conscious life? I don’t know yet…

I started Thankful Thursday nearly a year ago specifically to retain that wonder and to acknowledge it. I want to thank all those who have joined me on this journey. It is inspiring and also humbling to see this blossoming and expanding outwards.

Thank you all.

Take a few minutes today to create your own Thankful Thursday.

How:

  • Sit back and consider what you have to be thankful for. Listing three to five things is nice, but one will do.
  • Post about gratitude on your blog. If you don’t have your own blog, go ahead and write about what you are thankful for in the comments here instead.
  • If you blog, please link back here or leave a comment.
  • Feel free to tag other bloggers, if you like to do that, but it’s not necessary. This is not a meme that obligates you to do anything, but look for gratitude. Oh, and link back, and comment, that’s all I ask.
    • Visit these other blogs that often participate in Thankful Thursday:

  • Tired Dog Ranch
  • Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch
  • Earth Dancer Spanish Mustangs
  • The Pony Expression
  • From the Horse’s Back

    • December & a change of plans

    Dec 052009
     

    I had planned to ride Lily three to four times per week and work Vinnie twice a week, including some arena work, both under saddle and in long lines for both of them. I was considering doing a trace clip on Lily, so we could continue conditioning towards endurance next year and the possible blanketing changes that might entail.

    Well, other plans were in store for me. For those who don’t know me on FaceBook or the SM message boards, my back was tender last week after lifting some hay bales and last Sunday at the OHC trail course, it really did go out. I’ve been down resting and taking painkillers all of last week and missed quite a bit of work. I also missed writing my Thankful Thursday post, as I was in a mental fog.

    “Getting old is not for sissies.” ~~ Bette Davis

    After resting and a couple of chiropractic adjustments, my back is better today. I am mobile and not taking painkillers any longer. The trick for me now, will be to take it easy and come back to activity slowly. I need to start walking regularly, stretching and doing some non-horse related exercise. I am also considering taking the month off from riding. That is hard for me to think about. I’ve been pushing to spend every daylight opportunity in the saddle.

    If I am not going to ride for a month, what to do with the horses? They are getting their stalls cleaned now, so I don’t even have a reason to go see them every day. All I have to do for them is make sure that their daily feed bags are made up and stocked. Other than that, they really would be fine to just hang out. But would they get bored?

    Do horses get bored? Lily and Vinnie have a small paddock of about 1/3 acre to themselves. They have water, a tiny bit of grass and three trees, along with their breakfast hay out there. I can tell that they use the two smaller trees to scratch on. I found black hairs from Lily the other day, coated in ice. I wish that I had had my camera. It was quite interesting.

    Anyway, I usually feel that I need to do something with them. To keep moving their training forward somehow; Lily getting back into shape and Vinnie with his basic ridden work. Then I remembered a day when my children came out and played with Vinnie. Neither of them are knowledgeable in traditional horsemanship. And they had fun and taught him things anyway. He learned quite quickly to push a barrel with his head. And they had fun playing with him and the hula hoop. It is good to remember that sometimes, it is worthwhile just exploring with the horse and not fitting him or her into a ‘program’ or a plan. They don’t make plans. Why do I?



    I know that I could teach them some tricks. But then again, what about just being with them? I haven’t taken much time with that recently. And I do miss it. I think that Lily, at least, does too. I guess I will just take this month one day at a time and try having no goals. How about that? I think that I will take some toys and props out there though… and see what happens.

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