Winter Wonderland Workshop
Here on the east Coast, we did not have a Winter Wonderland for Christmas, instead we had a muddy one!! The warm temperatures and rain has meant lots of mud, the deep, shoe sucking kind! Tall boots are imperative so as to not end up with mud in your boots or worse… the boots getting sucked off and you trip into the mud with your socks!! Of course, I can count it on three fingers how often that has happened, but when it does, it is not fun! Life with horses involves a LOT of different experiences, and being open to all of them is key. As I get older, I appreciate the little things-even if they involve deep mud. I mean, when it happens, I am frustrated, but it sure makes me appreciate when it is dry!! Sometimes, we need a small shift in perspective…
I was preparing to eat one of my favorite fruits, a persimmon. I have found the best place to buy them is in bulk, at Costco. They sell about 9 to a box. This morning, I went to pick one, and I noticed that while most of them were very firm, this one persimmon was softer, more ripe. Yeah, I thought…Unlike the rest, this one is ready to eat. As I picked it up, I turned it over and noticed there was a blemish, a “wound” if you will, on the underside. Because of that wound, that bruising, the persimmon was not only riper, but sweeter as well. WOW. That stopped me in my tracks. It was in the wounding that made the fruit ripen to its utmost sweetness. HMM. Life lesson here?
While we may not enjoy the “wounding” that occurs, the eventual place to get to, I believe, is sweetness. Richness. Delight. Growth. Freedom. We need the wounding to move us to the sweetness. We all know how the greatest challenges we face can be our greatest blessings. It takes a shift in perspective, a noticing, an awareness. It takes time to get there, as well.
This, you probably have figured out by now, is what the horses offer us! Their ability to be present to whatever unfolds is what makes them authentic. They do not try to be authentic, it is how they are!! All the time. I often hear friends say to me; “I am trying to love ______________ (put in a name here) but it is so hard.”
And, I agree with them. It is hard. However, if we learn from the wisdom of the horse, love is not something we do, rather it is who we are.
HUH? Hard to grasp? Then join us this January 7th, from 9:30-4:00 for a winter wonderland workshop! There, we will explore issues of acceptance, non-attachment, love and struggle. The horses, the Master Teachers will be our guide. We even have a REDUCED price point!! Only $200.00 for the day!!! Our holiday gift to you! Contact Mindy or Susan to sign up. Spots are limited.
Come join us for a day of wonder and wisdom! And, I will sure do my best to not allow your boots to slip off in the mud!