Life on the farm has changed so much in the last 12 months.
So many changes that have shaped the journey in ways that I would never have guessed were part of the route. Some of those changes had to do with choices. Conscious choices that created the direction and moved the plan forward.
Some of those changes had nothing to do with choices. The choices have come after the change was made. The choice was how the situation was handled and how it was reacted to. So, since I have no idea how this is going end...I am going to try and continue living. I want to exercise my right to choose; to be happy.
I am going to choose to not let the picture I was carrying in my head on how this was supposed to play out screw me up.
I am stepping back and reconnecting to riding by going back to basics. I need to reconnect to the reason I started riding in the first place as a little girl. Horses give me wings to fly. Freedom to love without judgement. Hope to carry me forward.
Erla has come into my life to become a human growth facilitator. She will become a significant piece of my journey in healing and learning courage. She will be a therapist. A mentor. A friend. A master in guiding my personal reflection. A mirror for my growth. She will help me stay grounded and focused on the fact that things that are worthwhile take time. That sitting in awkward and uncomfortable really is OK. It's temporary and it too will pass. It presents a choice to wait and be patient or be anxious with uncertainty.
Erla presents a calm place in the storm of life. I will honour her for her ability to be present, be honest and most of all be authentic.
Here is Erla on our first ride together. From Paddock to Podium!
Running has been ramping up this winter for the Around The Bay Road Race. I have been training on long runs with a group from Burlington on the North Shore hills which are a difficult and significant part of the Bay Race route. There are 7 hills...
Here is the elevation chart from the ATB race accurately described!
As part of my training plan, I ran my first Half Marathon since Sept 2013. The Chilly Half Marathon in Burlington. I stripped 21 minutes from my previous first half marathon time! Running the Chilly in 1:57:46. Felt great to erase that PB from the inspiration board in the gym and replace it with that new time.
Here I am with my running partner Theresa who ran a successful Frosty 5K as her opening race for 2016.
This month also seen new lighting installed in the indoor! Finally after 3 long winters, the crappy dark lighting is gone and the new high bay lighting is completed.
And Stewy made his first journey to the back of the property to the trail through the woods. He was curious and afraid but confident and bold all in the same 45 minutes! It's amazing to watch him learn and discover and see things for the very first time. As he looked back on the barn from the hill part way back to the woods, his eyes were so wide! His heart was pounding. He looked around and I could see from his expression he couldn't believe there was a big world outside of his paddock.
Love this pony! I sure hope he grows into those ears!
And last but of course not least...a huge shout out to one of my very best friends in this world...Reta. Happy 89th Birthday! Love you to the moon and back. xo
What I have learned so far…
We spend a lot of our lives worrying about what hasn't even happened. About what has happened that we can't change. We try to predict the future. We try to figure it all out to somehow cushion the blow. The future is the home of our deepest fears and our wildest dreams. But one thing is for sure…when the future finally reveals itself...its generally not how we imagined it.
