Absence makes the heart grow
fonder. - Proverb
What a time this is!
I’ve
been deliberating over what to write about, and when…hoping for clarity or conviction…waiting
for the dust to settle, so that ideas might be received as intended. Adjusting
to a slower pace. Yearning for momentum again. Facing our surreal reality, and
managing its effects.
Reflecting,
reorganizing, receiving. Knowing the fullness in the space.
I
turned 40 the day things shut down here in Maryland. It was such a beautiful
day outside. Since then, sentiments around “distancing” have flooded our collective consciousness.
It is easy to feel agitated, or restless, or stuck. It’s natural to feel
lonely. It’s okay to be afraid.
In
the midst of this turmoil, we have been given the gift of renewal. It may not
be pretty (in fact, we all know it won’t). But our future depends on how we
choose to handle discomfort. What is mine? What is yours? What is ours to
share?
The
only truth within uncertainty is love. The only way to find it is through
connection.
We
connect most deeply with each other during times of vulnerability and surrender.
We can meet in places even more beautiful than our imaginations can paint.
Many of you have expressed to me the heartache you feel, in being separated from your
horses. What is it that you miss? Environment and routine? Camaraderie?
Physicality and pursuit? Sensory experiences? Sure, yes. All of the above.
But
what we miss the most is what we love
the most: a union built on trust and reinforced through reciprocation; needs
met through honest communication; authenticity; affection; strength and freedom;
tenderness and beauty.
We
may feel fragile and helpless, but we are alive and resilient. We have the
chance now to honor every moment.
We
can gaze at our fears as we would into the eyes of our horses. We can cradle
our anger as we would their heads in our arms. We can speak to each other as we
would to them: softly, gently, with adoring words of gratitude. And we should.
Horses
are prey animals that dance gracefully to a predator’s tune, simply because
they are patient and brave enough to listen.
Perhaps our greatest tribute to them, until we meet again, is to live like that ourselves. ❤
Perhaps our greatest tribute to them, until we meet again, is to live like that ourselves. ❤