I'm going to steal that from Johnathan Larson, because there is no better way to put that apt truth.
I know I have hinted, but not explained but some things I just feel are not appropriate or relevant to this blog. But there are a lot of very bad things going on in my life right now, affecting people that I love very much, and they are things that are impossible for anyone to deal with. (The horses are fine and I am no more injured than I was a year ago) I pour everything I have into Encore and Solo, physically and emotionally because right now, that is the only way I can cope. It is true that, when you boil it down, life is surviving one thing after another, until the thing that kills you.
However, the reason I am writing this sobering post is to tell you with deadly seriousness, from where I am sitting right now, today is all you get.
It's a philosophy I have always lived by, but now it has become very VERY real to me. In one whispered word, one simple moment, your future, your plans, your hope, anything, can be taken away from you in ways that you never even thought of. It's like carrying a tray full of promise and then, with no explanation, your hands suddenly stop working and the tray falls to the floor, shattering into a thousand shards of loss.
In no way am I saying that you should live in fear -- nothing lasts forever, we know everything has its end, but we should not dwell in terror of the end. I am not trying to depress you or worry you. Rather, I am saying, reminding, relish your today. And if you have an opportunity, take it. Because tomorrow, next week, next month, four hours from now, your world can tilt on its axis and change everything.
People often tell me that I am crazy because I'm broke, but I have two horses and I compete (which would not be possible without the help of my amazing mother). They tell me I should save my money, be more prudent, just wait until later.
But I am taking my opportunity now. There is one thing, one passion that I know fulfills me and that I want to pursue more than anything. And I am going to do it every second I have the chance to, to the limit of my abilities. Because that opportunity may not exist next month or next year or in ten years, for physical reasons, for more reasons I can't dream up. That's why, even when I have a not-so-great ride, I still untack my horse, pat his face, feed him a treat, and treasure his warm presence that day.
When I took Solo to his first event clinic 3 or 4 years ago, my SO was with us and snapping his usual 500 pictures a day. I turned to him and said, "You know, you don't really have to take pictures of us just walking around." A woman I didn't know was riding nearby and she turned to me and said, "You never know which ride is your last one."
Those words hit me like a brick and have stuck with me every time I get on my horse, and recent events have reminded me with crashing force that you can lose your plans in an instant that you never saw coming. All I am saying is....
Treasure your today with everything you have in you. Even if it's not the perfect ride you wanted or the score was lower than you shot for or you didn't jump as high as you wanted or even if it is a non-horsey thing....treasure the moments with your partner and treasure the time you spent doing what you love. Time is yours to waste or use. Never put that opportunity on a shelf for later, it is yours to make it happen now.
I know I have hinted, but not explained but some things I just feel are not appropriate or relevant to this blog. But there are a lot of very bad things going on in my life right now, affecting people that I love very much, and they are things that are impossible for anyone to deal with. (The horses are fine and I am no more injured than I was a year ago) I pour everything I have into Encore and Solo, physically and emotionally because right now, that is the only way I can cope. It is true that, when you boil it down, life is surviving one thing after another, until the thing that kills you.
However, the reason I am writing this sobering post is to tell you with deadly seriousness, from where I am sitting right now, today is all you get.
It's a philosophy I have always lived by, but now it has become very VERY real to me. In one whispered word, one simple moment, your future, your plans, your hope, anything, can be taken away from you in ways that you never even thought of. It's like carrying a tray full of promise and then, with no explanation, your hands suddenly stop working and the tray falls to the floor, shattering into a thousand shards of loss.
In no way am I saying that you should live in fear -- nothing lasts forever, we know everything has its end, but we should not dwell in terror of the end. I am not trying to depress you or worry you. Rather, I am saying, reminding, relish your today. And if you have an opportunity, take it. Because tomorrow, next week, next month, four hours from now, your world can tilt on its axis and change everything.
People often tell me that I am crazy because I'm broke, but I have two horses and I compete (which would not be possible without the help of my amazing mother). They tell me I should save my money, be more prudent, just wait until later.
But I am taking my opportunity now. There is one thing, one passion that I know fulfills me and that I want to pursue more than anything. And I am going to do it every second I have the chance to, to the limit of my abilities. Because that opportunity may not exist next month or next year or in ten years, for physical reasons, for more reasons I can't dream up. That's why, even when I have a not-so-great ride, I still untack my horse, pat his face, feed him a treat, and treasure his warm presence that day.
When I took Solo to his first event clinic 3 or 4 years ago, my SO was with us and snapping his usual 500 pictures a day. I turned to him and said, "You know, you don't really have to take pictures of us just walking around." A woman I didn't know was riding nearby and she turned to me and said, "You never know which ride is your last one."
Those words hit me like a brick and have stuck with me every time I get on my horse, and recent events have reminded me with crashing force that you can lose your plans in an instant that you never saw coming. All I am saying is....
Treasure your today with everything you have in you. Even if it's not the perfect ride you wanted or the score was lower than you shot for or you didn't jump as high as you wanted or even if it is a non-horsey thing....treasure the moments with your partner and treasure the time you spent doing what you love. Time is yours to waste or use. Never put that opportunity on a shelf for later, it is yours to make it happen now.