Writers share ideas publically and always have. It's part of what we do: take a little bit of your own soul - of what you're learning or thinking, regretting or imagining - and put it out there. I get it! I've always done it. I've been trained to do it better. I want to do it some more. I just find it most difficult to write in the informal world of social media.
Certainly, writing and publishing in this sphere is not technically difficult. Type IT, hit "Post" and there IT is, as Google says, "shared with the whole wide world." What bothers me is the absence of a submissions editor, some impartial middle-person who says: Yes, this piece of writing or this idea IS important for the world to see. So important that I will give you some space in my literary journal, my magazine or on my shelf. Maybe even some space in my heart. Instead, social media requires the average writer serve as his or her own editor and filter: Is my idea really worth putting out there? Is this completely self-indulgent? Do these thoughts belong in public or better scratched away, pen-and-ink style, in a spiral bound, 70 sheet, wide-rule notebook, the likes of which I have journaled in faithfully since the age of 17?
It is hard to know.
Having said that, 2014 was an incredibly busy year for me (my other excuse for never blogging), and I did learn a lot about myself, my beliefs about horses and riding, my own strengths and where I have room for growth. The part that is important to me to share here on this blog has to do with my expanding beliefs about horses, riding and training, so I am going for it. Self-indulgent or not, here it is, buried half-way through this rather rambling blog-post:
Horses & riding can at best inspire a moving meditation, a sort of all-encompassing experience that transcends day-to-day life. This can happen at every level of horsemanship & riding (for many even just meeting a horse is inspiring) - it's what makes horse lovers and riders come back for more!) Also, horses & riding, for better or worse, can often reflect a living metaphor for one's internal life. When horses & riding are considered in this way, what comes forth?
- Intention-setting for the time spent with a horse & gratitude for the interaction are always paramount
- A balanced state of mind, body & spirit is always part of the intention; While one doesn't have to be a world-class athlete or Zen master, conscious and developing "fitness" in all of these areas is crucial to a good experience with horses and riding.
- Joy: riding that is deeply rooted in the quest for harmony, balance and connection between horse and rider is joyful even when it's challenging.
- Leadership: the human must communicate to the horses a presence of goodwill, focused attention and purpose. As Sally Swift writes in Centered Riding, "Since you are at the controls, you are the leader when you ask your horse to perform. Your body, therefore, must be free to lead." (This concept of leadership does not really relate to the popular, overused and inaccurate idea of "being the alpha" and always needing to dominate horses and other people.)
- Play/ fun/ adventure/ goals: This is where professional goals, sport, competition and new skills all kick in. Understanding/ being introduced to the internal points above on some level should always be considered a foundation before "going external" in the world of equestrian sport, professional certifications, demonstrations or other public goals.
Thank you for reading & Happy New Year, 2015!
