Credit: www.horsesa.asn.au
On Monday I shared the cartoon at the right on FaceBook. It recalled much of my teaching in the Equine Gestalt Coaching Method® program. Melisa often said that horses are always in the present moment, always mindful and they help us be.
Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment, through a gentle, nurturing lens. From Greater Good Magazine.
Then when a good friend and musical mentor reacted to the cartoon, I thought that must be why I have kept up my musical pursuits. When you are playing music or singing you do it best when you’re in the moment.
The same goes for riding/showing horses. When you allow yourself to be in the moment you will have your best rides or experiences.
When you have enough experience with something that you don’t have to think about what comes next it is much easier to be in the moment.
The Monument Rocks know by locals as the Pyramids. This is a great place to sit in silence and be mindful.
My dad, who was the only doctor in the county for many of the 37 years he practiced, was able to be awakened in the middle of the night, give orders to the nurses at the hospital, and then return to sleep.
I remember calling him early one morning after his accident/stroke and thinking he sounded just like he had before it. He is mindful when he’s in that state because he had done it for so many years.
I know when I was showing horses, I could only hear one voice from the outside of the arena. That was the one of my coach. I was tuned in to what I was doing, and her voice was the only one that mattered. Sometimes I didn’t hear her either.
When we want to be at our best at whatever pursuit we need to be mindful. The horses can help us with that. Even though I haven’t ridden in years I feel the best when I’m with the horses. Many times, I’ve gone out to the barn and felt like all was right with the world. I hear, see, and notice things I wouldn’t otherwise notice.
When I’m behind the camera it’s easy to be mindful.
I’m struggling with a huge decision right now. I called one of my colleagues in frustration. Go out to the horses, he advised, they will help you know what’s in your heart. The weather’s finally warming up and it’s drying now I will be more inclined to spend time with them.
If you’d like to explore how mindfulness can help you contact me here.
I’m Hooked On A Feeling of being mindful and in the moment.
Onward! Firsts And Lasts
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