Funny, the older I get the less I seem to know. Maybe it’s the remembering? Either way, I’m always intrigued by the fact that I use to be more organized, had a cleaner house, had more time for family…and time to ride. What’s going on with that? Perhaps it’s time for a little preventative maintenance for the soul.
I’m finally realizing that the busier I become, the less time I have for myself and my horse. The very reason I got into the publishing business was to work in the industry I know and love. I love horses and horse people--what better place to be? Perhaps it’s time for a reality check.
One of my readers reminded me today in an email that I should practice what I preach. Ride, take time to enjoy the outdoors. It really caused me to pause, take a breath, and think about what he was saying. By taking care of myself, I’m a whole lot more patient and willing to truly listen to others.
So I took his advice, and I’m off to a good start! I had the privilege of visiting with Alayne Blickle, program director for Horses for Clean Water, and her husband Matt Livengood, an NRHA judge. Both of them are wonderful examples of people doing great things to change the horse world for the better.
Their property was well organized and set up for easy care. The horses seemed happy, had great stalls with adjoining paddocks, and the whole arrangement appeared to take time off the chores and leave more for enjoying the horse life! The concept is simple and very cost effective. I was truly impressed with the common sense and simplicity of her program. Best of all, it’s great for our environment. Please visit Alayne's website at www.horsesforcleanwater.com, and check out the second half of her top 10 tips to prepare for winter on page ??.
Taking care of myself means I have more energy and a better attitude to share with others. But once I have this improved outlook, what can I do? Perhaps I can share a friendly word or a small act of kindness, rather than pointing out someone’s shortcomings. I say all this to share with you some of the struggles I face daily to keep positive and focused on what’s right rather than what’s wrong. I do fail at this almost daily but that doesn't mean I stop focusing on getting it right!
Our cover story this month (see page ??) takes a look at some people who are doing just that: getting it right. Rolling A Ranch and Frontier Ranch are two of the many places out there that are using horses—many of them seniors!—to reach out to the people who need kindness most: unwanted, abused, and at-risk kids. As Lori Davis of Frontier Ranch says, "I want these kids to remember when they're older that once they went to a place where someone told them they were awesome!" How's that for sharing the kindness and a positive outlook on life?
Sharing our lives with each other and our horses is one of the great parts of being human, and that sharing works both ways at NWHS. You've heard about my world—now we’d love to hear about yours! Please join us by visiting our new blog at http://nwhorsesource.livejournal.com. You can leave comments there by clicking on "Tell us what you think" at the bottom of each entry.
Not sure what a blog is? Miriam-Webster defines it as "a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer." So please visit us and let us get to know you!
Have a great November, a time of Thanksgiving and reflection. I’m so thankful for you, my advertisers and readers. Thank you for being a huge part of NWHS.
Have a great holiday season, and remember to ride! I'll make sure I do the same.
Quote of the month: "Success is largely a matter of holding on after others have let go."
~Anonymous
