Gratitude, Attitude and Aptitude

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Three Keys that Open the Door to a Joyful Lifestyle

by Karen Pickering

 

December 2014
Photo courtesy NWHS

Lately, I’ve been feeling down about “stuff”: The small home I live in, my barn, the older vehicles I drive and two horses that are either old or have health challenges. Business could be better and I’ve been overwhelmed with additional work that doesn’t appear to be generating any more income. Wow, is that depressing or what? Shame on me!

Why? My lifestyle is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a child.

Just having a horse, any horse, was a dream come true. With that in mind, there are three things that affect my enjoyment of lifestyle:  gratitude, attitude and aptitude. I have a great deal to be thankful for, including that small home (which is nearly paid for), and a barn my dad built for me.  Despite their challenges, my horses are also a gift. They are extremely well behaved and have brought me a great deal of joy. And though small businesses have more than their share of challenges, I enjoy doing what I love.

Considering gratitude significantly affects my attitude, something I can always control that is enhanced by a realization of how much I have. My horses also have a positive effect on my attitude and offer perspective. Lastly is an honest assessment of aptitude: I need to embrace the things I’m good at and accept my shortcomings. This is why it’s important to have other people in my life, to help fill the gaps.

Regardless of how we spend time with our horses, what kind of horses we have, or how fancy our stuff is, it’s still “stuff.”  How do you feel about your lifestyle? Drop me an email and let me know if you’re living the life you dreamed of and why. Also, there’s a lot of fun things this month to enjoy including the Washington State Horse Expo, February 14-16, and Cavalia/Odysseo coming to Redmond, WA on the 26th. Have a great month and enjoy the ride!

Today’s Quote: “Life isn’t about finding yourself; it’s about creating yourself.”
~ Author Unknown

 

Published February 2014 Issue


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