SOMETIMES, IT'S SIMPLE

For the last couple of weeks, it's felt like my lovely Mustangs have been all over the place during our training sessions, and I was stumped, frustrated with myself for not being able to figure out the problem. I mean, it isn't as if there was anything extra going on around here:

• Two dear, beautiful friends died unexpectedly.
• Another friend had an accident and we (allegedly) may have kidnapped her and her lovely, large bearded collie until the surgeon gives the okay that independent living is two thumbs up.
• The first Michigan Shawna Karrasch Equine Clinic is happening here in a few days.
• My website builder went into some bizarre 'oops, something went wrong' lockout, meaning I could not access ANY of my resources to update or send newsletters.
• AT&T blocked me from even going to my website...malware, are you sure this site is safe? Uh, yeah it's my website!
• AND DID I MENTION MY HORSES SEEMED TO HAVE FORGOTTEN EVERYTHING WE HAD EVER DONE DURING OUR SESSIONS? Two weeks away from Shawna & Jessie's visit!

Despite all these extras though, during my sessions I felt like I left all of that at the gate. I enjoyed our time. Cinder would play for a few minutes, and then wander off. Last Wednesday, she faded away from me and started eating grass against the dog yard side of the arena. She has NEVER done this before that day! Cappy began moving far ahead of me again, shades of early training days when he was so anxious. He tagged targets without being asked, threw in spins, trotted circles, and just seemed confused.

I. Was. Flummoxed.

Until it hit me. 

During this haphazard session, Cappy was walking beside me, kind of bajiggity and all over the place, and suddenly I had an AHA! I realized that I had stopped talking to my horses during our sessions. For some reason a couple weeks ago, I intentionally chatted only for direction. I remember thinking it was more 'professional' or some nonsense for a video I was putting together. Now, y'all know I am a talker! So do my horses!

It was right then and there, in the sandy arena, that I froze in my tracks. "Oh my gosh, Cappy! I stopped talking to you! Well, no wonder you seem like you don't understand. This must be so different and confusing! Let's fix this right now."

I went right back to talking to him like I have from the beginning, telling him how much I adore his efforts, asking him to stay with me, telling him when we were going to move really slowly or speed up. 

BAM! Right back to normal! It was so simple, but somehow I had missed the change. How could I have missed such an easy, simple thing?

DID YOU SEE THAT BULLETED LIST OF EXTRAS? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

It's called Life, and it had been consistently and rather severely kicking my arse for weeks. I was sad. I was stressed. I was overwhelmed and doing my best to push through the worst of it. Even more difficult? There were big up moments, too. I celebrated my 60th birthday, and honestly I LOVE being 60! I can't explain it, but I was full on opposite of 'oh no, not 60' as it approached and arrived. I had a great birthday! My amazing friends made a Top Chef worthy steak dinner and brought it over for all of us to enjoy together. I received dozens of surprise birthday cards. Chad announced we're taking an Alaskan cruise to celebrate. 

LIFE IS GOOD! Yet, sprinkled with some heavy duty bad, too. Maybe, if not for those extras, I wouldn't have figured out my big duh about chatting with my Mustangs like they understand me (because they do) during our sessions. Maybe, without the extras I wouldn't savor the good times so much. 

To be sure, I tested my theory with Cinder the next day. Spot on. Forehead slap, Kristine! Problem solved. Theory proven. 

One on particularly rough morning last week, I shared a live video about how even though things are tough at times, the rain will clear and the sun will shine. Literally and figuratively. So many people kind of freaked out, which only showed me how important it is to share those days more often with others.

I am a strong person, but every single day there are moments that punch me in the gut at least a little. But I keep going. I promised my horses I would never quit on them, and I need to do the same for myself.

Own the extras, but own the ups, too! Give yourself grace when you have a big DUH moment, because it is also how we reach that big AHA!

I don't shy away from the rough times. I don't love them, but I know they're going to happen. Some weeks there are more than others, but some weeks there are more bright shiny moments, too.

Don't be afraid of what life is throwing your way. Savor the simple. Find the joy in the everyday. I've been starting each day writing down ten images from the twenty-four hours before...and it has made me notice beauty in simple things. One sunflower with its face up toward the sky amongst a field of saggy faces. A monarch soaring against the white of my horse barn roof. A clutch of turkey babies following along with the three adults. An alligator hidden in white fluffy clouds.

Some mornings I fly through the ten images, and other mornings take me longer, make me peruse yesterday more closely; but in the end, I have ten images penned into my notebook. It is a simple, satisfying act and I look forward to it each morning.

When things get confusing or more difficult, I know to take a minute and remember the good things. It's what rescued me in the arena the other day, brought clarity back into my sessions with Cinder and Cappy. It's what helped me remember that the rain stops and the sun eventually shines brightly again.

It really is that simple.