Before I could walk, my dad would put me in the saddle with him as he rode out to check the cattle. The crisp air high in the Colorado Rockies, your rhythm in sync with the horse, the solitude - and peace - as you started the day with the rising sun . . .
You learn how to work as a 'team' with your horse, each relying on the other, to accomplish the tasks at hand. The importance of 'having a plan' BEFORE you rode out the gate, or your day could get ugly fast! And when you got done, the saddle put back on the rack, the horse wiped down - watered and fed - watching the sunset, how to appreciate what was accomplished knowing you gave it your best effort.
No, it wasn't all unicorns and skittles! LOL My body is scarred, each carrying a reminder of the lessons learned over time. Barbed wire can cut deep, horses don't always WANT to be ridden (and the ground is not your friend!), and you always wear good boots, as the walk home can be long . . . and lonely.
You NEVER give up, get back in the saddle, and use some Spray-N-Wash to get those stains out of your shirt!
Over the years I traded in my horse for a Harley and set out on new, exciting, paths on this journey through life. This, too, offered new lessons and problems to overcome. But that story is for another time.
Now I am preparing for, what may be, one of the greatest adventures thus far. Thailand.
Although it is not a 'done deal' yet, I am confident that on 16 October, I will board a jet from DIA and travel 8,000 miles into an environment that will offer many new things to learn, and an opportunity to grow.
Yes, I will be attending SteemFest 4 in Bangkok in November, but that is only part of the reason for this trip. More about all of this as it develops.
I do find myself looking to the past to prepare for the future. Today, as I was shooting some video to send to some people in Phuket, I realized that I had come full circle, and was looking to the horses for answers once again.
As the sun began to set, I knew that I was giving this my 'best effort' to accomplish these new goals. And as I walked out the gate, that I 'had a plan' for what may lie ahead. No, I won't be taking a saddle on this new chapter in my life, but the lessons learned sitting in one will serve to make it possible.
And yes, I bought a new pair of boots (two, actually!) to walk this path. It may be long and, at times lonely, but I have traveled many like it before. I may add a few more scars to the collection, but they will represent a life well-lived, not one to regret. And who knows, I may not travel it alone long, as it leads to new horizons I look forward to embracing.