Battling Post-Holiday Blues

Well, Christmas has come and gone.  There is so much anticipation, a whirlwind of activities and then poof, it is back to life as usual.  It reminds me of the show season.  I spend a month making lists, planning, practicing, and packing, then we spend a crazy weekend showing and back to work on Monday.  At least with Christmas everyone shares the excitement. 

I have found that the best way to counter the post-holiday/horseshow blues is to start anticipating the next adventure.  So instead of reflecting on what has been a truly wonderful year full of blessings in every shape and size, let’s look forward to the year to come.

The United Nations has deemed 2014 the “International Year of Family Farming & Crystallography.”  It is exciting that the local producer may finally be getting some credit for the tireless effort they put in every day of the year.  Crystallography studies how things are put together on a molecular level.  It’s a fascinating subject.  If you think a flying lead change is difficult, look around you.  The world is far, far more complicated than you would ever guess.

In the Sporting World, the Winter Olympics will be held in Russia from February 7^th to the 23^rd.  Rolex (the United States’ only 4 Star Event) takes place April 23^rd through the 27^th in Kentucky and the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will be held in Normandy, France, August 23^rd to September 7^th.

Technological advances are often mind boggling.  In 2014, expect to see a cure for baldness, breakthroughs in cancer treatment by either starving specific cancer cells or targeting them directly, and electricity generation using heat and light, possibly evening powering your phone without a charger.  Scientists are trying to be more ecofriendly and use nature to fight nature instead of introducing chemical pesticides.  Saving the rainforest?  They are working on that too.  Now with an environmental friendly process they can make fast growing softwood take on the properties so desired in hardwood.  Remember LaForge from Star Trek?  Allowing the blind to see using a computer may just go from science-fiction to reality in 2014.  Learn more here.

With all the events and advances, 2014 is sure to fly by, but the year will be what you make of it.  At Fresh Perspective Farm, we’re still building fence (well, any day the temperatures break the freezing mark).  There are so many projects to be undertaken.  Last year we somehow managed to find a healthy mix of progress and relaxation.  I hope we will find that balance again in the coming year.  The horses are still snuggled warm in the rugs, but dreams of the upcoming season are beginning to bud.  May you and your fuzzy friends enjoy a little down time as you look forward to the year to come.