Water

“It is life, I think, to watch the water.  A man can learn so many things.” 
                                                                                        - Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

Lately I have been amazed at how many times water analogies have entered into the conversation.  Whether we are talking about life and work and using analogies like ships sinking or ponds turning over, or if we are discussing riding horses and using visual pictures like riding waves or splashing in puddles, it seems water is being dropped in to every conversation I have.  With all these thoughts flowing through my brain, I did what I also do and started paddling through some quotes about water, trying to find one that just summarized everything.  Like the elusive fountain of youth, just one quote evaded me, but I was struck with a common theme.  Water in its natural form is a dynamic force.

Picture a creek trickling through a forest.  It bubbles and burbles and is a happy, joyous little break in the landscape.  It may reach a precipice and go crashing down, spraying near-bye vegetation, but from there it moves on passing through shaded areas, sun caked flatlands, even ebbing and flowing when it reaches the ocean.  Eventually each drop of water evaporates, is purified and then formed again to begin a new journey.

Now picture a stagnant pool.  The water’s flow has been stopped.  Impurities leach in and the oxygen exchange stalls.  Mosquitos’ larvae swim about.  It stinks.  It is ugly.  It is a dreary and unhappy place.

We too are dynamic forces.  We are at our best when we are flowing along, not sitting and stagnating.  Ironically, we are about the only thing that can dam ourselves up.  We choose to get stuck.  For some reason, as humans, we really, really like to grab on, to strain and stress, and make things more difficult than they need to be.  We dam ourselves up into a little puddle and stew.  Then we stagnate and stink.

I’m trying a Fresh Perspective.  I’m trying to view the world as water does.  I’m just passing through.  I’ll make some changes as I carve my path, but nothing will hold me up for long.  I’ll find a way around or I’ll erode a path through.  I want to be a happy bubbling brook.

As I take this perspective into my daily life, it is also affecting my riding.  It is amazing what a different feel you get when you try and pour your horse’s energy into your flowing hands as opposed to trying to hold that energy back.  If your goal is to create a relaxed, supple, flowing ride you must let the energy flow not try and squish it.  I’ve finally felt the crest of the wave with my arms.  Now I need to learn to feel the troughs with my seat and learn to move the water around at will.  It really is all in the way you look at things.  Thank goodness for evaporation, second chances, and Fresh Perspectives.