On weekends, I tend to "coast." I continue to try to practice the concepts and keep my goals in mind, but I don't update my checklist or study on the weekends. That doesn't mean things don't happen! I went horseback riding yesterday! I was so excited. I used to ride when I was a teen, but I haven't ridden since my early twenties, and I just could not see me trying to haul my forty year old fat butt up into a saddle and canter gracefully off into the sunset. I was terrified of making a fool of myself, breaking the horse, having to stop after 10 minutes, falling off, any number of things! But an opportunity presented itself...our family was invited to a farm to ride. As soon as I got there, I practiced visualization and the reverse tool before everything I did. My friend was getting tack and saddling by herself so I asked myself to be honest about what I could do. I visualized how I would help her, picturing myself carrying the saddle and balnket, saddling up the horse, and thinking about each detail, then I offered to assist. My friend was very gracious in accepting help and was quite skilled at allowing me to get comfortable. I watched her with each member of my family and she was great at being there to assist but getting out of the way when someone showed competence in that area. Then, we mounted. My horse started to favor it's back leg. I was TOO FAT for my horse! I was defeated! Yes, it was in the process of healing from an infection, but it was almost done with it's treatment and it could not hold me (Incidentally, my friend is as thin as a rail and frequently "forgets to eat" because she is so busy - right!). I let everyone else take a turn and what finally turned it around was my husband went before me and I thought, "well, if it can hold him, it can probably hold me." I again worked on positive visualization, the mount, posting, the ride. It was AWESOME! By the end, I even did a small jump... scared me to death and it was on a western saddle... but I did it! Well, actually the horse did and I hung on. It was great!
Today I started my pilates too. I feel so energized. The lesson is on faith. Today I feel strong and later there might be challenges, but I can manage a mustard seed!
