Getting back in the saddle

As I am concluding this emotionally draining week, I have been working on staying in the positive and improving the way of handling situations life may throw at us.  Rather than run away and hide when times get tough I am learning to just bite the bullet and take things as they should come.  Hiding and cowering in a corner does not solve anything but in fact lets what weaknesses we may have shine through.  I intend to face every situation face forward and learn how to start from scratch again if the situation calls for that.

With trying to juggle a million different tasks and priorities there is bound to be a mishap her and there that may leave you all the way back at start.  My inspirational thought abut this was that sometimes we have to fall to the bottom to prove to ourselves that we can rise to the top.  This week I experienced a shocking reality that is common in today's society and quickly had to bear with the situation and think of my next move.  I had my breaking down moment and after a phone call from my brother he reassured me of my strengths and the courage I have to pick myself back up and move on.  Being my brother and knowing my life and love of riding horses, he of course referenced the phrase "Get back in the saddle Gi." and closed it with the remark of, "It's what you do best."  Now, horseback and competitive riding is a strength of mine, however I knew my brothers meaning was much more deeper in context.

Often we are confronted by a sudden halt or instance in our lives that can be can be considered a major game changing play.  Some may take it as a construction zone or road block, while others (such as myself) will take it as falling off a trained horse that has suddenly gone wild.  We don't always have control of where the block lands, or what the horse spooks at, but we do have the control to grip the reins as best as we can and hold on for the ride.

Now, although getting thrown off a horse entails some physical pain, I still see it as a method and lesson of perseverance both mentally and physically.  I see tackling a situation in which you feel knocked back down to the bottom like so...

The horse (or situation) throws you for a loop and you find yourself sitting helpless for a couple seconds in the dirt, catching your breath from the initial shock and realizing you're still alright.  You get up onto your feet, walk yourself over to the horse (situation) and think to yourself that this isn't a matter of being beaten, but rather a test of your endurance and durability.  Left foot in the stirrup and hand on the saddle horn you pull yourself back onto the animal (situation) swinging your right foot over and securely into the other stirrup.  You are locked in and ready to conquer what you set out to do.  That being to enjoy the ride and be prepared for anything that may be thrown your way.

I think I will use the phrase, "Get back in the saddle," as a life long motto. :)