Finally we got much needed rain. For the first time all summer, I taught riding in our indoor arena this weekend. It is a dramatic shift from teaching in a wide open field or a large out door arena to teaching in our small (and busy) indoor. I like to call our indoor "cozy" but it is small particularly compared to the out of doors! I spend A LOT of time in that space. In fact, that barn is the space our Farming For Resilience program calls "home". It has five large stalls, plenty of space for folks to stay socially distant and a small indoor arena. I am grateful it has mirrors and is bright and cheery, as I spend much time there, particularly in the winter.
The walls are lined with quotes on colorful paper on the subjects of courage, gratitude, forgiveness and compassion, and what courage, gratitude, forgiveness and compassion feel like...from participants perspectives. These walls are colorful, and full of wisdom. So you either are looking at a white wall, green paw prints or quotes to take in at your leisure. Like advertising that is constantly surrounding us, I figured that these quotes can not help but "sink in" over time. Whether you are on two or four legs, walking, trotting or cantering, you are seeing whispers of wisdom everywhere. "The heart is like a garden. It can grow compassion or fear, resentmentment or love. What seads will you plant there?" - Buddha This is one of my favorites. The garden theme draws me in, and from there, truth rises. I think often of how to plant those seeds ourselves, and how to help others plant seeds of their own. Seeds that will support courage, gratitude, forgiveness and compassion. This is the fire behind Farming For Resilience. I am passisonate surrounding planting seeds....and seeing growth. Whether the seeds are in my garden, or seeds of courage, gratitude, forgiveness and compassion. And I am clear on the truth of Buddha's quote. So the seemingly small act of writing and posting quotes could, with fertilizer, sun and water norish the growth of this collective wisdom. As I sit writing this blog, my 11 year old God-daughter sits behind me, writing these quotes of courage, gratitude, forgiveness and compassion to be posted in the indoor (they get worn over time). We discuss the quotes, and ideas that arise as she writes. What better way to spend some time on Sunday afternoon? Enjoy the crisp edges of day as fall creeps upon us. Hoodies and handwarmers in my sights! All my best, Christina
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