10/31/2023
Rider: Sometimes I wonder if I want to even ride anymore.
Mind: You should probably just quit.
Rider: But i've come so far.
Mind: This is a lot of heartache and emotional and financial stress.
Rider: But sometimes it's ok to not be ok. Sometimes if you want to ride the pendulum of success, you will hit some lows before swinging up even higher.
Mind: But this slump is taking forever. You'll never get out of it.
Rider: Just like when you are training horses, sometimes in order for the horse to learn, you just have to wait it out. Patience is powerful.
Mind: But this is too painful.
Rider: Pain means you have passion. That you care. And you should never give up on something that you care this deeply about.
Mind: Lets keep everything comfortable and stop pushing ourselves. Comfort is easy. Pushing is more pain.
Rider: I'm sorry.
Mind: No need to apologize, lets just ease off for a while.
Rider: No, I'm not apologizing. I'm telling you I'm sorry so you can prepare yourself for more pain. I'm going to keep on pushing harder than ever.
Mind: No, you can't!
Rider: Maybe I can't. But I would rather can't than won't.
Mind: Noooo!
Rider: Yes, so get ready to roll.
Mind: Alright then. Lets go for this.
Rider: Seriously? You gave up that easy?
Mind: Yes.
Rider: But all those years, all that self doubt, all those times you told me I couldn't. All the pity, the frustration when you said I'd never succeed. You are giving up just like that? All it took was one time to fight back?
Mind: We will do whatever you want to do. You do realize you've just been talking to yourself this whole time.
Sometimes the best dressage lessons have nothing to do with riding.
📷PC to Joseph Newcomb 💥