We’ve heard all the hype about 2012 and what it means according to the Mayans, but what exactly does 2012 as a year of change mean for us as equestrians? I know that this year is one I want to make unforgettable. It is a year in which I would most like to see my bad habits vanquished and replaced with habits that not only support my goals but ultimately my happiness. Below are some tools I plan to implement this year to keep myself on track and to push myself further, perhaps you will find them useful for your own goals this year.
15 Excuses for NOT Making Ideas Happen
I don’t know about you, but I am a really great procrastinator and this list seems to just emphasize just how great I can be at rationalizing why later is better than now.
We shall never have more time. We have, and always had, all the time there is. No object is served in waiting until next week or even until tomorrow. Keep going… Concentrate on something useful.
- Arnold Bennett; British novelist, playwright, critic and essayist
I stumbled across this list, there are supposed to be 99 Excuses but unfortunately the link for the remainder is dead. Still, the 15 Excuses presented are enough for me to tackle for this first portion of the year. I have found that planning to accomplish one MAJOR task (i.e. greater than washing the laundry, etc.) each day really helps to kick procrastination in the pants and grease the wheels of motivation.
1. I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TIME.
Extra time, like money, rarely just materializes out of thin air. We have to work for it. If “finding creative time” is a struggle for you, consider getting proactive about carving it out, and doing the most important work first.2. I’M AFRAID OF FAILURE.
If we really push ourselves, we will fail more than we’ll succeed. But that’s how we gain experience, how we learn, how we grow. The greater failure is to never risk failure at all. Choreographer Twyla Tharp: “If you do only what you know and do it very, very well, chances are that you won’t fail. You’ll just stagnate, and your work will get less and less interesting, and that’s failure by erosion.”3. I’M NOT INSPIRED.
Inspiration comes from action, not the other way around. Our friends at Red Lemon Club shared this insightful tidbit from leadership guru John C. Maxwell: “The whole idea of motivation is a trap. Forget motivation. Just do it. Exercise, lose weight, test your blood sugar, or whatever. Do it without motivation. And then, guess what? After you start doing the thing, that’s when the motivation comes and makes it easy for you to keep on doing it.”
The Artist’s Way
When I studied French Classical Dressage in the Northwest the most wonderful barn manager I’ve had the pleasure of meeting rounded the small gaggle of us girls at the barn together and walked us through a modified version of The Artist’s Way, a program written and created by Julia Cameron. She personalized it a bit to apply more cleanly to working with horses. One recollection of this 12-week period of time that I have is just how in sync I felt with every aspect of my life for that short period of time.
If you are unaware of what The Artist’s Way is, it is 12 weeks tailored towards inspiring your creativity, no matter what kind of artist you are (even if you wouldn’t label yourself an artist at all). Each week has a different challenge or task to practice, and perhaps my favorite was the week in which I was allowed no outside influences – i.e. no radio, television, newspapers, etc. Julia Cameron (the author) also offers an online course through her website which promises of great value..
Pick Up A Copy of “The Artist’s Way”
Geocaching
Geo-what? Geocaching is a sort of treasure hunt with the help of community. Why treasure hunting, well it is something to inspire my innate curiosity and is a great reason to get out on the trail more often or take my dogs out for a run / hike / exploratory trip. The rules are simple – plug in coordinates to your gps, pay attention to any clues provided, and then start searching once you reach your destination.
To make things simple, there is an app for your phone to make finding potential geocaches simpler – but who doesn’t enjoy a good old fashioned treasure hunt? Exactly.
Haute to Trot Magazine
If you are unfamiliar, it is a horse art magazine that I began in 2009. Following one issue I had to set it down to continue pursuing other ventures in my life that were a bit more pressing. I have not forgotten or forsaken my endeavor towards artistic inspiration for equestrians and it is one of my goals in 2012 to release the second issue of this little gem. If you haven’t yet, I encourage you to check out the first issue and always appreciate feedback!
Read the First Issue of Haute to Trot Magazine
Visit the Haute to Trot Magazine Website
Your 2012 Equestrian Plans
It’s true, I want to know just what you plan to make your 2012 the most memorable year yet as an Equestrian! Will you be trying something new, picking up where you once left off, setting aside what you have been working away at for many years or…? Go on, share with the rest of us just what makes you get out of bed now that you are chasing after the end of 2012!