Rain Drops

It's a Wednesday morning. For the past few hours, the rain has been coming down lightly and steadily. Birds are chirping and flitting in acrobatic dances despite the dampness. And, I am lulled by the pattering of the rain drops against the gutter.

I find myself in a space of perfect contentment to just sit and breathe it all in. To cozy up with my mug of Ancient Happiness green tea; and inhale its sweet aroma while staring out into the yard. I feel at peace in this moment. Peaceful with myself and just being in this present state of being. I listen to my breath as it flows in and out. Grateful for my life; grateful for my experiences. I feel a sense of unconditional love. There is no longer angst nor anger; nor fear or doubt. Purely peace and love.

A knowing of a deep connectedness. A stillness that feels amazingly comforting - simultaneously feeling like being showered by the rain drops, washed, cleaned, made bright and shiny. And, like being warmed by the rays of the sun. Feeling illuminated from the outside in and inside out.

I am honoring this moment, this feeling, this space. Continuing to breathe deeply, sending light and warmth to my heart center and radiating it out. Knowing that it is felt.

I AM love. Love is me.

Back in the saddle

I adore horses! The moment I set foot anywhere near one, my heart fills with absolute joy and giddiness!

I grew up being around them nearly full time; and was on a horse before I could walk.

After doing rodeo and the 4-H show circuit, at the lovely capricious age of 17, I decided that I was burnt out and didn't want to be around horses. That lifestyle was decidedly "un-cool". I wasn't a cool kid, and I didn't want to be around anything that would have any chance of making me less so. Which was dumb.

I only rode twice during my college and grad school years; and after landing a consulting gig in Des Moines, I was able again to start riding regularly.

I chose to do hunter jumper b/c riding on a horse as it sails through the air has to be one of the most amazing things EVER!

In the fall of 2010, my horse spooked at a deer and I fell off and fractured my sacrum. That following spring, I dusted myself off, and started taking lessons again; but wasn't in love with the place I was taking them and it's an expensive sport, so I dropped it.

It'd been 3 years (maybe 4!) since I'd been on a horse. A local stable that does Saddle Seat (I'll blog more on that later) in an indoor arena was offering a groupon for 4 lessons. I jumped at the opportunity, and oh my goodness!!! It was SO great to be riding again. It's absolutely therapeutic. It's one of the few activities that I can do where I'm fully in the present moment.

Here's the lovely Paige and I circling around the arena.

Note to self - don't give up on things that bring your soul joy!

Time Travel:

Last night, we finished watching the 11.22.63 miniseries on Hulu. It's based on the novel by Stephen King, which I have had  on my list forever; but haven't read yet.

Over the winter months, I was introduced to Freaks and Geeks, which I'd never watched, and so began my crush on James Franco.

Anyhow, the premise of 11.22.63 is that Jake, (James Franco's character) travels back in time in 1960/61 to thwart the JFK assassination. As he's doing recon work, he meets Sadie, a cute blonde southern belle, who is a librarian and loves to read. They have an instant connection; but she's married.

They're fated to cross paths again as they both end up working at the same high school in Jodie, TX. Their love story is sweet and goes through some twists and turns; but I was always rooting for them.

Jake realizes his love for her is life changing. However, the past doesn't like when you mess with it. So, (spoiler alert)...............

He and Sadie do not end up together. Another time traveler tells Jake that no matter what he does/doesn't do, the outcome will always be the same. So, Jake decides that he's not going to torture himself and find out if that holds true. He returns to present time and Googles Sadie and meets her (at her current age - late 70's); and he dances with her. She seems to recall him; but can't put her finger on it. And, the smile on Jake's face - filled with mixed emotions - happiness at seeing her again, heaviness at knowing he wasn't a part of her life and didn't get to live out what he wanted. And, for Sadie, when he asked her if she'd had a happy life, her response wasn't an enthusiastic yes. It felt like she had settled. I couldn't hold back tears. I wanted them to be together.

Yes, he got to see her again, and find out that she had lived. But, I am sad that for their love story, that they were so close, yet so far.

I believe in Einstein's Theory of Relativity and that there are multiple universes and that time moves fluidly. I believe that we have soul connections that we cannot explain. And, it was interesting to see a representation of it woven so handily.

In a case of musical tourettes, the song that pops into my mind as I think about this, is one of my favorites: The Beatles' "Across the Universe".  I heard it a couple of weeks ago, and couldn't get it out of my head.

Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup

They slither wildly as they slip away across the universe

Pools of sorrow, waves of joy are drifting through my open mind

Possessing and caressing me

Jai Guru Deva OM