I stepped on a little rock yesterday and bruised my foot. Ouch! It didn’t hurt for very long, but it made me grumpy. Then I got bit on the neck by a big fly. It hurt! I snapped at it and bumped my nose on the fence. I was having a really bad day.
I stood in the corner of my turnout feeling agitated and unhappy. Then I remembered Jane saying that ATTITUDE IS A CHOICE. I could choose to be grumpy, or choose to be happy. But I was so grumpy that I was having a hard time finding even a hint of “happy” in my mind. I was stuck.
Then Indy stopped by to say hello. He looked up at me with that funny, fuzzy face and grinned. One look at his big, smiling mug, and I suddenly found that little tickle of happiness swell in my mind. I thought of all the times we’d played chase and the way he’d laugh with his funny dog laugh as we raced around my turnout. I remembered watching him jump sideways when he spotted the little alligator in the grass and the joyful way he splashed in the pond while chasing a ball.
Within minutes I was feeling happy and content. All it took was changing my focus! I concentrated on the thoughts that made me feel good inside, and that good feeling spread to my outside! By the time Jane had me tacked up and ready to ride, I was feeling terrific! It was a great day!
Do you realize that your attitude is a choice? It does take some effort sometimes, but you can change a bad day into a terrific day just by deciding to concentrate on the good stuff! And there is always good stuff if you look for it. If you have trouble finding it, just take a good look into your dog’s sweet face. I’ll bet that tickles the “happy” in you!
Love, Moshi
Chance and I are really good friends. We play catch in the pool together. We keep each other company at horse shows while Rhett is busy videoing and Jane is busy coaching. And we watch each other’s back so alligators can’t sneak up on us in the grass.
Even though we’re good friends, we can be a bit competitive when we play. Rhett and Jane throw the ball in the pool for us all the time, and we race to see who can get it first. Sometimes I win, and sometimes Chance wins.
Jane often talks about competing and winning with her students. She reminds them that it’s not just about the ribbons. The ribbons are terrific, and winning is exciting and fun. But the journey to excellence is even more important than the show results. Jane says riding is a metaphor for how you approach your whole life. It never truly ends. There is no real ultimate goal–just a lot of smaller goals with an amazing trip of discovery in between.
When I took the ball away from Chance, he got a bit upset. I told him it was not just about getting the ball. It was about the fun we have playing together. He replied by stealing the ball back and running away with it. I laughed and laughed, and then went after him to see if I could get it back. Yes, even though he won the wrestle over the ball, I was still having fun. And that’s what counts.
Will you come over and throw the ball for me? I think I’ve worn out Jane and Rhett’s arms!
Love, Indy
I don’t remember my Mom. Do you? Some of you talk to your mom all the time and others never do. Few of us horses still have contact with our mothers. In the wild it’s usually just the fillies who stay in the same herd with their moms. The boys usually move out to a bachelor herd until we find (or steal) a band of girls of our own.
Spring brings talk of Mother’s Day around the barn. Indy and I are Jane’s “kids” so we get to acknowledge her on Mother’s Day by being extra well behaved. I’m not sure she noticed last year. Does that mean we’re well behaved all the time?
If you’re lucky enough to still have your mom around, remember to acknowledge her on Mother’s Day! It will mean a lot to her. And it will do your own heart good to reconnect.
And if you’re a mom, Happy Mother’s Day from Indy and Moshi!
When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses. ~Joyce Brothers
Love, Moshi
When I was a pup, I told my Mom that I wanted to be a horse. They look like they’re having so much fun in that big arena in front of all those people! I like how the crowd claps when the horse and rider are finished with their test. I want people to clap for me!
My mom was very wise. She told me the way to be truly happy is to be the best ME I can be! Just be myself and know that doing my best is enough. People may clap for me, or they may not. But if I can be the best Indy I can be, that’s enough.
Sometimes I get jealous of Jane and Moshi. I want to carry Jane on my back, too! I know I can’t, but it doesn’t stop the desire. I’ve had to learn to accept the things I cannot change and learn to find ways to enjoy the things I can do. Like catch a ball! I’m the BEST at catching tennis balls! I’m a lot better at playing catch than Moshi!
Are you the best you can be? Are you your true self or are you trying to fit into someone else’s idea of what you should be? That’s a harder question than it seems at first. We’re all conditioned to try to fit in, and sometimes we lose our true selves in the process.
Have you lost yourself? Maybe I can help! I’m great at finding things. Oh…here you are! You’re right here in my heart. Let me show you!
Love, Indy
Sometimes I get tired and don’t feel inspired to work.
Do you have days like that? I’ll bet you do. And it’s totally okay to take some downtime to recharge.
It’s like that old story about the lumberjack hacking away at a tree stump with a dull axe. Each hack at the trunk made a little dent, but the axe was so dull it didn’t bite into the wood. As dusk approached, the fellow’s wife came out to see what was taking so long. She handed her husband a canteen of cool water and took the axe from him. While he drank, she went into the shed, turned on the grinding wheel, and sharpened the axe to a fine edge. She then took the axe back to her husband, retrieved the canteen, and returned to the house without a word. The lumberjack went back to work with the sharpened axe. In minutes, he chopped through the stump.
Have you sharpened your axe lately? It might be that you need more sleep or a vacation. It might be that you need a massage or some pampering to recharge your body and mind. Whatever it is that “sharpens your axe,” give that gift to yourself. All of your projects, goals, and obligations will wait. They’ll be easier to complete, and you’ll have better results if you’re feeling your “sharpest’ best.
Jane gave me two days off to rest and recover from our very intense training. Now I feel physically recharged and mentally renewed! I’m ready for that big show next weekend! Let’s DO this!
Love, Moshi
We’re going back to Vermont soon! There are a lot of bunnies in Vermont. As always, I’ll miss my friends in Florida, but I really love the tall grass and cool weather of Vermont. And the bunnies! Yea bunnies!
Jane, Rhett, and I have spent every summer in Vermont for my entire life. You’d think I’d be used to the bi-annual change by now. But I’m always a bit unsettled when we pack up and head north. I have to get used to the different house, weather, and friends. I’m not really scared. I’m just unsettled.
Have you had some unsettling changes in your life lately? Are you expecting some changes to happen soon? It’s our very nature as living beings to be a bit uncomfortable when things change. It can be the fear of the unknown, the stress of changing habits, or stepping outside of our comfort zones.
Knowing that you’re going to feel unsettled is the first step to accepting the change. Allow yourself to feel anxious but know it’s temporary. Humans are the most adaptable of creatures, so you’ll be back in your groove in no time.
I’m going to take my toys to Vermont with me. That gives me something familiar to hang onto to maintain my sense of continuity. Do you have toys that make you feel more settled? Jane says I’m her favorite “toy,” and she will always keep me with her. That made me smile. I know as long as Rhett, Jane, Moshi, and I are together, we’ll feel good wherever we are.
Love, Indy
I really like my barn. It’s so cool with it’s screened-in porch and big air fans. The floor is a cushy rubber brick that absorbs the impact of my steps. There’s a beautiful bowl fountain with an eagle sculpture in the center that’s always full of clean, cool water. I appreciate how spotless the barn folks keep the place, too!
I appreciate that I am fed good quality food on a regular basis. I never go hungry. My water is always full and crystal clean. When I have turn out, I have delicious, fresh green grass to eat.
I also appreciate how much the people around me care about me. I care about them too. Jane, Rhett, the barn folks, even Indy, make my life interesting and worthwhile.
So, what do you appreciate today? I know there are things you’d rather were different, but forget about those for a while. What’s GOOD in your life RIGHT NOW? What situations, people, horses, dogs, experiences, and surroundings can you feel appreciation for today?
Did you know that a feeling of gratitude or appreciation is the HIGHEST vibrating emotion you can feel? It’s even higher than love!
So, if you want to feel good, or even just a little bit better than you feel now, all you have to do is think about something you appreciate. That’s it! Easy as pie. You can do it!
I appreciate YOU today! Thank you for reading my Motivations from Moshi. I like sharing my thoughts with you. Your wonderful feedback makes me feel appreciated. And that feels great!
Love, Moshi
ALIENS! Aliens invaded my swimming pool! They were small, feathery, noisy things that flew RIGHT INTO MY POOL! They squawked and honked, scaring me out of my wits! I’d seen them in the sky before but never so close up. I was out numbered or I’d have chased them away. Yessir, I surely would have!
Jane showed up with a camera and laughed as she took pictures of me and the aliens. She reassured me that I was absolutely safe, and that these were just migrating duck aliens on their way to the Everglades. They weren’t dangerous, they just stopped by our swimming pool to rest and get a drink.
When I heard Jane’s soothing voice and saw her relaxed manner, I knew I was okay. She’s a good leader who would never put me in harm’s way. Once I knew she wasn’t concerned, I was also not concerned. I trust her.
Isn’t it funny how scared we get when we don’t understand something? How about you? Have you ever been scared because something was new or you didn’t understand? Then later it seemed silly that you were afraid at all. That happens all the time. So remember, if you’re afraid, it probably means you just don’t have enough information yet. It’s okay to be cautious. Just do your best to learn more.
But if you DO see aliens in your swimming pool, I hope you’ll stay away until you’re absolutely sure they came in peace! I’d sure hate to see you turned into a green-skinned pod person. YIKES!
Love, Indy
The other day I was sleeping in the sun when Jane showed up to ride. I didn’t feel like working, so I closed my eyes and pretended I was asleep. I was a bit grumpy when she started brushing me while I was lying there trying to ignore her. But before long I was awake and found myself enjoying the terrific rubdown with her rubber curry brush.
Jane tacked me up and off we went. I wasn’t in the mood to work, and I let Jane know it. We started slowly, but before long I was feeling really energetic and wanted to go faster. We practiced perfecting our canter departs and passage, which made me feel really good about myself.
Sometimes all you need to get motivated is to GET MOVING. Starting is usually the hardest part. It takes a little determination, but you’ve got plenty of that. So get up out of that chair, and make the decision to move your body in an energetic way! Go to the barn and get on your horse, or turn on some dance music and boogie around your house!
You’ll feel wonderful in no time. I PROMISE!
Love, Moshi
Rhett got me a new ball! It’s a bright blue bouncy thing, that’s totally unpredictable because it isn’t really round. Sometimes it bounces left, and sometimes it bounces right. Not knowing which way it’s going to go when it hits the ground makes it really fun because it requires that I think fast and be quick on my feet.
Chance and I were playing by the pool when the ball bounced into the water That was the most fun of all! I jumped in after it, and pretended it was a shark. Chance grabbed my tail and shouted, “The shark’s got you!” I laughed so hard I dropped the ball. We swam and swam until we were too tired to do anything more.
Physical exercise can be lots of fun. You just have find ways to make it that way! What do you do to get some exercise and also have fun? Do you listen to music? Do you bring a friend along?
Would you like to play with me in the pool? Come on over! Bring your dog too. I’ll play the part of the hungry shark this time.
Love, Indy
-
Watch and Listen
