The pain of loss, the pain of betrayal… even the physical pain of torn muscles or stepped-on toes, time brings a lessening of the sharpness, an easing of the ache.
I’ve been dreaming about horses, dogs and people we have lost this past year. That pain takes a real chunk of time to alleviate the suffering. I don’t think it actually ever goes away, we just have to continue on with the care of others and stay focused on the now to remain functioning human beings.
Our facebook fiasco has brought clarity on how we want to move forward on that platform. I’ve heard everything from “We thought you had shut down”, to “I don’t see Katharine begging for money anymore”, and it has lent an awareness about who we want to connect with in the future. Time to ponder the energies of the past and which energies we need to draw to us in the future is a kind of a gift.
One remarkable thing happening right now is an influx of donations (funds, feed and support) to the horses that has us mindful and grateful. That’s an amazing place to be. Just when the experiences of the near past feel overwhelming in a harsh or wicked way, we have been overwhelmed by kindness and compassion. I think I feel much the way these horses feel when they come here, into sanctuary. They may have felt “beat up”, confused, sad or defeated… then, great love rolls over them. They can breathe. They are safe. They know that someone genuinely cares about them.
My brother and I have been a part of a program (No Barriers), for special needs people and their caregivers (I am his caregiver). In that model, there is a concept of a “rope team”. I even climbed a high wall at a retreat (I am afraid of heights) with a Rope Team and it was life changing. The realization, today, that Dharmahorse has a powerful Rope Team of individuals and organizations who realize what we do and who we are, and care that we continue, is more healing than time.
There will always be glitches, there will always be sad days. There will also always be days full of wonder and days full of joy. I can choose to reflect on all of the good things happening and hold in my heart the pure, dynamic spirit of caregiving. I can know, really know, that we make a difference in so many lives. That is an amazing reason to wake up every morning and power on!
Stablewomen 