Getting Back on the Horse

I wonder how many times a toddler falls down while learning to walk.  How many bumps and bruises they sometimes have - and yet they continue trying. Parents pick them up and say, "Its OK.  Let's try it again."

As an adult, do we have a mentor that believes in us and helps us overcome obstacles?
Do we have someone who is willing to give us tough love and yet believe that we can do it?
Sometimes, as adults we forget that sometimes it is the process that gets us where we will be - not the end result.  With a mentor, it makes it easy to stay on track!

As parents, we have encouraged our children to clap, roll over, crawl, walk, say mama (or Dada), and many other countless activities.  We are continuously encouraging them to reach new levels and expand their skills. 

As adults, what do we do to expand our knowledge or skills?  What do we do to enhance our quality of life?  Or, are we just 'settling'?  Too tired?  Or perhaps realize that the process may be longer then we are willing to wait?  Walking didn't happen overnight for my children.  Yet, why should I expect differently of learning something new as an adult?

I purchased a rocking horse for Katarina a few weeks ago. Two weeks ago, she was afraid of it, not wanting to even touch it.  After seeing her older siblings try it out and perhaps enjoy it too much (after all it is a toddler toy), she slowly started checking it out.  A few days later, she would sit on it but didn't want to rock.  Days later, she would walk around it and sit backwards.

Today, she was a wild little cowgirl....rocking back and forth with a big grin on her face!

Now, this skill took time to overcome fear, willingness to fall down, and also perseverance in learning to sit and rock.  However, she did it!

Sometimes as adults, we lose sight of our goals. It may be easy to say, "There is always tomorrow." 

However, instead of tomorrow - why not '2 more Oh's!'  Why not surprise ourselves in expanding our skills and dreams and instead of thinking 'no' we are now thinking 'Oh!  This is so exciting!  I am on my way to something bigger then I can imagine today."  Or, sometimes it could be, "Oh....not so cool.  I guess I won't do that again" and try a new technique.

Katarina reminded me today that sometimes we just have to get back on the horse and try try again.
And, perhaps while watching her grin while masterfully rocking on the horse, I could tell in the sparkle in our eyes that she was proud of what she had accomplished.  Yet, it was because of encouragement of others that helped her get there.

As an adult in a new season of my life, I am so thankful for all the amazing people that have inspired myself and others to greatness through the years.  I am lucky that I have amazing mentors in my life that continue to stretch me and help me grow as a business woman and as a mom. I am ready to take on a new challenge of inspiring and encouraging others. I hope that these lessons learned will be captured in helping others grow and dream big!

Getting back on the horse is not always easy but having the right people around does make it easier and more fun...And, it's nice to be on both sides of being encouraged while also being encouraging.  Thank you to all my mentors both past and present who have helped me learn to take the ropes and ride off into the sunset.