Field Notes: IV

Horses and Decisions

A Line to Live By

“If you can see your whole path laid out in front of you, it’s not your path.”

-Joseph Campbell

It’s been said many ways. “Man plans, and God laughs”, “Expect the unexpected”, or my favorite, from Mike Tyson, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth”.

There is a false perception that other people have things all figured out. The fact of the matter is that we are all, and yes, I mean all, figuring it out as we go. And that’s the only way to live.

---

Field Insight:

I was recently offered a position at my job that would be considered a “promotion”. It was unexpected. It would mean packing up shop, moving, and stepping into a completely new scope of work — all of it hitting me out of left field.

I like clarity. I like systems. Big decisions like this sit heavy on me.

I got to thinking about decision making and planning for the future. For anybody striving in life, decisions like this are inevitable.

I was reminded of when I learned to ride a horse. Oscar was his name, a beautiful Arabian gelding. When I first saddled him up, my instinct was to hold on tight, and try to control him. I quickly learned that Oscar didn’t care how tight I held on, and he didn’t care to be controlled.

I learned to loosen my grip. To stop fighting him and start riding with him. I figured out that the only way to ride was one step at a time. Oscar could feel the shift too, and got more cooperative with me. We started getting from A to B. Before long, I was roping dummies off his back.

I think life acts in the same way. The tighter you hold on, the more it will fight you. The more you try to control it, the more it will kick back. Once you relax and learn to work with the horse you’re on, things start to go your way.

---

The Rub

Business at my job has been running wild the last couple weeks. I’ve had limited time in the gym, writing, and doing the other things I like to do. There’s no point wishing for blossoms on the apple tree while the orange tree is dropping fruit.

Don’t pray for lighter loads. Pray for a stronger back.

---

Provisions

A Watch:

I love McConaughey. And I grew up fifteen minutes from where this was filmed. A no-brainer for me — and a great movie regardless.

A Listen:

Easy listening. Windows down, on a weekend cruise.

---

Moment From the Road:

Seventy-five degrees in December is something that’s still hard for me to comprehend. But I’m certainly not going to complain. An empty beach to kick a ball around and take a quick lunch swim — that’s hard to beat.

---

Something to Chew On

What can you loosen the reins on? Where are you gripping too tightly instead of riding with the horse you’re on?