“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in” Lenard Cohen

 

We all have had these moments in of life, where the weather, people, events, crossroads of life, everything seems stacked against us.

The embarrassing Detours! Someone points out a misspelling in a published article, customer service is useless, the computer is running slow, stubbed your toe, the car did not start, idiot car light will never stop flashing after being fix 6 times, car tires need to be changed… you get the picture?

At this moment, Colorado weather has brought us torrential rains, flooding, wind, hail and snow in one day. The ground is soaking muddy wet, my feet sink almost an inch as I walk out to my Arabians. Their shelter is minimally dry and safe. The mud in front of their ‘loafing shed’ are a variety of small mounds of hay and sandy black mud, forming impassable green puddles of murk and stench. Their hooves slide and sink deep into the mud as they enter the shed to get away from the pounding of the cold frizzle (term in Colorado – not rain – not hail – not drizzle, all combined).

There is a housing shortage in Colorado, thereby creating a pricey bubble in real estate;  nice horse property comes at a high premium which sell in days to a week. It was difficult to find the right upscale horse community, and my realtor did; now to find our home, for my two Arabians, my dog Sade and two cats.

This temporary house was a safe landing place, nice neighbors, a semi working kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom where the shower and sink work. The toilet, well I have paid a plumber to fix the leak, and it started leaking again two days ago. This time I found the right size rock and placed it on the rubber stopper, called the same plumber – Joe the Plumber will stop by on Monday.

This past week was riddle with minor complications: Had my first real eye exam, it was a necessity after a fall. The news; I must wear two pairs of glasses, out of pocket, $1100.00, plus eye therapy to correct the damage.

Immediately finding an outpatient physical therapy clinic, with accommodating knowledgeable professionals, telling them a bit of my history, their immediate reaction was reassuring. Then the resounding statement I often hear: “you are one determined and motivated lady, what keeps you inspired and going?” My response is: My Arabian horses and my dog Sade.

The last three nights I have woken up at 3:00AM each night writing down the next moves, listing priorities, meetings and joining up, creating teams to work with, and business luncheons or simple coffee for two hour chats.

Preparing for an online interview. That morning my head was pounding, my body exhausted from no sleep, my eyes burned through a blurred focus, the reptilian brain pounding from the recent whiplash; the show must go on, professionals never reveal how we feel. There is no perfect time! Take two IBuprofen, can’t stop now.

Colorado springtime weather pounds us with hail and rain then four inches of snow last night.

Called my wood people for the wood stove; it is the only adequate heat. I am told “all the wood is soaked and muddy from the rain, we cannot retrieve any. Next week we are cutting more of the burned out area from the fires of two years ago, we might be able to deliver then.”

My horses are out of hay due to the soggy drenched earth, not allowing the hay delivery truck to maneuver through the trees to the hay shed. It’s time to step up. The dark clouds rolling in at midday, I had to get to the local feed store, purchase two bales of hay.

Pulling the manure barrel out from the horse acreage around to the car, slowly I put one foot in back of the wheel to secure the barrel, reaching for the twine, pulling the 65 pound bale of hay, it clunks into the barrel. Positioning the barrel behind my body, all my upper body strength pulls the 65 pounds of dead weight over several slouching hills upward to the hay shed.

Sinking with each step into the cold running water and mud. My boot leather tore under the pressure, cold mud seeped in while my foot froze. Undaunted, the Arabians must be fed and the hay needs to be place in the dry shed. Reaching the shed, sliding the door open, positioning the barrel – pushing upward with my entire body and arms, the bale lands with a thud on the wood floor.

The hail begins to pound the ground and shed roof startling the Arabians; stepping into the shed – bending and pulling inch by inch the hay is placed on wooden palettes; another bale to retrieve from my car. Repeat the process, through the hail with cold water and running mud, my boots are drenched and feet are freezing.

“Releasing I solve, by solving I serve, the more I serve the more I live” Bryan Sykes

It is almost 3:00PM and the wood stove needs to be stoked; and damn it – the smoke alarm is chirping for new batteries. The alarm is 9 feet up on the wall – I am 5’4”. Finding a safe sturdy chair is a challenge. Found one solid chair in this bedraggled house, dragging it to the wall, standing on my tiptoes, sliding the chirping detector upwards; no more ear piercing chirps.

The clouds have darken the skies and the interior of the house. Finding a broken lamp several months back in the garage, stringing two extension cords together to bypass the areas of nonworking plugs; the breaker switches no longer work over many areas of the house. The house has not been maintained by the owner. Additionally, the light bulbs I purchased two months ago just blew out.

Looking in the hallway closet for some bulbs, holding my shirt over my nose for the closet stinks (!!) I find 6 bulbs. All non-working. Frustrated, the weather has become too harsh to drive over dirt roads and the 20 mile round trip to the store. Ah-ha remembering there is one bulb in my closet, I have two lamps now illuminating the rooms.

As I glance out the window, the rain and hail turn to snow. It is a spring snow, heavy – wet and cold; Colorado weather changes from moment to moment. The Arabians will need to be blanketed. As I walked through the cold sinking mud, my feet sink deeper seeping into my already cold wet boots.

I see KlassicAmir shivering. Nothing detours me.

Brushing the cold snow off his back, both Arabs are quickly blanketed then given extra hay, grain and carrots.

Plugged the water heater to warm their water trough. This will keep both Arabs warm and safe through the night.

I am a horse lady with an indomitable redhead spirit.

We can accomplish anything, with the mindset of “can do.”

 

At the end of my long day, I sigh and seek a safe and quiet place in front of the warming wood stove; finally sitting I watch a TedTalks to be inspired: Bill T. Jones

How do we handle these moments? Some call them irritations or bad days. We have a choice to either see the moments as irritations or opportunities. Even through some of the most troublesome life events.

1. Take 1 step at a time, there is a solution.
2. Keep in mind what is most important, Prioritize.
3. Stay focused, accomplish each task, move onto the next.
4. Having a vision will build your confidence.
5. Small successes lead to greater accomplishments.
6. Look at the simple reality of each situation. No Complaining, no blaming, no drama.
7. The call to action is ‘Resilience’!

 

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About the Author: MicheleElys is a Neurobehaviorist ~ Writer ~ Educator ~ Keynote Speaker.

“Concussions are a huge drain in the workplace!” 4-6 week training program relieving the agony of TBIs and concussions. 

Founder of NBR [neural behavior recognition]. A recovery model for Trauma/TBI Improvement, Recovery to maintenance, Need a Consult? Connect with MicheleElys email LinkedIn,  MicheleElys.com 

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