Rivers And Wild Horses

[Guest thefireship]

This morning I read a post involving a childhood that should have been. I thought then, of the things I've thought of concerning my own. All those what-ifs and would-haves that on a good day promotes thoughts of the future but on bad days most certainly could pull me to my knees. I sat here, thinking about this post, and then about others I've seen, and came around to just smiling. I found myself wanting to share this.

How amazing is it that we have this fine ability to look at our past, look into ourselves. True, pain and trials often turns our heads in the direction of the mirror, but only we can open our eyes to look. Its like the idea of bringing a horse to water, but its the horse that has to decide whether or not to drink it. That any of us are here at all shows we're willing to at least ponder the river.

Funny thing about water. It reflects. We reflect. We concern ourselves with what brought us here and why and what to do about this thirst we've got and how much we should drink before we're satisfied. A wary horse might gaze into the pond, wondering if its poison, or if what led it here was sincere. The horse could stand there staring for days before making a decision. Or it dives right in. Some even cross the river completely. But in this moment, I'm not terribly focused on a drinking horse, but a looking horse.

I think about how my mother is in denial of how I feel. In a sense, she's also a horse. By coming out, I've led her to the river of my own truths and discoveries. She doesn't have to drink the water, though I would like her to, but she refuses to so much as look into it. By watching this, I see how many other times she's done similar in her life for any manner of other things. The water, to her, is strange. It is fluid and the depths are often impossible to see. Perhaps she fears what could be lurking under there to reach out and drown her. Perhaps she fears its poisoned. Maybe somewhere along the line other rivers she's encountered did cause a poisonous discomfort so she's afraid. Either way, she's afraid to look at it at all.

So many people are afraid to look into water. It is not solid. There is no sure footing to be had and unknown depths are scary business. This is a good chunk of why I feel more at home here than I have anywhere else. There is something in that willingness to look, regardless of decisions or outcome, that is a very rare thing to behold.

Its not easy either! Reflections often bring about seeing things we don't like, whether or not its directly related to our overwhelming concerns. A keen eye, however, also manages to pick out things from the bog in which we do like. The courage it takes to look into the abyss should never be dismissed. I hope no one here ever lets another person take the reigns and dismiss it for us.

*sits back and smiles at the notion of wild horses running through the river*

Each and every one of us has the freedom to reflect within our own minds and come around to our own conclusions. To give that up, one may as well sign over one's freedom of spirit. I see many brave, free spirited people here by this river. We've got histories and backgrounds and beliefs as variant as the individual as each horse's hide and yet we seem to all share this drive to throw the binds and run our lives as our hearts desire. I have to wonder then, if its that simple, similar passion that leads many wild horses to run together.

(And that concludes Andre's deep thought of the day!) Have I hit my max for inspirational movements yet?

[Guest Donna Jean]

(And that concludes Andre's deep thought of the day!) Have I hit my max for inspirational movements yet?

No.

Keep 'em coming, Hon........

That was beautiful......

LOVE

Donna Jean

[Guest Penelope]

I really like your post, Andre.

Please keep writing stuff like that.

All the best,

Penelope