The qualities I most admire in women are confidence and kindness.
-Oscar de la Renta
Completing acts of kindness completed with pure intentions has an impressive positive trickle down effect. Often it enhances your self-worth and self-confidence, and you have set an example and/or reminder for the recipient to reciprocate to someone else. One simple act can lead to an umbrella of generosity!
The environment around a stable affords many opportunities to share pure kindness without costing a cent. This holiday season I challenge you to complete one random act each time you are at the barn. My bigger request is that you allow this to become a habit for entirety.
IDEAS
1) Video a critical piece of someone’s lesson or part of their ride and send it to them immediately. This is such a helpful tool!
2) Clean a bridle (including shining the bit!) and put it away while your barn mate is un-tacking or riding their next horse. If your program offers full-care service, I almost guarantee you the groom will appreciate the gesture.
3) Express a heartfelt compliment to another rider. Regardless of the level of riding, we are all striving to get to the next “peak.” Acknowledgement goes a long way; from the new adult rider that cantered their first vertical to the trainer that had a breakthrough on a training ride.
4) Ask someone how their day is going and “be present” and listen to the response. For many of us, the stable is our sanctuary. We don’t walk in anyone else’s shoes and sometimes it is nice just to have an outlet.
5) Set an example when you hear gossip. Just walk away. You are not only setting an example, but you are being kind to the person “featured” without them even knowing it.
6) Run an errand. If you are heading to the local feed store or vet’s office for supplies, ask anyone else if they need an item picked up.
7) Offer encouragement.
8) Open or close the gate for someone entering or exiting the arena.
9) If you are on the ground, volunteer to grab an item back at the barn that another rider forgot or needs. Water, gloves, crops, spurs and a different bit tend to be needed.
10) Make eye contact with a smile.
The list is endless... I encourage you to add more!
Salut!
2 Comments
Dec 5, 2017, 11:45:47 AM
Linda R Moss - I think this is so YOU, everyday! What a great reminder for anyone at the Barn or elsewhere. Paying it forward always wins - thank you for the reminder this time of year!
Cheers, Linda
Dec 5, 2017, 8:07:09 AM
jill slater - Dads Day- Friday, June 13, 2014
(My words are not exactly about my dad but maybe about gathering strength from distress.)
A FEW THANK YOUS.
Thank you to my sister, Laurie for single-handedly arranging for this service. Thank you to my brother, Steve and my husband Steve, for being my rock through-out dad’s illness. Thank you to my mom for taking care of dad so so well and jeopardizing her health for his. Thank you to all of you for your support and KINDNESS.
Henry James said, Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind. ~
Very recently, I had a conversation with a with a relative about my dad and all the kind doctors, nurses and aids that helped him.
We touched just briefly on this subject of kindness and both of us agreed it’s in short supply.
The last few months have been challenging and on some days, I considered smiling a chore. (Kindness was not at the top of the list.) But dad was extremely brave and and for the most part happy or content during his illness.
While he was sometimes curmudgeonly, he was not without empathy. Friends tell me mort’s crusty style was actually kind of appealing, certainly lively. Dad’s smile and his smiling blue eyes said, compassion, gratitude... kindness.
As it turns out, SMILING is Quote: “the universal language of kindness.”
I hope my father would support my efforts of reflection and realization of reciprocity. The Dalai Lama says:
If you want others to be happy, ...practice compassion. If YOU want to be happy, practice compassion/kindness.
Thanks for being such a good teacher Dad.
sjs/sjs