Horse Play

We have a horse in the house! A horse named Beemer.

Affectionately named after a pony she met at the Jackson rodeo last 4^th of July, Luji’s horse is a sparkly pink hula hoop (“spinner hoop”) on which she has been racing around our house for the last couple of weeks; effectively inventing her own and redefining our idea of horse play.

Her vivid imagination has drawn us in. Invited to announce her first race, we now hold horse races several times per day, complete with starting gates, enthusiastic announcers, and a chance for an admiring audience to pet the winning Beemer.

The course around and around the couch ensures tons of exercise as Luji and her faithful pony race at top speed to edge out their competitors. More than a commuter tool, Beemer is her friend. She talks to him, encourages him when he feels sluggish or tired, celebrates him when he works hard and succeeds. She feeds him, brushes him, and settles him in his “pen” at night. It is a labor of love. She freely admits, “Mom, horses are a lot of work!”

The imagination and thoughtfulness of this little creature never ceases to amaze me.

And it makes me wonder: how would the world be if we as adults could magically embrace this sense of wonder and open play? What kind of world would we live in if the kid in each of us was celebrated every day rather than suppressed in fear of being judged or humpfed at? I’m not sure my imagination is creative enough to answer these questions.

Maybe a ride on Beemer with my vivacious four-year-old daughter will help.

Giddy-up.

12 in 2012!

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Woop!

It starts today! It was a beautiful desert morning in Southern Utah for the first of 12 races I have committed to finishing in 2012. Yep. Me.

Amy (fittingly, one of the original inspiring girls) planted the idea in my mind just before the New Year and surprisingly, I immediately loved it: run 12 races in 2012! So simple. And such a commitment.

I’ve run one race in my life and while I liked that I did it, in all honesty it did not speak to my heart. Finishing races as a way to reward myself for creating natural habits, however, seems to. It fits in well with my desire to live an active lifestyle...as a fundamental part of maintaining a soulful existence...and even I have to admit there is a pure sense of accomplishment and pride in oneself that goes along with finishing a race. That feeling alone is a motivator and if this year’s first race was any indication, it will be a productive one.

So thank you, Amy, for sharing your inspiring goal with me. It has already made a wonderfully positive impact on my life in 2012 and I can’t wait to finish a few of these races with you!

And if anyone out there wishes to join me: you have an open invitation. Just share your desire and I’ll share my race plans. After all, you might just develop a motivating little personal race series to enhance your own evolving natural habits.

One down, 11 to go. Run on, Girls.