I’ve spent the last few years cleaning out stuff. It’s amazing how much we accumulate over the years. Not just the stuff in our homes, although that can be overwhelming when we really start to look around. There’s also the stuff in our heads. All the useless information and beliefs that we’ve developed throughout our lives. We seem to pick up ideas and beliefs without even realizing that so many of them aren’t ours to begin with. It’s interesting when you sit down and really look at what you believe and why you believe it. Some of it resonates deep within us and we know it to be part of our truth. Some of is is quite surprising and we look around and say where did that come from and why do I accept such a truth? I don’t think many of us take time to complete an inventory of our thoughts and clear out the old antiquated ideas that we’re hardly conscience of. But if we don’t continously look for them and clean them out they become so ingrained in our thinking that we hardly recognize ourselves anymore. How can we expect to improve ourselves and move forward when we have so much junk in the way? How can we be inspired by new and wonderous realizations, when all that old stuff is there blocking our view? So lets get rid of all that dusty old stuff in our heads and make room for our core beliefs to shine through to the world. And let’s make room for the new beliefs that inspire us to walk in balance and beauty and show our true selves to the world.

I was thinking today about how life evolves. In remembering some of the places I’ve lived and people I’ve known I realize that each and every one has added to the fabric of my life. Places and people have come and gone, each one contributing their own uniqueness and memories. Some of these transitions have not been easy, while others were barely given a thought. But each one built somehow on the other, propeling me forward to greater places and things. Old friends dropped away and new friends entered. Jobs came and went. Homes were enjoyed, then left for someone else to make a life in. And for each place, each person, there are memories of times both grand and terrible. But in truth, letting go of these things when they no longer served or were outgrown was beauty in and of itself. There is something about letting go that allows us to breath in the freshness of the unknown and continue to move onward toward newer and better things. Nothing remains static and to hold onto these things serves no useful purpose. Fond memories and gratitude for the road traveled are enough. So treasure each and every memory, good or bad. Realize that you are who you are today because of them. Bless them and let go. Focus on the miracles in your life today and on the memories you’re making right now. Tomorrow, look back, smile, let go and keep moving forward.

All my life I’ve been in love with horses. I begged and begged as a child, but to no avail. I was actually in my 50’s before I got my first horse. A series of synchronistic events as well as a dear friend got me to volunteer as a side walker for a therapeutic horseback riding center. I was in heaven. I couldn’t imagine anything better than being at the barn. Because I’ve worked for the last 25 years with people with disabilities it was a perfect match for me. I didn’t want to be anywhere else, but sadly, bills have to be paid so I continued to work at my “real” job. A few years later my friend and I started our own center and we’ve been so blessed to be successful. However, it’s a not for profit center and nobody gets paid right now, so I continue to work for somebody else and spend my weekends at the barn. When I got my coaching certification I had the brilliant idea to incorporate the horses into my coaching practice. I had no idea how to do this, but diligently researched and studied. I found a couple of well respected teachers who offered programs, then the gremlin reared it’s ugly head. “You’re too old” it said. “You can’t afford it, how stupid to even consider such a thing.” Hummm. “ You’re not good enough” he told me. “You’ll never make it work. You’ll look like a fool. No one will be interested in your brilliant idea.” After a short struggle I finally managed to shut him up and enrolled in one of the courses. It starts this week and I’m so thrilled and excited. I know that I will have all the support I need to be successful and finally realize one of my biggest dreams. I mention this because I want you to understand that you’re never too old to do what you want to do. That gremlin in your head is a trickster who definitely doesn’t have your best interest at heart. It’s OK to be afraid. The point is to push through the fear and do it anyway. It’s OK to be old. Old is just a number and nothing more. It’s OK to ask for help when you can’t figure it out for yourself. People love to help. Gets the serotonin flowing. So what is it you’ve always wanted to do and what’s your excuse for not doing it? Are you doing to make that dream come true or spend whatever time you have left full of regrets? Take it from me….it’s so much more fun to just go for it. Besides, life’s about the adventure of the journey, not your destination.