Can We Appreciate The Value Of The Lesson?

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When you are as old as I am, you undoubtedly will have learned many lessons over your life's journey. I have had the good fortune to have enjoyed lots of fine adventures along the way. Sometimes a great deal of time passes before we see the value of the lesson we learned.

This blog is the first of a series I'll write about some of my life experiences and what they have taught me. This first story starts when I turned six years old and learned to ride a horse.

My mother and father were horse people. For years, my father worked as a professional rodeo cowboy. My mother raised, trained, and showed five-gaited horses. Their mutual interest in horses drew them together.

They married in 1936 in New York City, where my dad performed in the rodeo in Madison Square Garden. Two years later, I joined the family.

My mother had a riding academy and taught many people to ride. Our large Connecticut property included many bridle paths where she could take her students. When I reached age six, I became one of those students.

I learned to ride on an English saddle. I never knew the comfort of a Western saddle until we moved to Colorado. I had to learn to post to ride that English saddle. When you post, you raise up and down to match the horse's gait.

Posting does two things: It keeps you from jouncing all around on that slippery saddle, and it is easier on the horse's back.

Now I'm learning to post to a website. There's a world of difference between the two. However, both kinds of posts require practice and self-discipline to learn to do them effectively.

My mother always told her students that you have to fall off a horse five times before you have truly learned to ride. She also said it is important to get immediately back on the horse, so the fall doesn't create a fear of riding or of the horse.

I guess I never truly learned to ride, because I can only remember two times when I fell off the horse.

There's a good correlation here, however, between riding and our business. We learn that it's acceptable to fail at what we are doing; it is important, though, that we get up, dust ourselves off, and try again. We learn from our failures. Quitting should never be an option.

When I turned nine, we moved to Divide, Colorado, where my parents bought a small cattle ranch. On the ranch, I had my own horse and learned the decadence of using a Western saddle. What a relief!

My horse lived up to her name, Foxy. Once we were past the corral and headed off on the trail, she behaved herself very well. However, when I first got on her, she liked to shy at everything and anything, hoping her little sideways jumps would unseat me and I'd decide I really didn't want to ride.

My dad rode out regularly to check on the cattle, and at times he took me along. I remember once we approached a large rocky outcrop at the top of a slight rise. Here, two coyotes slept in the sun.

Our two dogs spotted them and thoroughly disrupted their nap, sending them racing away, with the dogs right behind them.

The dogs soon tired of the chase and returned to us. Then the coyotes followed them back, and lured them off for another chase. They must have had a den somewhere in those rocks, and didn't want the dogs to find it.

We watched for maybe four of those grand races; then my father felt a bit sorry for the coyotes, called the dogs, and we left. I'm sure the coyotes were very relieved.

Those coyotes had it figured out. They weren't so concerned about us, as we sat still on our horses and watched. However, the dogs meant danger to their young, so they lured them away.

Sometimes a simple solution solves a large problem. It's good to remember that, and not to over-complicate things.

Life's lessons build over the years, as each new experience teaches us something new. I'm so fortunate to have had many experiences to learn from. Now I am learning how to apply that knowledge.

Stay tuned for more of Franny's Fine and Fabulous Lifetime Lessons. I hope you enjoyed this first one.

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Recent Comments

24

Thanks for the story, I enjoyed reading it. Great lesson.

Alex

Glad you enjoyed it -- thanks.

Fran that is truly a wonderful learning experience that taught you many life's learning lessons that have served you well and at WA. Thank you so much for the Post & Share.

Thanks ... we never know where the lesson will come from.

Hey Fran
I look forward to the next instalment...
:-)
Richard

Well, I certainly can find lots of material for blogs this way.

You’re not getting older, you’re getting better! Great job!
Joe

Thanks...I like to say, "I'm not old -- I'm classic."

I love your post on the lessons during your lifetime. looking forward to the next one. The Coyotes sound very intelligent.

Thanks -- yes, the coyotes did what they had to do to protect their home.

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