Horses helping people

Posted by on Leave a Comment

I have recently fallen in love with horses. I had always wondered how people were so content covered in dust with their boots smelling like horse poo, but now I understand.

These animals are truly amazing. They are so intuitive and somehow manage to mirror a person’s emotions. They show us things inside of us that we have been hoping not to have to deal with.

People say that ‘the way of the horse’ is something therapeutic, but I failed to understand how. Until I got involved with these majestic creatures myself and got led to a phenomenal organisation called ‘Shumbashaba’.

With the mission of ‘Horses helping people’, Shumbashaba sets out to help and empower people with horses.

Huh? How? Let me tell you a story.

I attended a meet and greet open day for Shumbashaba on the weekend, where one of the therapy sessions offered was demonstrated. The disabled and cerebral palsied children were given a horse therapy session, where they are placed on a horse and walked around the arena.

Big deal? Indeed it is. These children cannot walk, some cannot sit upright and some have a severe form of cerebral palsy where they cannot control their continual muscular spasms. Time on a horse is like physiotherapy for them, which assists with balance, muscle tone, spinal movement and forces 3D movement of the body. This may not seem like much to you and I, but to these kids it is the world. 15 minutes on a horse is equivalent to 5-6 hours of regular physiotherapy. You can actually see how the muscular spasms calm down after a few minutes on a horse and how the children start to strengthen and engage their muscles in a way that they can’t on the ground.

Being able to move through a living, compassionate animal has a huge psychological benefit to them as well and the smiles on their faces after a session is like nothing I’ve ever seen in my life before.

It touched my heart.

This is only one of the kinds of sessions that the centre offers and they are heavily involved in the local community and the disabled. I cannot begin to understand the full impact of the work that they do, but my heart goes out to people with such beautiful spirits.

If you’re keen on helping out, go visit their website or Facebook page and see what they offer. Also keep your eyes on my blog for details on more social media aspects to come (courtesy of Social Ideas). They are also always looking for volunteers, as the therapy I explained above requires three volunteers per child – one to lead the horse and two to hold the child.

Go spend time with a horse…if you get nothing else out of it, at least you can experience the magic feeling of a velvet nose 😉

Today I learnt… to just laugh

Posted by on Leave a Comment

Twenty-eight. Twenty. Eight.

How the hell did that happen? Yesterday I was twenty-two, I’m sure?
My first birthday breakdown. I thought that only happened when you’re old?

My goodness gracious me, I’m being a ridiculous fool. The emphasis is on TWENTY, not eight.

Nonetheless, I did have a little wobbly at the thought. I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in this. I may put it on the Internet, but you have thought that too – be honest.

It’s quite easy to criticise yourself for what you have not yet achieved in your life, I realise that now, but why on earth would we choose to do that to ourselves? You can’t have everything – where would you put it?

Life is precious. Every day. Even the bad ones.

All you can do is laugh…just laugh 🙂

Real laughter, not the LOL kind. The kind where someone walks into a sliding door and you’re watching it happen from the other side. Or when a child experiences brain freeze for the first time, after a milkshake. Or when you trip up the stairs in high school and your dress flies up above your head. That didn’t happen to me.

Just laugh.

A year of memories – what’s next? Help!

Posted by on 5 Comments

I started my photo-a-day project today a year ago where I committed to posting a photo a day for a year. Before I knew it, it was over and I’m feeling a little like I’m going though a break-up.

My Tumblog has been part of my life every day for the past year and now it’s over!

*Big crocodile tears*

But wow, what a lot of memories in one year – it’s been quite a ride…amazing what we experience every day of our lives…

Go have a look at my blog and reminisce with me – I’m sure some of you will be part of the memories captured in my photos and you can take a little walk down memory lane with me!

And  most importantly, now that my little project is over, I need some ideas on what to do for my next one please. I know you guys are creative so please send some ideas my way. I’d like to do something similar, as I’m not ready to let go of capturing my everyday memories on the run, but with something a bit different this time.

I eagerly await your comments!

Reminiscent Deception

Posted by on Leave a Comment

I recently got thrown into a day of past encounters and it has irked me a bit. Which means that you get to read about it.

It struck me how easily memories come flooding back and how they still feel so real. It kind of puts you in a twilight zone of reality that’s not reality.

What struck me even more was how all the good memories come back first, powerful feelings of reminiscence that seem to take over. Reminiscence seems to grab you by the neck and throw you down the rabbit hole of good memories and warm fluffy feelings. Intoxicated by this feeling, the poor victim wanders through Wonderland, wallowing in the fuzzy warmth.

And then it hits you – just one or two powerful blows that knock you out of the dream.

Reality. The bad stuff. The reasons you left it all behind.

We all have to make important decisions in our lives and at the same time we all make mistakes. It’s a difficult concept to deal with when you’re not sure if your decision was a good one or not. You can go round and round in circles in your own head forever!

I vote forward-facing. We have to trust ourselves and our gut, accept our decisions and keep moving forward.

Reminiscence is a deception. Be careful of this beast.

Hate to Love – The Valentine’s Day Saga

Posted by on Leave a Comment

I’m not one that’s into Valentine’s day, or much romance at all, but this year I rolled on into Valentine’s Day with a ball of misery.

I faceplanted into Monday after a weekend from which you never want to leave. I then severely botched a meeting that would have been an amazing opportunity for me and which I really need right now. I then got hit in the face with no, not just Tuesday, but Valentine’s Day.

This silly and ridiculous day always brings something to stress about – whether in a relationship or not. What am I going to buy him, will he like it, what are we going to do, what can I afford, am I really happy with him, spending V-Day alone, should I go to a V-Day party, is there such a thing as love...the list is endless. It’s a day of unnecessary stress and self flagellation.

I’m sure that there are couples out there who enjoy this day, getting all loved up and spoilt, but more often than not it’s a dark day of reflection. I stayed away from social media yesterday – it’s just too ridiculous for me to comprehend: “I love you so much my baby, my everything”…tell them, not Facebook!

No, I’m not a bitter singleton, I’m a happy one. But I do believe that the people that gain the most from this silly little day is the retailers.

Nonetheless, I had a lovely evening with my closests (wine, cheese, chocolates and amazing company) and it was definitely the best V-Day I’ve ever had.

Show the people you love every day that you love them – you don’t need a pre-allocated and overpriced day to do it.

Today I learnt…this sh!t is real!

Posted by on 2 Comments

Today I learnt about real life. For 27 years I thought I was there, but I was somewhere else…somewhere easier and breezier. Somewhere with a pretty mask to cover the underlying struggle for something more, something better, something more meaningful. Well, after all this time I have found that something that I didn’t even know that I was looking for. I found my freedom and my untainted happiness. And it’s freaking scary!

You’re sitting there thinking “I’m not sure what this woman is on about, but sounds vaguely familiar”, aren’t you?

I remember sitting in meetings in my previous soul-destroying corporate job and doodling a sketch of a flower, always the same sketch, and imagining that I was somewhere else, doing something else that is meaningful to me.

Well now I am somewhere else, doing something else that is meaningful to me.

Meet ‘Social Ideas’:

social ideas on Facebook

I don’t want this to be a business punt on my blog, but rather a reflection on the risk I’m taking and reminding myself why I’m doing it. It is very, very real. Everything is a lot more difficult when you don’t have an IT department to fix something for you, or Accounts to advise you on anything, or even a printer. I’ve been learning a lot since I started working for myself – far more than the permanent corporate lifestyle could ever give me.

I know that I have a passion and I know that this passion can help others, so I do believe that I can make this work.

My message to you, though, is:

Life’s too short for ‘just okay’.

There is no reason to be miserable 5 days out of 7 every week. Find your passion and take that risk!

Oh yes, and follow Social Ideas on Twitter and Facebook, if that’s what you’re into 🙂 Please also keep me in mind when anyone mentions social media work – it will be greatly appreciated (businesses or individuals – I’m here to help and advise) – I couldn’t resist 😉

Today I learnt…that horses are awesome.

Posted by on 2 Comments

Having had a few horse riding lessons from my dear friend, Liz “The Horse Whisperer”, I have recently discovered a hidden love for these beautiful animals. This is the culprit, Bella:

Now this poses a bit of a problem for me as I definitely can’t afford to have a love for horses, but I’m just going with it for now. If you’d like to help me fund this little hobby, I’d love to do some business with you in the social media space – find me at @mysocialideas on Twitter and Social Ideason Facebook (cheeky business punt there).

So why do I want to jump onto the back of a big muscular animal? Because I’ve learnt a lot from this so far:

I’ve learnt that you don’t just ride a horse…you work bloody hard at it first and then it starts working out. You don’t climb on and push a button, this is a living, breathing, thinking animal.

I’ve learnt that confidence counts far more than just knowing what you’re doing and together with persistence, something’s going to give.

I’ve learnt respect. Respect others and you will get respect in return.

I’ve learnt that every horse is different, and each one needs an approach specific to them.

Some metaphors for life in there, methinks?

I’ll keep at it, I’m gaining so much already.

And I’ll get some proper riding boots…having a horse stand on your foot is painful!

Today I learnt…fasting isn’t for sissies

Posted by on 1 Comment

I’ve been fasting for the past few days and today is my first real day of eating food again, and thought I’d share my experience with you.

As my title says, fasting definitely isn’t for sissies! I did a 3-day juice fast, which basically mean that for 3 days I didn’t eat any food and only drank water and raw vegetable juice at meal times. Let me tell you the thinking behind it before you all think I’ve gone bonkers…

So there are various reasons for fasting (health and spiritual reasons) and mine were health-related. It’s said that fasting is a healing agent, giving rest to your system and eliminating impurities that have accumulated for years. The theory behind it is that during a fast, the energy that is usually directed towards digestion is available for repair and healing of the body and clears the mind. Seeing that I’m approaching 30 (still far away, but nonetheless, approaching) and I have never given my body a proper rest, I thought I’d give it a go. A bit of clarity never hurt anyone, anyway!

Sounds so good in theory, but in practice…holy moly it was difficult. You don’t realise how much time in your life is dedicated to preparing and eating food, and how much of a social role it plays, until you take it away.

I struggled…a lot…and not because I was hungry and weak – that feeling went away after about a day and a half – but more because the rituals of preparing food and eating are such a big part of my life. Without them, I felt completely lost!

It made me realise how much I love and appreciate food and how much I enjoy socialising over a meal or glass of wine and how much I love to cook. I have a new-found respect for everything that I consume. I have been privileged enough in my life to never have had to feel hunger for more than a few hours and this was quite a reality check for me. I was grumpy as hell for those three days (thanks to those around me for just putting up with it!), but nonetheless I am so glad that I tried this out. (Losing a kg or two was a nice side-effect as well).

I can’t say that I’ll do it again in a hurry, but I’m pretty sure that I will do it again in my life. It’s like getting a tattoo…sore as hell, but feels good at the same time.