There are a couple of things (so far) this week that I am doing the happy dance over. I have many things to be happy about but these two stand out the most.
I have been getting frustrated with my pushups since I moved into corrective action to fix a bad habit of raising my thumbs off the ground during full extension. During this time I fixed the thumb-raise habit, but started to feel tension/pain in my upper trapezius muscles (more enhanced after Mom was with me). Because of this pain regular pushups were not happening, something was wrong with my pushup picture and I was not a happy camper. On Monday our class was blessed with a Sifu-not-seen-before and that Sifu was Sifu Harrigan. It was a great class (as always) and after bow-out I had a eureka moment to ask Sifu Harrigan pushup advice. (Judging by his physique he's done a pushup or million in his life so far.) Sifu Harrigan watched my pushup form and within a heartbeat diagnosed the err of my ways and had suggestions for improvement. As a result I have a new pushup routine, still keeping the numbers. The result: no more upper trapezius pain, scapula and lat muscles in action (yes I feel those) and my core very much more engaged. Happy Dance # 1. Warrior Princess, here I come.
The other happy dance is a result of going horseback riding, one of my UBBT goals. However there is background information as to why this happy dance is so special. I LOVE horses, always have. Horse-crazy kid and had a horse growing up. One day (in my early teens) while I was leading my horse, her and I became tangled and I ended up under her but still having an iron grip on her halter. 3 of her feet and both of mine were tightly hog-tied together. She was trying to get loose (can't blame her) and truthfully not trying to hurt me, but still was stepping on me. The dog was barking and Mom was yelling for Dad. Then my shoe came off, the hog-tie was undone, and we all were standing there looking at each other. I didn't think much of this besides the bruises on my legs, but Mom (outside of Dad's earshot) became unglued and ripped 10 strips off of me because of what could have happened. In that moment I felt my blood pool at my toenails and a blanket of fear set in. The result: I became scared of riding, uneasy around my horse, and had Mom's voice of "what if", "aren't you scared', etc ringing in my ears since.
Even though I lost my confidence that day, I didn't lose my love of horses nor my desire to ride. I wanted to ride but fear took over. Even though I had riding lessons from a few different instructors, the fear still had an overcasting grip. I let go wanting to have a horse (or even riding) being content to just be around them, look at them, and make them in glass. However fate wasn't letting me off the hook that easily as my morning Kung Fu class is littered with horse people and one of them suggested I come to her place and ride her kid's horse and then we could have tea afterwards. Okay, I can deal with that and agreed. That was last year.
This year I put in my UBBT goals to go horseback riding and mentioned to Jacqueline about us getting together like we mentioned last year. We both agreed and it wasn't happening due to schedules, holidays, rain, and whatnot until this week when we nailed down a date and time: today. So this morning I, with my riding helmet, went to Jacqueline's to be with the horses. Jacqueline knows my history and said that how I proceed is up to me. Whew! In the meantime, I also came to terms with the fact that the fear I have been carrying around wasn't mine, it was Mom's so time to let that one take its rightful place and not on my back. Jacqueline's horses are great, quiet and friendly. I led Meadow around and around the corral just being with her. I mentioned to Jacqueline that should I learn to ride again it would be bareback to learn to really ride the horse. In that moment I decided that I want to hop on and I did. There I was on Meadow, bareback, and feeling like it was home. I sat there for a while and gave Jacqueline the okay to start walking Meadow. Even though I was riding while Jacqueline was leading, it didn't matter as I was riding and riding bareback and again, it felt like home. Insert Happy Dance #2.
I must also mention that at Jacqueline's bluebirds perched on the fence railings only a few feet away from me. I was enchanted as I don't see bluebirds very often and when I do I savor the moments. Because I believe in animal totems and meanings, I believed this to be a sign so when I got home I looked up the significance of bluebirds: modesty, unassuming confidence and happiness. Need I say more? Okay just one more.. Warrior Princess, here I come ...... on horseback.
Sherri Donohue
Silent River Kung Fu, Stony Plain, Alberta
No comments:
Post a Comment