Living A Life Of Gratitude: 16 Crossing The Stream

Learn why letting the Universe guide us to be in the right place at the right time can lead us to astounding wonder. As we journey from life's beginning to a sacred end, we will experience both suffering and radical heart-opening. No matter what is happening in your life, when we focus on gratitude for every little thing—the good, the bad, the all of it—we can experience soul awakening.

Reviews

Beautiful! Such good writing! I could see it all and you got me to remember one of my early and wonderful adventures where my heart, too, burst open. Thank you!

OHhhh my stars…. I was on that horse with you! And harkened back to a horse riding experience that also became a stellar memory.
My desire to ride w/my small children was thwarted by the rules at this particular stable that my baby be at least 10. We waited years and anticipation grew.
As we arrived at our day to ride, I had to sign releases for me and my youngest all about scary things that could happen on a ride up a mountain. My older child, a naturally careful boy of 14, was very worried about these forms which the horse owner made him read on his own & sign.
Finally we mounted our beautiful horses. My baby girl rode up with the leader, I back with my son and a few others. The slender, gravelly path wend its way far up through the fog. My horse seemed to favor walking inches from the edge of the drop off of the path. Fear began to rise in me. What was I doing mounting my precious babies on these impossibly large creatures traversing this dangerous skinny trail? I could hardly breathe. “Excuse me… sir…” I bleated to the leader. He turns to listen. “My horse is hugging the edge of the cliff. Could you make him walk closer to the side of the mountain? I am terrified he will fall off.” He drew a deep sigh and with a slow drawl he replied, “Mam, the horse wants to see as much of its surroundings as it can so it won’t be startled. So he walks where his eyes can see both up and down the mountain. Besides, do you think he wants to crash down the mountain any more than you do?”
I swallowed my fear and focused on deep breaths. All of the sudden we broke through the thick foliage and before us rolled out the most spectacular view… rolling hills and craggy mountains, some topped with billows of fog frosting. It was mesmerizing. We dismounted and I had such a deep feeling of joy, to share this that we longed to do for many years… with my children. We had such glee on our faces. I look at that snapshot often that the leader took of us.
Many years later, I still trot out that whole experience to savor again and again.
Thank you for your story. You have a deep talent for storytelling and I am grateful the universe brought me to you today. Coincidentally, I leave today on my vacation to return to that town from where the horse memory was made. Xo