I couldn’t help following up my last blog post with a much grander example of how you get what you wish for. I’m 35 now, but back when I was 17, my parents’ friend asked me what I really wanted to do. This was during a time I felt frustrated with life, and cared more about living fully than defining myself by any particular career path. So, in a moment of unfiltered thought I blurted out, “I want to be riding a black horse in New Zealand!”
At that time, I was in high school and my dream was to get an Equine Science degree from Colorado State University. Though my father thought it very impractical, he was kind enough to honor my wishes. So off I went to Colorado (after a couple years studying in Arizona first). Then by the winter of 2005 I found myself boarding a plane for New Zealand. Thanks to a study abroad program offered by CSU, I got to go experience this amazing country I had only ever dreamt about in my imagination.
You can probably imagine what happened next. But I have to tell the story anyway. I am sitting on campus one day, trying to get an assignment done when my computer just stops working. I kept trying to fix it with no avail. Finally I threw my hands up and pretty much said, “Screw this.” Well wouldn’t you know, at that very moment I walked outside and there was a woman walking a tall, graceful Thoroughbred right through the middle of campus. I couldn’t believe my eyes, and so of course I had to go introduce myself and meet this fine looking horse. After a nice conversation, I was invited by the horse’s owner to a natural horsemanship clinic that weekend. At that clinic I met another woman named Jan who offered me the opportunity to come ride her horse, Barry, who also happened to be a jet black Standardbred. Not only did I have one visit to go see Barry, I had the entire semester to enjoy his company, riding through beautiful green countryside on the south island of New Zealand.
Those four months spent in New Zealand were nothing short of magical. They were definitely transformational; I grew in my faith, in my thinking of what’s possible, and in my ability to trust that we’re always provided for. There is a crazy, magnificent energy out there that’s always paying attention to us. And I came back believing that life is as magical as we allow it to be.