Southbound on 37, the sun rising on one side, the stars still piercing the windshield on the other and I pop the lid off. The steam rolls over my face and the smell fills me up like a warm soup. Coffee tastes better on Thursday. And for some reason the smell hit me square in the sniffer.
It didn't stop there. The entire day was filled with it. Have you ever smelled a yearling foals breath - strangely fresh, and it almost speaks to you. Or, Durasect? Most of you won't know that it's a biting-fly and tick repellent for cattle and horses. The smell is, well, unique to say the least.
And horse hide. It's like a babies skin. It smells the same every time. You can't describe it, because it only smells like it smells. Nothing compares.
The afternoon found us in the bottom of the Medio Creek.
Water Gaps.
Rain is good. But they are always followed by a good dose of water gap fixing. As the business end of an ax meets the top of a steel post, plenty of heat is generated. Maybe it's the heat. Or maybe it's just the t-post letting the ground protest our unceasing drive to have everything our way. In any case, it smells. Not unlike the branding iron on flesh, it has a very unique aroma. Very, very faint and just as brief, but it was there. Just to let you know of it's disapproval.
Once we got the gap back up, we headed back to the headquarters. Weaning colts and working mares filled our morning. Things are still pretty wet down there, so the water gap fixing closed up our afternoon and we shut down a little early.
I stopped by my grandparents house and found a wonderful surprise. More peppers - straight from the garden and zipped up into two Ziploc bags waiting for me to take them home. I couldn't resist. I lifted the bag, unzipped it and lifted some more. Then I opened it and plunged my head into the bag like we did in the water at the creek when we got to hot. Wow. That smell is one of a kind. Regardless of the fact that I definitely breached the pepper's personal space, as was made apparent by my watering eyes and choked up throat, there was no regret.
The bouquet, though not from a fine wine, or liqueur, was bold, earthy and unique in it's own spactac-ulocity-ness. ;)
Everyone has a lineup of fragrances that could tell the story of their lives. The smells that, together, can describe why you are you. Find them. Why do I know exactly what a trimmed hoof smells like? And the inside of the Zachary Engineering Building's server room?
Don't wake up and smell the roses. Wake up and smell those things that you've been put here to smell. Inspiration will overtake you.
Showing posts with label Inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Inspiration. Show all posts
Friday, October 16, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
How to make better decisions.
It was SO hard to push the girls down the page, but people were beginning to wonder if the blog was still going. ;) Well, it is. You can still see the Triple Threat if you scroll down far enough.
Now, on to the anticipated follow-up to our Ask the Readers Poll.
Are you familiar with driving under the influence?
You don't have to have been arrested for D.U.I. to be familiar with it. Your family may have been affected by someone else's D.U.I. You may have done it and never gotten caught. You may have just had a drink or two and driven home "just fine".
The point is that just about everyone understands what driving under the influence means. Technically, it is the act of operating a vehicle (including bicycle, boat, airplane or horse) after consuming alcohol or using drugs.
Now that you see that the law includes horses, do we have a few more affirmations on the first question? ;)
Basically, you are not you when you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Therefore, you make driving decisions different from those that you would normally make
Enough about DUI. What does this have to do with people who visit www.SpiritualHorseman.com?
You are under the influence EVERY DAY.
It's a different kind of DUI. We are all Deciding Under the Influence.
Last week's Ask the Readers Poll posed the question "Where do you find inspiration?" This is the follow-up post.
As of Tuesday, June 9, 28 votes placed Nature on top with 10 votes followed by Other People with 8 votes. Well, everyday we make thousands of decisions. And you haven't made even one of them on your own.
Humans don't really make decisions. We make comparisons.
Let's say you went looking for a house/car/horse and the first one you found was perfect. What'd you do? . . . Go look at another one. Why? You had to in order to make a comparison. If you didn't have to go look at another one, you were subconciously comparing to some other baseline representation of what you were looking for - Something you had an experience with in the past.
Here is an image from the book Predictably Irrational
that comes from the excerpt found here. It would really be worth a read, but here's the gist:
Dan Ariely, the author of Predictably Irrational, gave these options to 100 MIT students. (MIT is a prestigious university in Massachusetts known for it's brilliant technical students)
The result:
Then, Mr. Ariely gave 100 students these choices:
Do you think the results were the same? I mean, no one chose Print-only so everything should be the same, right?
Nope. Here are the results:
The mere presence of the decoy Print-only option gives us something else to compare. And we go for the better deal EVERY TIME.
Predictably Irrational really is a great book packed with interesting stuff like this. It's an easy read though, so if you want to know more about why we make irrational decisions over and over again, you'll have to buy it and read it for yourself. There's simply not enough room here to share all I gained from reading this book.
So why is this relevant to SpiritualHorseman.com readers?
Good question. It's obvious that we are all influenced by something. And since you read SpiritualHorseman.com, you are now more aware of this fact. Now you know that everything is a comparison to something else. If most of your day is filled with negativity, you'll tend to be more negative. Do you think most ranchers are conservative because they own land, pay property taxes, inherit estates? Nope.
Life-long ranchers are more conservative because the behavior they witness every day in cattle, horses, nature, etc. is a survival of the fittest type of behavior. If something is weak, it dies. A momma cow earns her keep by having calves or she goes to the packer. Everything has a purpose. And a natural, logical path delivers that purpose or changes will be made. And so ranchers are logical. They are usually conservative, and they are probably the ones voting for nature as their inspiration. Plenty of wealthy individuals obtain property and animals and don't have conservative values. That's because they are not continually exposed to those kinds of values. They don't have those to compare to. And they are probably not inspired by nature.
Of course there is a difference between inspiration and influence. Inspiration usually leaves you with a sense of awe. Influence usually leaves you with a sense of 'I'll take this rather than that'. Our sources of inspiration, however, shed a great deal of light on what influences us. If you chose Other People as a source of inspiration, you probably are blessed with at least one person you know you are influenced by and whom you model your decision making after. But, know this - You are also influenced by many other people in your life.
So now that we know that we aren't in control of our decision making, we can make better decisions. Just like the Print-only decoy that the Economist marketers presented, life includes decoys every day. Certain circumstances, weather, people, etc. Think about them independantly and then make choices. Find positive sources of influence.
Be the influencer.
Do you make choices as a money influenced person of a particular profession (teacher, rancher, banker, lawyer, doctor, etc.)?
Or do you make choices as a Christian influenced child of God?
Further Reading:
Now, on to the anticipated follow-up to our Ask the Readers Poll.
Are you familiar with driving under the influence?
You don't have to have been arrested for D.U.I. to be familiar with it. Your family may have been affected by someone else's D.U.I. You may have done it and never gotten caught. You may have just had a drink or two and driven home "just fine".
The point is that just about everyone understands what driving under the influence means. Technically, it is the act of operating a vehicle (including bicycle, boat, airplane or horse) after consuming alcohol or using drugs.
Now that you see that the law includes horses, do we have a few more affirmations on the first question? ;)
Basically, you are not you when you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Therefore, you make driving decisions different from those that you would normally make
Enough about DUI. What does this have to do with people who visit www.SpiritualHorseman.com?
You are under the influence EVERY DAY.
It's a different kind of DUI. We are all Deciding Under the Influence.
Last week's Ask the Readers Poll posed the question "Where do you find inspiration?" This is the follow-up post.
As of Tuesday, June 9, 28 votes placed Nature on top with 10 votes followed by Other People with 8 votes. Well, everyday we make thousands of decisions. And you haven't made even one of them on your own.
Humans don't really make decisions. We make comparisons.
Let's say you went looking for a house/car/horse and the first one you found was perfect. What'd you do? . . . Go look at another one. Why? You had to in order to make a comparison. If you didn't have to go look at another one, you were subconciously comparing to some other baseline representation of what you were looking for - Something you had an experience with in the past.
Here is an image from the book Predictably Irrational
that comes from the excerpt found here. It would really be worth a read, but here's the gist:Dan Ariely, the author of Predictably Irrational
, gave these options to 100 MIT students. (MIT is a prestigious university in Massachusetts known for it's brilliant technical students)The result:
- 16 students wanted Internet-only
- ZERO students wanted Print-only
- 84 students wanted Print-and-Internet
Then, Mr. Ariely gave 100 students these choices:
Do you think the results were the same? I mean, no one chose Print-only so everything should be the same, right?
Nope. Here are the results:
- 68 students chose Internet-only: Up from 16
- Only 32 chose Print-and-Internet: Down from 84
The mere presence of the decoy Print-only option gives us something else to compare. And we go for the better deal EVERY TIME.
Predictably Irrational
really is a great book packed with interesting stuff like this. It's an easy read though, so if you want to know more about why we make irrational decisions over and over again, you'll have to buy it and read it for yourself. There's simply not enough room here to share all I gained from reading this book.So why is this relevant to SpiritualHorseman.com readers?
How can we make better decisions?
Good question. It's obvious that we are all influenced by something. And since you read SpiritualHorseman.com, you are now more aware of this fact. Now you know that everything is a comparison to something else. If most of your day is filled with negativity, you'll tend to be more negative. Do you think most ranchers are conservative because they own land, pay property taxes, inherit estates? Nope.
Life-long ranchers are more conservative because the behavior they witness every day in cattle, horses, nature, etc. is a survival of the fittest type of behavior. If something is weak, it dies. A momma cow earns her keep by having calves or she goes to the packer. Everything has a purpose. And a natural, logical path delivers that purpose or changes will be made. And so ranchers are logical. They are usually conservative, and they are probably the ones voting for nature as their inspiration. Plenty of wealthy individuals obtain property and animals and don't have conservative values. That's because they are not continually exposed to those kinds of values. They don't have those to compare to. And they are probably not inspired by nature.Of course there is a difference between inspiration and influence. Inspiration usually leaves you with a sense of awe. Influence usually leaves you with a sense of 'I'll take this rather than that'. Our sources of inspiration, however, shed a great deal of light on what influences us. If you chose Other People as a source of inspiration, you probably are blessed with at least one person you know you are influenced by and whom you model your decision making after. But, know this - You are also influenced by many other people in your life.
So now that we know that we aren't in control of our decision making, we can make better decisions. Just like the Print-only decoy that the Economist marketers presented, life includes decoys every day. Certain circumstances, weather, people, etc. Think about them independantly and then make choices. Find positive sources of influence.
Be the influencer.
Do you make choices as a money influenced person of a particular profession (teacher, rancher, banker, lawyer, doctor, etc.)?
Or do you make choices as a Christian influenced child of God?
Further Reading:
Monday, June 1, 2009
Ask Readers: Where do you find inspiration?
Update: How to make better decisions, the follow-up to this post is now available.
Many times I find myself wondering how some people can be so *&%$#! cheery ALL OF THE TIME.
How are some others SO WISE?
Or why are some SO NEGATIVE?
The bottom line is that we are all influenced by someone or something. No person is above influence. Well, a book has recently come to my attention and since I have been in jury duty, I've already completed it. ;)
There were many "secret" concepts regarding how our brain works. You've got to hear this stuff, but before we get started, please vote in the poll below. You select up to two choices but you can select only one if you wish.
[poll id="2"]
If you wish to share a different source of inspiration than those that are listed, feel free to do so in the comments. Poll voting is anonymous. Even if you leave a comment, please vote in the poll.
The follow-up post is going to use the data from the poll so please vote. It's anonymous so please be honest. I know everybody doesn't read their bible every night. ;)
Many times I find myself wondering how some people can be so *&%$#! cheery ALL OF THE TIME.
How are some others SO WISE?
Or why are some SO NEGATIVE?
The bottom line is that we are all influenced by someone or something. No person is above influence. Well, a book has recently come to my attention and since I have been in jury duty, I've already completed it. ;)
There were many "secret" concepts regarding how our brain works. You've got to hear this stuff, but before we get started, please vote in the poll below. You select up to two choices but you can select only one if you wish.
[poll id="2"]
If you wish to share a different source of inspiration than those that are listed, feel free to do so in the comments. Poll voting is anonymous. Even if you leave a comment, please vote in the poll.
The follow-up post is going to use the data from the poll so please vote. It's anonymous so please be honest. I know everybody doesn't read their bible every night. ;)
Friday, May 1, 2009
Philosophical Thursday
Et tu Thursday?
Yesterday was a long one. Not because of work, or hours (although 5:45 am to midnight makes for a long day) but because it deceived me. Thursdays have a purpose. Cattle work, horse training, ranch work, selling horses, etc. Yesterday was no exception. The daily morning feeding rounds, fixing a water trough on the south end of the Bunny Heard pasture, and re-starting a group of 4-year old geldings were scheduled for the morning. The afternoon was reserved for showing some horses to a couple of prospective buyers.
Well, the scheduled-to-arrive-after-lunch prospective buyers pulled in around 10:00am. The rest of the story boils down to this - this Thursday was cooked. Shot. Wasted. Whatever.
The fact that the new crop of geldings didn't get worked coupled with the fact that I didn't rope that well frustrated me to no end. But the kicker was when our plan changers, who were trying a head horse decided that it wasn't a good fit without ever heading a steer.
Now this Thursday was really a waste.
Fastforward to the early evening. Morgan was talking about a black horse that Matt Pettrus wanted to try and Dick was adding details about a horse he had with the same history.
They had both been hooked. BAD.
Now these horses spook at everything. Just taking the head rope off of the steer after a run was a major undertaking for a while. When Matt called Morgan about the black horse we call Black Magic, it went something like this.
"Hey Morgan. I'd like to come try that black horse I talked to James about, " Matt said after the usual damn-I-wish-it-would-rain-pleasantries that everyone exchanges in South Texas.
"I tell you what. You come pick that black horse up and take him to your house and you can do whatever you want with him, " came Dad's reply. "You need to know what he is."
"Well, will he go in the box?" Matt asked.
"Yea."
"Well, is he nervous in there?"
"Nope. He's pretty nice in the box. Scores nice, Matt," Morgan siad.
"Well what the hell is wrong with him?" Matt finally asked, a bit bewildered.
"You just come pick him up, " Morgan told him.
"I will, Morgan. I always liked the looks of that horse," Matt said.
And so it went for a while as Dick and Dad recounted stories about the horses they've ridden that had been hooked in the pasture. They all seemed to have that same characteristic. They trusted nothing. They thought anything, anytime could be the next thing that hooked 'em.
Earlier that afternoon, in my frustration, I quite vocally let my uncles and Dad know about my unsatisfactory opinion regarding the day. But, these stories taught me something. I can't let one situation cause me to think that every single similar situation could be the next thing that "hooks me". Otherwise, I'll go through life 'spooked' and not being able to accomplish anything.
Think about the thick brush in your life, what may lie around the corner that your worried about and can't see. Then stop. Stop thinking about it. 'Cause you can't do anything about it. Listen to Him. And plow through that brush. That's the only way you're ever going to get anywhere.
Today's readings talks about Ananias. Talk about being spooked. He had to go talk to the guy who was killing all the Christians. Wow.
And since he did. We have Paul. Don't be spooked. You may be the next instrument of His.
Yesterday was a long one. Not because of work, or hours (although 5:45 am to midnight makes for a long day) but because it deceived me. Thursdays have a purpose. Cattle work, horse training, ranch work, selling horses, etc. Yesterday was no exception. The daily morning feeding rounds, fixing a water trough on the south end of the Bunny Heard pasture, and re-starting a group of 4-year old geldings were scheduled for the morning. The afternoon was reserved for showing some horses to a couple of prospective buyers.
Well, the scheduled-to-arrive-after-lunch prospective buyers pulled in around 10:00am. The rest of the story boils down to this - this Thursday was cooked. Shot. Wasted. Whatever.
The fact that the new crop of geldings didn't get worked coupled with the fact that I didn't rope that well frustrated me to no end. But the kicker was when our plan changers, who were trying a head horse decided that it wasn't a good fit without ever heading a steer.
Now this Thursday was really a waste.
Fastforward to the early evening. Morgan was talking about a black horse that Matt Pettrus wanted to try and Dick was adding details about a horse he had with the same history.
They had both been hooked. BAD.
Now these horses spook at everything. Just taking the head rope off of the steer after a run was a major undertaking for a while. When Matt called Morgan about the black horse we call Black Magic, it went something like this.
"Hey Morgan. I'd like to come try that black horse I talked to James about, " Matt said after the usual damn-I-wish-it-would-rain-pleasantries that everyone exchanges in South Texas.
"I tell you what. You come pick that black horse up and take him to your house and you can do whatever you want with him, " came Dad's reply. "You need to know what he is."
"Well, will he go in the box?" Matt asked.
"Yea."
"Well, is he nervous in there?"
"Nope. He's pretty nice in the box. Scores nice, Matt," Morgan siad.
"Well what the hell is wrong with him?" Matt finally asked, a bit bewildered.
"You just come pick him up, " Morgan told him.
"I will, Morgan. I always liked the looks of that horse," Matt said.
And so it went for a while as Dick and Dad recounted stories about the horses they've ridden that had been hooked in the pasture. They all seemed to have that same characteristic. They trusted nothing. They thought anything, anytime could be the next thing that hooked 'em.
Earlier that afternoon, in my frustration, I quite vocally let my uncles and Dad know about my unsatisfactory opinion regarding the day. But, these stories taught me something. I can't let one situation cause me to think that every single similar situation could be the next thing that "hooks me". Otherwise, I'll go through life 'spooked' and not being able to accomplish anything.
Think about the thick brush in your life, what may lie around the corner that your worried about and can't see. Then stop. Stop thinking about it. 'Cause you can't do anything about it. Listen to Him. And plow through that brush. That's the only way you're ever going to get anywhere.
Today's readings talks about Ananias. Talk about being spooked. He had to go talk to the guy who was killing all the Christians. Wow.
And since he did. We have Paul. Don't be spooked. You may be the next instrument of His.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The little fat monsignor.
My two two-year-old's were not cooperating this morning and they almost made me miss the 8 am service. Actually, I guess they did since I arrived just in time for Fr. Ed's homily. He delivered a great message about looking within that I'm glad I made it into town for. During this time before Easter that we call Lent, we practice introspection. This is the process of self-observation. Basically asking yourself, "Where am I in my relationship with God?" or "How am I at granting forgiveness?" or "Why did I come into the kitchen again?" Just kidding with that last one, but it happens to me all the time now. ;)So it was a good message, but what struck me today was a little different than the actual message itself. Since I missed the readings, I came home and read them online and began to wonder. . . Who orchestrates these readings for the daily masses?
In the Catholic church, every three years the bible gets read to the congregation in it's entirety. No, there's not a meeting where we go to listen to somebody read the whole thing. Readings are structured in a book such that by attending mass regularly, one will listen to the entire bible every three years. That's not the amazing part. What amazes me is how the old testament readings, psalms and new testament readings support one another so strongly. Every day. Every week. For 52 weeks.
I imagine there's this little fat monsignor (pronounced - mon-see-nyer) sitting in Rome at the Vatican. He's praying and probably eating some ridiculously expensive cheese and sipping wine or something. ;) He is ripping pages and shuffeling them around and making notes. Constantly pushing his little spectacles back up onto his nose and telling people in a very nasal little-old-lady-voice why one passage fits better than the other. Anyway, good job little fat monsignor. You never cease to amaze me.
Really, go to this link for today's readings, read through it and think about how they fit.
Reading 1 - Moses teaches Israel.......Teach the Law
Psalm - Praise the Lord, Jerusalem......Praise Him who delivered the Law
Gospel - Jesus teaches the disciples...Fulfill the Law
Through teaching us, the physical Words of God, Christ is still fulfilling the Law through the inspiration of each and every day's readings. In this case, maybe the inspiration of a little fat monsignor in Rome. But crack open your bible. It will be your inspiration...and who knows what He'll have to say to you.
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