Help, I've Fallen Out of the Saddle and I Can't Climb Back Up

This post, one I promised Charlie I’d deliver, was turned in late, and it’s rather short. Sorry, Charlie.

Last week, my computer had itself a little crash. Then, to pay for the repairs and the iPad I picked up while in the Apple store, I took on a little marathon of double shifts at work. Then, realizing I haven’t been twenty-years-old in over two decades, I had myself a little crash of my own.

Before all of that, I was feeling pretty good. Riding tall in the saddle, so to speak. Then life came along and knocked me off my perch.

My intentions were to climb right back up, but my brain and my body wouldn’t let me. Instead, I spent most of yesterday stumbling around the corral in a cloud of dust and fog. Things are only now beginning to settle and clear.

I guess I’m still not ready to grab the reins, stick my feet in the stirrups, and yell giddy-up, but I thought I should at least come out, pet the old mare, and feed her a few carrots. I know I'll be riding again soon.

Sometimes, when life knocks us out of the saddle, maybe it's unrealistic to expect ourselves to climb right back up and spur things on to a full gallop, but we can at least approach the horse.

Charlie's note: Given that I haven't posted in a week because I've fallen out of the saddle in a different way, this post was a perfect reflection of the power of acknowledging that you are where you are, but you're showing up nonetheless. "Fall down seven, stand up eight" - even if you're a little wobbly when you get back up.