A new fellow moved into the barn this week. His barn name is Joe, though his registered name is a mile long and beyond my ability to pronounce. We’ve had some interesting conversations. Joe’s been around. He’s very smart and worldly, and a really nice fellow.
Joe and I watched the barn’s farrier working on one of the young horses, and started talking about our experiences with farriers. He told me about a guy who was so sure he knew everything there was to know about feet, that he wouldn’t listen to anyone else. This farrier told the horse owners that HE was the trained professional, and they had to agree with anything and everything he decided to do with their horses’ feet, no questions asked, or they had to find another farrier.
I remembered a saying I once heard, that the dumbest people are the ones who think they know everything. When I shared it with Joe, he started to laugh. He said his owner told the guy the same thing, and then immediately hired a different farrier. While Joe’s person respected the man’s training and experience, she also has a great deal of horse knowledge and experience of her own. She was not about to ignore her responsibility of making sure that her horse had the best care possible. She would not blindly give complete control of her horse’s care over to anyone, no matter how much they claimed to know.
There are two lessons here. One: don’t give your personal power over to anyone, especially if they demand it. The very fact that someone demands blind obedience should make you suspect. Only those who are insecure about their own knowledge or abilities would demand that you follow them without question. Someone who really does know what they are doing would welcome questions as an opportunity to explain.
The second lesson is to remember to always remain the student no matter how accomplished you may be. There is always more to learn. As soon as you think you know it all, your mind closes. Remember, learning, like life, is a process and a journey, not a destination. The mind is like a parachute. To function properly, it must be open!
I’m so glad my own farrier is always learning. He’s kept my feet feeling good for a long time. And, when he learns about new techniques or reads the latest research, he’s willing to share it with Jane. That gives her the opportunity to learn as well, and helps her make good decisions regarding my care.
Are you still learning? How could you attain some new information today? Make it your goal to learn something new in the next 24 hours, and then share it with me. Okay? I want to learn too!
Love, Moshi
From Indy:
Yeehaw! I get to go swimming! The pool is open for dogs today and a bunch of my friends are coming over to play catch the ball in the water. Rhett is going to take me and has loaded all my toys in the pool bag. Rhett’s a great ball thrower. I just love swimming! It’s my favorite thing!
Sometimes, after a long day in the pool, I get muscle sore. It’s a small price to pay for having so much fun. Jane and Rhett get a little sore sometimes, too! Did you know that people can eat pineapple to help with stiffness and muscle soreness? There’s an enzyme in pineapple called bromelain that helps take the lactic acid out of muscles. You can get it in an inexpensive pill at the vitamin store, or simply eat fresh pineapple. It can make a big difference in how sore you might feel after a hard workout!
Eating right and exercising is easy for me. I eat the good stuff Jane and Rhett give me, and I love to run and play. People, on the other hand, have to make choices. Making good choices can be hard sometimes. Sugar and fatty foods make the brain feel a few moments of enjoyment, even though it’s not good for the rest of the body. Processed foods can be really bad for us, but the food industry has made these foods taste so good that they’re really hard to resist.
How do you find the strength to ignore what your mouth wants and eat what your body wants and needs instead? Understanding that this is a CHOICE is the first step. Do you CHOOSE that moment on the taste buds over the good feeling of a healthy body? If so, just know that you’ve made that choice. It’s not good or bad, it’s just a choice. You’re not powerless, and you’re not a victim of your appetite. You just need to CHOOSE what is more important to you. Health or taste. Short term or long term.
I’m afraid I’m not a very good example of someone who only eats what’s good for me. If it hits the floor, it’s mine. I don’t have much self-control, and have to trust that Jane will make those good decisions for me. I have, however, chosen to not eat any more dead mice. Ick… once was enough. I learned my lesson.
Just for today, let’s eat what we know is really GOOD for our bodies! Raw foods, unprocessed, low in sodium, rich in color and freshness. Add some pineapple. Get some exercise. And let me know how you feel! If you’re not feeling good mentally, add some coconut oil to your diet. Make sure it is PURE coconut oil. Recently, scientists discovered a brain food in coconut oil that may help with all kinds of mental issues from Alzheimer to depression to autism. Check it out!
Since I’m in Florida for the winter, I can eat raw coconuts right off the trees! Would you crack one open for me? I want to get to the good stuff on the inside.
Love, Indy
Jane Savoie
1174 Hill St ext.
Berlin, VT 05602