I've spent the majority of my life running roughshod - over, through, across - not just people, but the animals I've handled, too. That is, until I started to understand the concept of "feel." I'm fortunate to be in a place where everyone around me, operates their life with feel.
To some, feel may only be one of our five senses. But to others, myself included it's more, so much more. It has a meaning that you can spend your whole life searching for. It may seem abstract at first, but once you get a taste of it, you'll want to try to hunt it up again, I'm sure.
Feel: verb (used with object), felt, feeling.
To be or become conscious of - that's the definition that best fits with what I'm learning right now.
I spent my Fourth of July weekend running barrels at rodeos. What I learned was that my feel still isn't where it needs to be. All three runs, I was in my horse's way in some form or fashion - just like I'm often in my own way when it comes to my relationships with people. And in all of our runs I found myself not feeling for my horse, though he clearly felt back to me, which meant our timing was off, which meant we didn't clock.
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Just like in barrel racing, in riding, in being the best person you can be, life requires feel ...
We've all been around that person who makes us feel good inside, right? As we hang out with them, we feel more confident, more encouraged, maybe even 10-feet tall and bulletproof. That person exudes confidence and they likely feel their way through situations - by using good timing and good instincts to help those around them become the best they can be.
Being that graceful as a person is my goal. Sometimes, I still come across as a bull in a china shop - and leave a wake of destruction in my path. I never mean to, mind you. My feel and timing aren't as bright as they should be. No matter the reason, it is what it is, and all I can do is work on me to be better today than I was yesterday.
As I get better with my horses, I should get better with people and vice versa. Feel is feel regardless of the situation in which it's used. My goal is to have better feel today than I had yesterday. What's yours?
