Signature Themes: Learner

My fourth signature theme is "Learner." 

I had to laugh when I read the description.  I'd be willing to bet that the majority of dressage riders are Learners. 

We are drawn to learning.  The process, more than the result, is what excites us.  ...as in my favorite dressage saying "it's about journey."  Right?



My first dressage show -- with Starman -- 2002


Learners are energized by the steady and deliberate journey from ignorance to competence.  We love to practice what we've learned, we revel in the confidence of a skill mastered... and then we move on to the next skill.  Right?

First show on Auke -- 2005

Learners engage in adult learning experiences like yoga or piano lessons or graduate classes .... or dressage.  Right?

After a clinic -- with Auke

And, finally, the learner theme does not mean that you seek to become the subject matter expert (FEI rider, World Cup competitor) or that you are striving for a professional credential (although I would love to earn my USDF bronze medal). 

First show with Jackson - 2009

I'm not sure how this plays out at work but it sure matches my personal life.  Dressage, yoga, French... all serious addictions.

Show of hands.  How many of you went "me too" as you read this one?

Signature Themes: Connectedness

My third signature theme is connectedness.  I believe we are all connected.  Connected to each other, connected to the earth, and connected to the universe.  What goes around, comes around.  You reap what you sow.  -- even -- It's a small world after all.  This connectedness is at the heart of my spirituality.  I'm a card carrying Catholic but I haven't darkened a church door in... well, a long time.   My soul is lifted by beautiful music, by liturgy, by connecting with another person and by the beauty of this world.

At the same time, I am hugely turned off by Jesus Saves billboards and people saying "Praise the Lord" and "God Bless You" or telling me to say a certain prayer, in a certain way, to ensure my salvation.  My faith is an intensely private thing.  

This connectedness belief shapes how I treat people.  I tend to be accepting and tolerant of others - since we are all connected.  One of the exceptions is people who mistreat their animals, children or spouses. Abuse is hard for me to tolerate or understand.   Abuse to anyone or anything breaks the connection, breaks the person or animal, and breaks all of us. 
I went through formation and training to be a spiritual director a number of years ago at the suggestion and encouragement of my own spiritual director.  Although I am not formally directing anyone at the moment, the formation itself and the way it changed how I look at relationship was, and is, transformative.  I provided spiritual direction to a woman in prison until her release and that brought relationship, forgiveness, and connectedness together in a unique and powerful way.  Sometimes I miss that ministry but right now it's all I can do to keep up with work in the office and work in the barn.  My ministry is to my family and the animals.

That may seem weird to you.  Ministry to our animals, I mean.  I'm not a totally holistic person in the sense that I use only herbal remedies and such.  But I do believe in listening to our animals.  I listen by tuning into their behavior, their eyes, their sighs, and their needs.  I connect to them and they connect to me.  I keep our ranch organic as much as possible (Brett does use weed killer from time to time, he thinks I carry this organic thing too far at times), I support our local organic farm, and I buy from like minded businesses as much as possible.

I am addicted to enjoy blogging because it connects me to so many people, all over this country and all over the world.

Signature Themes: Intellection

The second signature theme that drives me is called "Intellection."  This does not mean I am an intellectual, thinking deep thoughts.  It simply means that I like to think.  As in, I can't turn the brain off even when I want to.  And, obviously, the equestrian discipline that never lets you stop thinking is....dressage.  Bingo.  Think about training, think about tests, think about rhythm and tempo and impulsion and schwang... think.  think.  think.

Here is the definition given by the book/survey tool (emphasis mine):

You like to think. You like mental activity. You like exercising the “muscles” of your brain, stretching them in multiple directions. This need for mental activity may be focused; for example, you may be trying to solve a problem or develop an idea or understand another person’s feelings your horse. The exact focus will depend on your other strengths. On the other hand, this mental activity may very well lack focus. The theme of Intellection does not dictate what you are thinking about; it simply describes that you like to think. You are the kind of person who enjoys your time alone because it is your time for musing and reflection. You are introspective. In a sense you are your own best companion, as you pose yourself questions and try out answers (is he off or unbalanced?  if I half halt in a corner, does he rebalance? ) on yourself to see how they sound. This introspection may (often) lead you to a slight sense of discontent as you compare what you are actually doing with all the thoughts and ideas that your mind conceives. Or this introspection may tend toward more pragmatic matters such as the events of the day or a conversation that you plan to have later. Wherever it leads you, this mental hum is one of the constants of your life. 

Poor Jackson.  I'm constantly thinking of new patterns to ride, new turn out schedules, and I analyze each ride to death before, during and after.  These pictures are from a lesson this past January.

 

Signature Themes: Input

In a few weeks, I will start attending a leadership academy at work.  This is training that we are putting all of our supervisors, managers, directors and VPs through.  In preparation, I was given a book to read and a test to take.  The test identified my top five signature themes - or strengths.  The idea is to concentrate on your strengths and use them to excel.  -- don't try to fix what is wrong, build on what is right --

Of course, I looked at my top five strengths (there are 32 strenghts total) and immediately thought of my relationship with my horse.

My number one theme/strength is "input."  Defined as this:

You are inquisitive. You collect things. You might collect information—words, facts, books, and quotations—or you might collect tangible objects such as butterflies, baseball cards, porcelain dolls, or sepia photographs. Whatever you collect, you collect it because it interests you. And yours is the kind of mind that finds so many things interesting. The world is exciting precisely because of its infinite variety and complexity. If you read a great deal, it is not necessarily to refine your theories but, rather, to add more information to your archives. If you like to travel, it is because each new location offers novel artifacts and facts. These can be acquired and then stored away. Why are they worth storing? At the time of storing it is often hard to say exactly when or why you might need them, but who knows when they might become useful? With all those possible uses in mind, you really don’t feel comfortable throwing anything away. So you keep acquiring and compiling and filing stuff away. It’s interesting. It keeps your mind fresh. And perhaps one day some of it will prove valuable.

My initial reaction was "yes, inquisitive.  No, collect things."  I hate knick knacks and clutter.  I am a regular contributor to Goodwill.

However, I do have a few collections.

I have every kitchen gadget known to man.  Just ask Brett.

I was a lit major, okay?  With studies in philosophy, French and theology tossed in for good measure.

And my dad makes wine.  Damn good wine.  This collection is his fault.  He got me started.

You can never have too many pairs of riding breeches. 

Seven apple trees; six varieties.  And I dream of more.

I have no idea why I have so many saddle pads.  A few belong to Brett.  But 90% mine.

I have TWO tack bags for Jackson.  Four brushes, three curries... out of control.

Leg wraps -- every style and color imaginable.

Leather cleaner.  Is a different one really necessary for boots, bridles, western & dressage saddles??

Okay.  I admit that I collect stuff.  But its only really important stuff.  Necessary stuff.  Right?