At first, I find it a little hard to answer, as I believe I live every day in awe of memorable moments. \u00a0( you may have read here)
\nImmediately,\u00a0 I internally start a mad scramble for an answer more meaningful than the latest butterfly, bird, blossom or simple act of kindness that lit up my day.
\nToo ordinary or commonplace ..\u00a0 too simplistic?<\/p>\n
Upon reflection of recent events,\u00a0 let me now tell you about the most memorable thing in the last month,\u00a0 for me and if you\u2019ll bear with me, in honour of one of our hosts, himself a great storyteller –\u00a0 I shall endeavour to not leave too much out.<\/p>\n
As I have much spoken about here before, I am and have always been painfully shy.\u00a0 Not something I ever \u2018grew out of\u2019.\u00a0 It might even seem that at the wonderful age that I am now,\u00a0 (never mind) – that I am quite possibly even more introverted, but very comfortable with this. I can say I love and appreciate myself and the nature of me more than ever, knowing my own mind and I no longer struggle (much)\u00a0 with fighting against it.<\/p>\n
This past weekend, my husband proposes a brief getaway, a lovely night\u2019s stay at the Texas Longhorn Ranch.\u00a0 Where we are to stay overnight in a covered wagon, as guests of the owners whom my husband has met, done a catering for and greatly admirers, and one of whom I have met and already very much appreciate.
\nAs this is their business, let me just stop here for a brief little \u2018promo\u2019:<\/p>\n
\u00a0The Texas Longhorn Ranch\u00a0http:\/\/texaslonghornranch.com<\/a>\u00a0–\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>owned by Fred and Gail Cahill is a unique covered wagon B & B for adults, in the loveliest of settings, the countryside of Southwestern Ontario.<\/em><\/strong> Now if you happen to follow me here, you might know the above: relax, take a breath, see the stars, fireflies, birds \u2013 bask in the peace and quiet \u2026\u00a0\u00a0 well this pretty much describes my life, and these are things that I do very much appreciate always.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Then there is this\u2026\u00a0 \u201cEver get the urge to get on a horse, ride along the banks of the river\u2026\u201d\u00a0 –\u00a0 to which I say to my husband – I will fast-forward a delightful evening full of good conversation, a sit by the campfire and the magic of fireflies, even a roasting of marshmallows –\u00a0 to a beautiful morning\u2019s rising. Deliciously fresh soul nourishing breakfast, \u00a0that (with no disrespect to Gail) starts to blur a little in the growing panic of anxiety and fear that begins to overtake my state of being in the thought of \u2013 the morning ride.<\/p>\n I can feel it growing as we make our way to the horses.\u00a0 I do have a real fondness and great respect for animals of all kinds, and I try to explain to my husband that what I am feeling is not a rational kind of fear \u2013 it is not a safety issue,\u00a0 it is just currently a building, all consuming anxiety that is internally screaming bloody murder about how very far out of the comfort zone I have wandered!!!!! Then there is Mike, I think one could say, the boss here at the horses – another laid back, kind and very competent cowboy who gives us a briefing on rules and instructions, then assigns us our horses. My gratitude expands.<\/p>\n It has been less than twenty-four hours.\u00a0 We have not traveled so very far, I am grateful To Mike, Riley, Ellie, Miss Molly, Buck and the rest of the gang, Greg, Meagan as well as some pretty unique cattle, donkeys, a blue heron, rabbit and fireflies, even to the glory and beauty of the trees,\u00a0 but most especially to our hosts Fred and Gail Cahill \u2013<\/p>\n Our sincere Thanks and gratitude for all of your hard work, genuine hearts and indeed for the very kindness of You.<\/p>\n And to (finally) answer your question,\u00a0 that I think Fred,\u00a0 has been THE most memorable thing for me from my heart,\u00a0 to you <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" How to adequately thank someone for absolute kindness\u2026 The other night at dinner the gentleman across from me, whom I have just met, and have already taken a strong liking to, asks me, \u201cWhat was the most memorable thing for…
\nAdvertised as:\u00a0 \u201cEnjoy some Peace & Quiet\u2026 Unwind, Relax and of course Eat Well!\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>
\nFor those of you who just can\u2019t seem to stop long enough to take a breath\u2026 relax\u2026 see the stars and fireflies\u2026 listen to the birds \u2026 or just bask in the peace and quiet with a favourite book.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\u201cUh, No, not doing that.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It is here scaredy-cat me takes over,\u00a0 where something so out of my comfort zone has me quite quickly devouring myself in fear and anxiety.\u00a0 Where I wish to crawl deep inside my skin
\nand hide.
\nMy lovely husband who knows me well,\u00a0 schedules us anyway for a morning trail ride.
\nI decide to block this from my mind, and not ruin a nice getaway
\nwith fear.
\nSo we arrive, to the loveliest place,\u00a0 covered wagons nestled in a peaceful surrounding of trees and nature.
\nThe covered wagons are exquisite, upon entering, much larger than they might first seem and so beautifully decorated inside as to exude real luxury.
\nOutside, first I notice a tree right beside us with a hole that appears as a heart at its centre and I am most grateful to ground myself in this.\u00a0 Then as I look to where I can hear the sound of horses,\u00a0 (and once again fight off a little panic) I spot instead a large brown rabbit on his way to..
\nsomewhere.
\nAgain,\u00a0 I am blessed by nature.
\nWe settle in, admire the scenery and the trees, then head off to dinner,\u00a0 a fabulous meal prepared by Gail, that is beautiful, in no way overly complex,\u00a0 just delicious in flavours, colours and divine goodness –\u00a0 that is more than ample in proportion and fills us to bursting.
\nAnd then to the best part of our stay,\u00a0 when Gail comes to join us for a visit,\u00a0 followed soon after by her husband Fred just in from a day\u2019s work done, as well as their son Greg (my friend) and a lovely girl who is staying and working there, Ellie.\u00a0 Now I had not met Fred before, only heard of him \u2013 as he seems a kind of legendary cowboy –\u00a0 I was so pleasantly surprised by the meeting of this lovely man, with the very large smile, so much younger than I had expected somehow.
\nA genuine human being, laid back in nature, intelligent and thinking, an avid book lover (like me)\u00a0 and storyteller –\u00a0 and quite an accomplished man.
\nIt is instantly so very easy to see just why my husband has such a profound liking and deep respect for these lovely people.\u00a0 One feels just a wonderful ease in their company.
\nBoth Gail and Fred, so welcoming, so wonderfully intelligent, and talented, grounded in simple things and kind of heart.<\/p>\n
\nIt is here we meet Riley who will be leading the ride.\u00a0 Riley is equally as kind and lovely as one would expect to work here for these people and indeed with these animals.\u00a0 She issues us our required helmets.\u00a0 While a few of the other riders, including my husband grumble a little about the need for these \u2013 I am more than happy to just follow instructions trying hard to stay outwardly calm, concentrate on anything other than screaming and running away!
\n(Also,\u00a0 I have long since lost any vanity when it comes to safety \u2013 I very much value what is inside my head and am more than happy to keep it safe!)<\/p>\n
\nAt this point I can tell you,\u00a0 I am in complete and full panic mode, as Mike helps me on to my horse, and then goes on to get the others set.\u00a0 Now, Mike knows very well that I am most terrified, but doesn’t let on, he just offers kind instruction and then gets on with his tasks,\u00a0 as I outwardly try desperately to keep my growing panic, from spilling out.
\nMy husband has well informed them of this fact, by way of protection of me, as he can very much tell that I would rather crawl inside of myself ..\u00a0 or him than be here.
\n(It may be the look of death and abject fear that I give him, when he lovingly smiles my way!?!)
\nOf course, I am not the first nor will I be the last, to be scared and the people here are quite used to making others feel safe and know very well that the horses are quite capable of doing the same.\u00a0 Intellectually,\u00a0 this I know and I try hard to quell my growing fear with these facts, as I concentrate on not letting a flood of tears escape from under the disguise of my sunglasses.\u00a0 (not at all easy let me tell you!)
\nAnd then we start to ride.
\nIt is here, I take a deep breath…\u00a0 \u00a0I put my absolute trust in the universe.\u00a0 Although I remain a little scared I try (as I do)\u00a0 to leave my head and instead rest in my heart.\u00a0 I offer my horse \u2013 Miss Molly, \u00a0the respect she deserves and soften myself into trusting her kind and knowing nature.\u00a0 I offer her gratitude and appreciation as together we ease our way through.
\nI let go a little of the fear and panic, and instead take in the great beauty of our surroundings, and what a blessing it is to be here, doing this.
\nWhen the ride is finished, of course I am a little relieved, but mostly what I am is full to overflowing with great gratitude \u2026\u00a0 for kindness.
\nAnd in this \u2026\u00a0 I swell.
\nI thank Miss Molly first,\u00a0 I thank Riley, who says she is surprised to hear I was so fearful,\u00a0 \u201cYou looked so calm\u201d she says, and I smile.
\nI thank Mike, for his kindness, and I hope he knows just how very much the kind nature of him is truly appreciated.<\/p>\n
\nand yet…
\nI am a little proud of myself, I guess you could say \u2013 to have moved beyond fear.
\nBut mostly,\u00a0 what I am
\nis gratitude.<\/p>\n
\nfor love,
\nof a husband who knows me, protects me, comforts me, keeps me safe, more importantly-\u00a0 puts up with me \u2026\u00a0 still loves me.
\nI am grateful
\nfor nature, for quiet, for gentleness,
\nfor magic and beauty
\nand also, for that little bit of brave that rests in me,\u00a0 that waits patiently
\nand lovingly,\u00a0 in my heart
\nto be my armor
\nbut mostly, always, always
\nI am grateful
\nfor kindness
\nIt astounds me, it amazes me, it bolsters me, it grounds me
\nIt is the most beautiful blessing
\nwhen offered, when recognized, when appreciated
\nwhen shared
\nAnd always it is for me the most memorable thing.<\/p>\n
\nin the last month.<\/p>\n
\nwith gratitude \u2665<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/tamara.tedzplace.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/IMG_9632.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/tamara.tedzplace.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/IMG_9623.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2208,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[52,103,109,110,108,26],"class_list":["post-2203","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-gratefulliving","tag-kindnessalwayscounts","tag-scaredbutdiditanyway","tag-thepoweroflove","tag-wisdomofhorses","tag-writinglife"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tamara.tedzplace.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2203","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tamara.tedzplace.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tamara.tedzplace.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tamara.tedzplace.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tamara.tedzplace.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2203"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/tamara.tedzplace.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2203\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2213,"href":"https:\/\/tamara.tedzplace.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2203\/revisions\/2213"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tamara.tedzplace.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2208"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tamara.tedzplace.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2203"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tamara.tedzplace.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2203"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tamara.tedzplace.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2203"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}