As the seasons turn and the year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on what I’ve learned from humans, horses, nature, and from a steady practice of gratitude. 

This year, I am learning to listen more deeply
to the whispers of my soul,
to the soft exhale of a horse beside me,
to the wind blowing through the trees,
and to the silence that holds me and says,
“Be still. You are here, and you are home.”

Horses have been teaching me presence, without words,
with a language spoken in gestures and rhythm.
They graze peacefully, beneath the clear, blue sky,
unbothered by the clouds floating overhead,
reminding me gracefully to see the beauty and choose joy.

Nature offers a quiet, similar wisdom
about life and living:
that our roots are interconnected,
and there is a season for letting go.
That gratitude and change go hand in hand,
and growth happens in the spaces
between effort and ease, and between grief and joy.

I am thankful
for every session, lesson, and hoofbeat,
for the sun shining on the cottonwoods and
the falling leaves,
for chilly mornings, and chai tea,
for friends and colleagues who connect with me.
I appreciate the years behind me,
the grace of this work,
the ways the world continues to teach me to slow down,
soften, breathe deeply,
and trust the rhythm of life.