Every year at this time I set goals for the coming year. I first reflect on the goals I had set for the year gone by, and evaluate how I worked towards those goals and how far I got in attaining them. Usually I have three, or four goals. One may be a personal goal, another about my work and another about my family life. Writing them down makes them more real, and then I place them somewhere I will see them regularly. Perhaps in my agenda, or on the family bulletin board. There are various strategies to work towards a goal. Some people like to break a goal down into small, easily attainable parts. A lot of us find it easier to attain a goal by sharing it with someone who will keep us accountable. You can do this with a friend, or in a more structured way with a group that meets regularly. A goal provides a focus that hopefully is meaningful to you, and helps you live in a way that is personally satisfying.

Many people ask me how the horses manage when it is bitterly cold outside. The herd at The Equine Connection are all in very good health. They have all grown a thick, long winter coat to get them through the winter months. Although I rarely blanket my horses, I will blanket an older horse that is having trouble keeping her/his weight on. One of the senior horses right now is Landor. He will be 20 years old in January. Although 20 is not particularly old for many breeds, he has most certainly entered his senior years. He is very large - 18 hands 2. The largest horse I have ever met. He has arthritis and lives with a body that has had more than its fair share of injuries. One of the ladies who has befriended Landor offered a nice, warm blanket big enough to fit him. He looks very handsome in his blanket, and is very appreciative, as am I. As my colleague Helen explained to me, the blanket simply helps conserve body heat. In addition to the horses growing a winter coat for the winter, and Landor getting a blanket to supplement his own fur, if it is extremely cold I feed them extra hay. So, the herd is set for the winter and will now enjoy some rest from the equine-assisted learning and therapy work they do in the spring, summer and fall. Just like us they too need pauses and it is good self-care for them to have the winter off from work.

I am reading 'Everyday Grace: having hope, finding forgiveness, and making miracles' by Marianne Williamson. The book provides a simple tool for dealing with difficult situations. The author urges us to notice when we are scared, and not to act on the fear, or react to the fear, but to challenge ourselves to look at the situation from a perspective of compassion and love. She is not promoting an acceptance of offensive behaviour. She is simply suggesting that we will find more internal peace by looking at a difficult situation from a perspective of love and kindness. It may be that the only action we take is to soothe ourselves by changing our inner dialogue to mirror a perspective of compassion. If we do choose to do something with the other person/people involved in the situation, she is advocating that the conversation start by acknowledging the meaningfulness of the relationship between yourself and the other person, and only then to go on to state your position. Her vision is that even if the immediate situation does not change, at least your inner experience will be more peaceful and will reflect the fact that we are all connected and affect each other. Food for thought!