Here’s something I don’t recommend: four hours of grueling chainsaw work.
Yes, that’s something I decided to do recently. The truth is I find that sort of thing somewhat satisfying…that is, until I can’t stand up the next day. Given my love of running and riding horses, I’ve been really fortunate that I’ve never really had many major aches and pains over the years. But the chainsawing really did a number on me. It put me on the sidelines for a month or so. I’m not going to lie when I tell you that it set off a little bit of a panic. Being active and able to do the things I love is part of who I am. It’s how I self-identify. Pain that makes literally everything uncomfortable is a foreign experience for me.
I’ve been reading a book called The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan Holiday. The whole premise of the book is that difficulty and struggle is part of life. While we all know this on some level, it remains kind of abstract most of the time. But when trouble is at our own doorsteps, we tend to resist. When we hit that wall of resistance—in our bodies, in our businesses, in our training, in our minds and in our hearts – it seems we jump right to “Well, that’s it! This is the end of the line. I’m dead! Guess it’s just time to give up, throw in the towel and start over!” Rarely do we go with the idea that the struggle is just the beginning of the next level; that new level when the real work begins. Very few of us face resistance and think “Ok, well now is when I need to dig deep inside. I need to rediscover my strength, determination and commitment to what I’m seeking.”
It’s not lost on me that The Chainsaw Episodel happened close to the 5-year anniversary of starting Mare. I like to be honest about my journey so I’ll just tell you: this has been the hardest year for me. I don’t know if it’s the after-effects of the pandemic, international financial woes looming on the horizon, or the political unrest and tension – not to mention all the regular old life things that happen every day. I’ve mulled all of it over. And honestly, none of the “reasons” really matter. There’s never a better or worse time to do anything. Because if we’re all being truly honest, none of us have any control over anything except how we choose to respond to our life experiences. Wait for the perfect time, and it may never come. There will always be reasons to hold off for another time. But as country singer Garth Brooks says—sort of—“(what) if tomorrow never comes?”
Owning a business is like owning a horse. You’ve got to show up, be present, work really hard and then, at the end of the day, surrender the outcome. Day in and day out. When trouble arises and you hit a wall, you don’t quit, you just keep working at it. And you try not to do it with panic or frustration but with openness and curiosity, right? I don’t know about you but that’s literally the opposite of what I want to do in those moments. I want to freak out, imagine every possible worst case scenario and then make massive global changes without any logical strategy that may or may not work! Sometimes I want to freeze or run. Moving calmly forward—even in the face of uncertainty—is never my go-to behavior. My tendency is to be a spooky mare who intermittently bolts at really scary things. (Unsurprisingly, I’m a nightmare to coach as well. Just ask my trainer.)
But here’s what I’m working on, in my personal life and in my business life: I’m learning how NOT to catastrophize (is that even a word?). Having a creative mind is a blessing and a curse. So I’m making conscious, intentional efforts to remind myself that bad months and short-term delays are not forever delays. They’re not a sign that the end is near. They are opportunities to dig in deeper, practice more patience and get more creative. Bad days are a reminder to be open to new ideas and to always keep going. (Well, unless you can’t get out of bed because you decided to wield a heavy chainsaw for four hours.)
Here’s to keeping it moving!