Flying lessons

[singlepic id=2 w=320 h=240 float=left]It’s a beautiful May morning, I just got out to let sky for a run. What a magical place this is, the ground is wet from the night rain and sun rising is gracing everything with a beautiful shine. The chirping of birds is an open concerto and as I stand on the patio two white wagtails get closer and closer, one flying high and chirping vigorously the other having some difficulty keeping in the air just brushed my shoulder and slammed on the bannister. It took me few seconds to recognize what was it all about. It was a jung bird learning to fly and obviously the other was one of the parents giving instructions and supporting the efforts. they both got so close. I can just imagine the level of risk they took. They would never come so close in normal circumstances. All that risk just to learn to fly!!

Tags: Introspection, Journey

The boys are back in town

In a couple of days the boys will be back from Italy, I know they enjoyed their holiday very much. I don’t think I ever missed so much like these two weeks,Especially last week. Being in Leitrim without them, messing around was quite unusual. It was a pity there were a lot of kids around for easter I’m sure they would have had a great time .

Yesterday evening I took part to JCI meeting, it was quite by chance really and I had a great privilege to listen to Lisa O’Shea, the daughter of the founder of Goal. It is so reassuring to know that there are such wonderful people like Lisa and Marianne in the world, they are blessed with a unique view the world and a wonderful power to inspire others. I’m struggling to describe the quality that makes them so, it is a blend of relentless optimism, coupled with an assertive intolerance for ignorance (the kind of ignorance that mistakes abundance for greed).

I often wonder if there is a switch somewhere in our soul that can turn us in the extraordinary creature we can be. I often wonder where is mine in any case, but I guess that is the reason I’m on this hearth. To find that switch… 😉

Tags: son

Choices

These have been trying days, the project have been making very slow progress. The key challenge for me is making sure to do something very small every day to keep the idea alive till is the time of departure. The search for a field front started yearn some results, we found something suitable, for sale instead of rent. The field has a lot of potential for our future family plans and has opened a new series of challenges. Shall we try and buy?… It is amazing to think that it all started 6 years ago when Matthew wanted to try horse riding. As any parent would do we supported him, 6 years later our entire life is pervaded by horses 🙂

Yes maybe this is a path we need to follow. A few years ago I remember reading a wonderful Book, ‘Synchronicity’ by Joseph Jaworsky. In the book one of the passages that got my attention was when the author explained and interesting metaphor; this is my recalling of it:

Life is like a river and we often trying to row our canoe against the current. Pretty soon we find that despite the incredible effort, we don’t make much progress. When we finally decide to turn the canoe around and follow the flow of the river we discover that we can go a long way without too much effort.[singlepic id=1 w=320 h=240 float=right]

The way I interpreted this passage is that life has a way of ‘unfolding’, I have the choice to row along with the flow of life or against it. I also have the choice to just stop along the shore and wait for something to happen. There is no fault in any of these choices I make; as long as I recognise that is my own choice, and that I’m ready to deal with the consequences and accept the implications. And Know that any day I can make a different chice: row against the current, row with the current, or just wait another day for something to happen.

For me this is an empowering thought.

Tags: Horses, project

The new site

I’ve been working on building the site so that is all included in one single place and has the same look and feel, I’m really enjoying working in wordpress is so easy and intuitive. More than anything I’m enjoying learning about working with the web. It is kind of amazing to think that I worked for IBM for more than 9 years and I never felt the motivation to put up my web site :-). And now it is hard to get away from playing around with it.

Well I guess there is a time for everything…

In the last few days there have been a lot of developments, the quest for a site has almost turned into a purchase of 20 acres land, still a work in progress. Some prospective option for our horses companion have been also surfacing, nothing certain yet, just possibilities.

I’ve got back to my rowing machine, and I’m planning to be doing some Yoga too, I know that body flexibility will be of essence. Rachel gave me some lessons on Cara, while lounging her, only half an hour, my legs remained stiff for 3 days I couldn’t even cross them ;-0.

The whole project entered a into a steady pace mode. It is ticking one day at the time….

Tags: Horses, project, son

Questions…

At time it is difficoult to find the right words to explain what is at work inside. In the last few weeks a number of emotion have been surfacing some very new for me. I’m looking for the right words and as these are new emotions  the search is an adventure in itself.

So let me see if I can paint a picture of it. It feels like there is a wonderful green field in front of me very inviting, it represent the freedom that is so important to me and the only thing I have to do is step into  it and run and jump and breathe in the fresh crystal air.

Yet as I try to do so it feels like there is some thing pulling back almost like a giant rubber band, it feels like it. What I found difficult is to see where it is attached to me and how come I cannot get free from it.

It doesn’t feel strong at all and I’m sure that if I pull hard enough it will give, yet I’m wondering if it will also pull something along with it.

So here there are the words, I’ve been going trough this emotional up and down for a while now, is this project a great idea or it is just a whim? I have been looking outside for signs that would tell me “yes Fabio go for it!”, and I found a lot of them all very encouraging, then I started to look also for signs that would tell me the opposite “Fabio what is this all about?”, and I didn’t really found many, and the few I did found where very weak (well I didn’t say anything to mum about this yet, I’m sure she will provide a good few ones anyway). So I started looking for sign against the project  inside, there I found something really interesting.

I keep asking myself the same question why am I doing this for? I mean really why am I doing this for?

And the more I come up with rational answers the more I found myself questioning them. So I’m at a point where my curiosity is driving the whole project; I really want to know why am I doing this for. (and a new question surface at the same time : ” is this the kernel of my motivation? Curiosity?”)

And as ask myself this question I’m wondering what is Matthew thinking about it. I guess I’ll have ask him 🙂

Tags: Adventure, project

Meeting Mise

It has been another intensive week, it certainly started in style when we got to meet Mise, the Criollo that accompaigned Marianne across two americas. And as I suspected Matthew fell in love with her, he even got to ride Mise bare back, the contentment in his face was a priceless. And he was full of beans and ideas afterwords 🙂

The project pieces are falling into places one at the time. To be truthful I’m still eager to start, but what I’m experiencing in the last few weeks is telling me that there is a certain value in holding my patience.

I’m not quite sure how to describe it. A good metaphor would be “waiting for the planets to align”. It feels like there is a series of event that are waiting to fall into place. I’m not quite sure what those events are. What I do know is that I have become able to recognize them when they are there or they are approaching and that is what counts.

Yes I guess is that sense of living in the moment. Carpe Diem. which I always believed was to size the moment as it come. Really what I’m experiencing is the I don’t have to size the moment for the sake of sizing it. Each moment, each experience has a deep value to itself and when I do understand its value and make a conscious decision to act (and the action is consistent with who I am at that instant), then and only then I’m living in that moment.

Tags: project, track, west

The Stuff of Legends…

Wow time is flowing at an incredible pace I’ve been dedicating the last few evening researching equipment and learning about web site building and only now realized that is already almost a week since my last post.

It’s amazing to see how technology is progressing so fast. I was looking for a tent for the journey. The key is to keep the weight down to a minimum. Without pack horse all we carry with us will have to be accommodated between the two horses we will be riding. I understand that for such a lengthy journey the maximum a horse can carry is around 1/5 of its weight that means that that we will probably have less than 20 kilos each to carry.

I found a wonderous Terra Nova Laser tent that packed wights at 1.24 Kg. that is impressive, just what I need the downside is that with the weight reducing the price seems increasing. The same goes for all the rest of the equipment. so I’m starting now a shopping list to check out costs. Maybe if I found everything at a single store there is a chance I can ask for a discount.

I’m also considering hydration backpacks with 2 litres each per day. I’m a bit conscious about the weight on the shoulders but the practicality is undoubtedly there –  no need to pack bottles or anything like it.

The next thing I’m pricing is the horse first aid kit, there again there a whole new world to learn. Rachel is giving me lessons about what to do and what not to do with horses from basic grooming to understanding the intricate patterns of horse communication. Is not really that different from human communication if nothing else the words don’t get in the way. Is all about body language, ears moving direction twitching of muscles on the withers, it is all fascinating and at the same time it makes perfect sense.

I’m become more aware of each horse personality and this makes it easy now I think I know what it means to choose the right horse, there is a combination of fitness, suitability to the project but more than everything a sort of chemistry.

This reminds me what this journey is all about …. It is about Partnership, sharing a journey and working together to make it happen. just last week I had the privilege to hear Alexander Dunlop who is a management consultant that uses the patterns of mythology and storytelling to help organizations identify their image and branding. What struck me what his idea of the adventure, the initial reluctance, reaching the commitment, finding the guide all the way to facing the dragon and eventually the return. I can certainly see myself in the first few steps. When I had the idea there has been a long period of uncertainty between the want it to go and the hope the idea would disappear. Then building the website represented my commitment. I guess when Marianne responded to my e-mail so quickly I found my guide, she has been really supportive since then and she certainly is a very inspiring guide…. I’m just wondering when will I face my dragon, I think I can feel it approaching fast. 🙂

Tags: Adventure, Horses, Journey, Legends, Partnership, project, son, track, west

Following the flow…

Is a few days that I’m resisting the temptation to write in this blog, I’m not quite sure of the real reason, I guess is that lingering fear this might be too big a project.

At the week end I followed Oriana suggestion and I checked out the Long Riders Guild. It is indeed an incredible resource, I contacted the founder and I got immediate reply and support. I’m sure that despite my journey is not up to the Guilds standards they will be a significant source of information and help.

I began reading some of the incredible stories of riders around the world that accomplished incredible adventures and for a moment I allowed myself to dream what an exciting life style that can be. “One journey at the time Fabio” I keep telling myself, but hey dreams are for free. Turning them into reality is great fun 🙂

In the last couple of weeks I have been noticing a significant change in Matthew’s mood and manner of interaction with others. A very positive one, he is much more approachable and open to others than ever before. It is great to see him like that 🙂 I have great hopes for our journey and I have the impression that he is starting to get involved.

I’ve been receiving a lot of very useful suggestion and advice from a lot of colleagues and friends and I’m starting to keep a record of things I have to put into action.

Maybe I also identified a possible suitable horse, but I will need to ask its owner if they will be willing to let me use it.

A piece of the Puzzle at the time and I’m sure the big picture will take shape… 😉

Tags: Adventure, Journey, project, son

Migration to WordPress

I’ve just completed the migration of my blog entries from iWeb to WordPress. It was easy enough however in the process it seems I’ve lost the entry from my good old friend John and that of Anonymous CW. Guys I’m really really sorry about that and I really wish you will see this post and continue to contribute with your thoughts.

Thank you.

Tomorrow I will migrate Matt’s blog too, by doing that it will enable him to make his inputs even when I’m not at home.

The First Act of Kindness

Wow, on monday I send an e-mail to 800+ people announcing this journey. My heart was racing so fast that I had to get out of the house for a very long walk after that.
When I came back There was a lot of e-mail in my westrack inbox and for a minute I panicked “I wont be able to respond to them all!” I thought to myself. While I’m teaching communication I’m not that good at keeping in touch as I would like to.

Yet every single message I received was incredibly supportive and gave me a huge amount of courage to keep going.

After a while a thought started to form “Have I been sendimg out the right message? I’m wonder how many people will take up the challenge of a random act of Kindness?” I don’t know If I have sent the right message out but today I opened one mail and here it was ;-)) the very first Act of Kindness.

Thank you to Lucinda and Simon Boucher for making a donation to the Temple Street Children Hospital in Dublin. While I haven’t yet met Lucinda I know Simon since just over a year and you could always trust him in being the one to lead the way.

Thank you again guys.

Tags: Journey, project, track, west