Happy Valentine's Day
It’s Valentines – which made me think for a moment… I don’t do the whole “significant other” … I love my independence and the ability to up and off at a moment’s notice, and having to discuss with a partner about what, where and how is really not my thing. I even resist going on holidays with a friend, since there is always the, “Well, where would you like to go, and what would you like to eat?” conversation. But I do have a whole team of “matchmakers” in my life, without whom, what I do would be impossible…
In every city that I go, I have a wonderful lady (I really don’t know why they are all ladies – come on guys, catch up), who organises my life. They chat to venue owners, they contact riders, they cajole people who they think would be interested in booking a strange lesson with an unknown person, and they “matchmake” all my meetings and lessons. I believe there have been literal blood, sweat and tears involved…Sometimes, they get it wrong – oh my, yes. They’ll arrange a lesson with someone who’s mindset and ethics is a mile off mine, hoping that we may have a meeting of ideas, but the rider is really not ready to discuss a new way of thinking, and it’s that really awkward blind date – especially with the pony being the third wheel and trying to side of the more friendly, relaxed way of working. But generally, my matchmakers are right on the money. Once they convince a rider to have one lesson, we usually have a lot more.Once they are set up with those who all are interested, my amazing helpers then get into hyper organised mode, and fill my dance card… It’s really no use me trying from the other side of the globe – people contacting me, saying can I have a lesson at this time in venue A, when someone else is an hour later at venue B, and I don’t have a clue where anything is, or the politics of who is welcome to who’s yard…. So, by the time I arrive, there is a colour coded, beautifully efficient list of names, times, locations, and all I have to do is pitch up. It’s just MAGIC!And, my wonderful helpers don’t even stop there! Many welcome me into their homes, they cook vegetarian meals (even if it’s out of their norm), they ply me with chocolate, coffee and wine, they don’t complain about how I am so not a morning person, they fetch and carry, they share their cats, and they’re just awesome.
One of these special people was quizzing me for the dates I’m looking at for their area – I told her some dates, and, the very next day, she tells me that there are over 90 lessons booked – talk about speed dating!Last week, one amazing organiser, organised a massage, lunch, chocolate, and tourism on the free day – this week, my current spectacular person is sourcing cough sweets, painkillers and “knock it on the head” flu meds. You see, my life is like Valentines every day!If you are the kind of person who likes having a “significant other human” in your life – Happy Valentines. If your S.O., is four legged – well done you, even happier days. And, if you’re like me – buy yourself that chocolate, it’s all about treating your self right! Oh, and please buy a carrot for your pony!