The Theory of Convergence

Screenshot from Screenshot from "Say Anything"

Diane Court: “I have this theory of convergence, that good things always happen with bad things. I know you have to deal with them at the same time, but I just don’t know why they have to happen at the same time. I just wish I could work out some schedule. Am I just babbling? Do you know what I mean?”

Lloyd Dobler: “No.”

I know what she means, and I am a firm believer in her theory!

I haven’t written a blog in two weeks. The last blog I wrote was a huge success (at least from my point of view). I was hoping to be on the proverbial roll with my blogging. My pony and I were also making huge strides towards getting back into the competition ring, something I haven’t really hit full on since having my first child. I was all set to write the next Nobel Prize winning blog (that’s a real thing, right?) and send off my first horse trial entry in quite awhile. Yay, right?! Nope. No yays, only bummers.

My car bit me. And by bit me I mean, while checking the anti-freeze, the hydraulics on the hood failed, slamming said hood onto my hand and latching, trapping my hand in the hood. Did I mention I was on the SIDE of the car? Ummm, yeah … couldn’t reach anything that might help the situation. How about the fact that I was in the employee parking lot at 3 o’clock in the afternoon where no one could see me? Yeah, it was something of a fiasco.

Before you start thinking the absolute very worst … my guardian angels were working overtime that day. I was very, very afraid I had broken bones in my hand and fingers, which were somehow also involved. Miraculously (and I mean that in all seriousness), I did not. I did however miss several days of work, riding and typing, which brings me to Diane’s theory of convergence (which is featured in one of my favorite movies, “Say Anything.”)

Those of us with horses and ESPECIALLY eventers should be well versed in this theory. What can go wrong, will go wrong and all that … I tend to be a glass-half-full kinda gal, but dang it, sometimes I just wonder what gives! That’s when I have to remind myself of the absolute beauty of what we do. A bunch of folks have written about it and would agree that it is all about the journey! It is! Theory of convergence or not, we are very blessed as eventers and horse people to be fighters at heart. We “take a lickin’ and keep on tickin'” — we do!

Your horse throws a bucking fit in dressage resulting in a score no one could love? Oh well, cross country is tomorrow! Good and bad together. Two tires blow on your trailer making you miss your ride times, but the torrential rain caused the show to be cancelled anyway. Good and bad together. Your amazing, wonderful first horse has to be retired because of lameness causing heartbreak and sadness, but you luck into an amazing youngster soon after … good and bad together.

It is not always easy, and some days you just want to scream! I did scream! A lot! Both during and after my hand was trapped.  However, what I learned is that you somehow pull yourself up by your boot straps, dust yourself off, lament the fingernails that will fall off eventually, and come up with a new plan. The bad is past, and the good is on the way.

There are other horse trials out there; there are still blogs to be written (cough, cough.) The good always follows the bad and vice versa. The lesson is learning to accept and appreciate the journey. The lesson is to kick on, and that’s exactly what I plan to do.