My niece and I baking cookies at my mom's house! (photo taken by Anya Gendal)
As I stood fully garbed in my Carhartt winter suit this morning, while mucking my stalls, I got to thinking about the holidays and what Christmas really means to me. When you’re a small child, Christmas means one thing: GIFTS and MORE GIFTS. I remember scavenging around the house as a kid desperately looking for my parent’s secret hiding place. Of course, once my sisters and I found that forbidden location, we would compare not only the size of each of our gifts, but the quantity of presents as well.
None of us girls could ever sleep on Christmas eve from the sheer thought of the surprises and excitement that the following morning would bring. Finally, 5 or 6 a.m. would roll around, and we would hurl ourselves out of bed and sprint downstairs, only to find no parents waiting. One of us would start the coffee maker while the other abruptly woke our up our parents.
Christmas has evolved with age. Time changes the way you see the world and how you digest different meanings. For me, the holidays are about giving, remembering and being incredibly appreciative. I have a tremendous amount to be thankful for this year, as I do every year. It’s so easy to get caught up in the minuscule world of eventing, where you and your horse are the only ones and only things that really matter.
But, there’s so much more to life than the start box, your ability to see a distance and the timing of your half halt. Of course I adore, appreciate and wouldn’t change my life for anything, but at the end of the day, it’s about your life and all the moments leading up to now that make you who you are. Happy Holidays, and remember to think about what it is about this time of the year that you truly cherish and why!
