My Life Half Halt

Recently, I showed up to a few appointments a bit disheveled, carrying an attitude that isn’t typical of me. A few of my clients, at different times mind you, brought to my attention in as kind and caring a way as possible… “I think you need a little life half halt.” I pondered and thought about it, then said, “You know what? I think I do. Now what does this mean, why has it come to this? I am the happy, energetic person who is here to listen to everyone’s problems, give solutions, have a can-do attitude, fix all the horses with a smile on my face. Today was not that day. Today was a day I just needed to be real.

I am coming off a weekend that was actually quite good. I got to show my horse alongside my husband and friends, have many new and exciting things happening with the business, and got home from the horse show at a decent time to unwind and get ready for the week ahead. Instead of focusing on all of the good, my mind shifted to only the things I felt and saw as negative. Mistakes I feel I shouldn’t be making in the show pen, placing blame and taking out my frustrations on my horse. In reality it is me that needed to take a breath and half halt. Think about the perfect creature that Andi is; How hard she works for me despite my mistakes. Realize how much I have improved as a rider, how far we have come as a team, and appreciate my friends and husband. Instead I focused on the nonsense. WHY?

What is a half halt? It’s a way to rebalance your horse. Why am I being told to take a life half halt, because I am not rebalancing my own life. So, how do I rebalance my life? What are the best steps to take? Meditation, journaling, a vacation? All good questions that need to be answered. Then it made me realize I may not be the only one who needs to hear this. Life is hard, riding is hard, but I don’t need to make it harder. Sometimes you have to give yourself grace and know you’re simply doing your best. Some days you’re gonna be ON and nail it all. Some days you’re really gonna be OFF and not be able to do anything correctly.

A friend posted something the other day and it was exactly what I needed to hear: “𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶”(Dr Joe Dispenza). It’s all about perspective. I think that’s why I liked the concept of half halting my life. When discussing it while riding it is a way to get back to balance and start off on the right foot again. A simple reframe. Nothing too complicated and to add to the never ending to do list, just a redirect.

So the next time you’re having a day, give yourself time to take a deep breath, sit for a moment, and ask yourself, “Do I need a half halt?” Most likely you do. Take the time. We spend too much time pushing through, moving onto the next, not stopping to just check in. It leads to not showing up as your best self and in my world, you deserve to show up as your best self. This life is short. Let’s make the best of it.

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