Feb 23
2008
The Luxury to Pursue a Passion
Isn’t it wonderful to be able to pursue a passion?
For me, it’s gardening…and birds…and books…and dogs…and cooking. For my husband, it’s horses. He wasn’t raised with horses, but he loves them. And despite his ultra-busy career, he has made time to learn to ride.
His instructor, Viviane, is a wonderful and witty woman I met at the gym several years ago. She was looking for students and Harry needed a private instructor because he was dissatisfied with the group lessons he had been taking. It has worked out beautifully.
Now, Harry and I have a wonderful marriage, but we give each other room for our separate interests. I take vacations without him sometimes. He retreats to his hidey-hole (what I call his home office) to think great thoughts. Our lives overlap some, but not a lot. We treasure our travels together and always sit down to to a home cooked dinner together. So don’t be surprised that it’s been several years since I have seen Harry ride. But last weekend I tagged along with my camera and was most impressed with the lovely setting, Viviane’s wonderfully encouraging instruction and Harry’s progress.
It doesn’t seem that long ago that Harry was just so very stiff in the saddle. And it was just a few months ago that he came home and proudly announced that he was able to get on the horse without the aid of a step stool. Now, Viviane is encouraging Harry to ride in a show this spring.
Today is my birthday. I am turning <bleeeeeep>. As I assess where I am in my life, I have some regrets. I have some unfulfilled promises to myself. But mostly, I am grateful that I am blessed with the kind of life that allows me to pursue my passions and a family that supports all the little quirks that go along with that.
Thanks guys.
February 23rd, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Robin, this is a nice story, sort of a tribute to your husband and his passion for horses.
I like your idea of separate vacations. Not to be away from husband but to have precious time alone once in a while.
Happy Birthday! You have a wonderful blog.
February 23rd, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Happy Birthday! Yes, it is wonderful to be able to pursue a passion, AND to actually have a passion. Too many people, it seems, don’t.
By the way, your age got bleeeeped out in your post.
February 23rd, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Happy Birthday, Robin! I’m visiting your blog for the first time and have fallen in love with your photos and your writing. Thank you for sharing!
Birthdays are certainly the time to look backward and do a little reflecting. My wish for you is that you’ll start fresh tomorrow by looking forward to everything you still want to do and be and experience. My favorite quote, by George Eliot, reads, “It’s never to late to be what you might have been.”
Cheers to you!
February 23rd, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Happy Birthday, Robin!
Thank you for sharing your sweetie’s passion for horses in this post. I’ve always loved horses but never been brave enough to take riding lessons. I may get up the courage after reading this post.
Cindy
February 24th, 2008 at 2:59 am
Many Happy Returns of the Day, Robin!
Pursuing a passion is a sound path. Sometimes Life doesn’t give us the best overall ingredients, so I do think it’s important to find those moments of joy when we can. Sounds like you are doing just that. Well done!
Cheers & Happy Birthday,
Dawn
P.S. Lovely horse photos.
February 24th, 2008 at 10:45 am
I hope you had a great Birthday Robin! Pursuing our passions is what keeps us going I believe. I am also very blessed by my family understanding.
February 24th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Robin: Sounds like a perfect union! Room to grow with no suffocation! Actually, it sounds very familiar! Happy belated birthday whichever one you celebrated! You look marrrrvelous! p.s. There is still time to slay those dragons! It’s only too late when the lid closes!
February 24th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Hope your birthday was everything you wanted it to be. You are so wise to know and appreciate what you have and to be able to pursue your passions. I think our birthdays really only bother us if we aren’t where we’d like to be in life.
February 25th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Happy Birthday Robin! I wish you many more. If it’s any consolation, you’ll always be younger than me
February 25th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Sheesh. I walk away for a day and miss all these nice birthday wishes.
Thanks everyone for the kind thoughts and wishes.
Robin at Bumblebee
February 26th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Robin- sorry I am late on well wishes… Happy Birthday! It’s good you know what you have passion for and a blessing you can pursue them. I hope your day was all you hoped for and your year makes even more room for all the things you and hubby love.
February 27th, 2008 at 12:10 am
I too am late with my birthday wishes, but they’re heartfelt too. And this is a stirring post. I love the honesty and the healthiness of your marriage. Ours is similar–I travel some and LSS stays home to manage the house. I sequester myself in my office for hours on end, and he’s gregarious. And it works for us.
Glad to hear Harry is doing so well with his riding. I’m especially intrigued that he’s riding English rather than western; is he planning to do some jumping, some dressage, just general pleasure riding? I’d go for the show too, if I were him, just for the fun of it. I did some fun shows when my knees were younger, and it was a hoot. So was riding to hounds (in a no-kill ‘Hunt’ no foxes involved) but now I just ride trails and beaches and woods etc.
I’m the horseperson in the household, but my longsuffering spouse often does the chores, turns Leggo out daily, does the evening feeding etc especially with my leg giving me grief like it does. He’s never been on Leggo’s back and never will, though if we train him to harness he’ll go for rides in a cart, for sure.
Hi Jodi,
Harry is riding English and has started doing some jumping. He’s riding in his first show this weekend, but mostly he rides for pleasure. He rides English because Western reminds him of “cowboys” and he doesn’t find that appealing at all.
Yes, we have a happy little arrangement here. I don’t know what I would do if I had a husband who wanted to spend all his free time with me! Egaads!
Robin at Bumblebee
February 29th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Happy Belated Birthday, Robin! This evening, I’m visiting everyone’s wonderful blogs and wanted to start with yours. I love all your new posts!