Knowledge, it has become interesting to me how I have gained information in various fields. I have studied dance and have a background in understanding the inner workings of the right way and incorrect way to perform various ballet and dance moves. During my time as a dancer I learned about fitness, good eating, health and that all lead me to trying yoga. While I may not be an 'expert' of sorts of the subject, I have solid knowledge in the field due to my experience in it.
Horses, I lived, dreamt and loved horses from when I was three into my early thirties. I have rode on trails, prepared and been in horse shows, I have ridden in rodeo, roped horses and cattle. I have shown Dressage, Western Pleasure, Halter, Reining, and many more styles of riding that are really too much to list. I have trained a young horse, rode it in a preview, then an auction for my four year college which was all a part of a class assignment. I went on as a freelance trainer for many years. I have trimmed hooves after I took a farrier class. I can't say I have done it all, but I was more than neck deep in the horse industry.
Growing up on a farm I gained knowledge in driving large equipment, working fields, horticulture, agriculture, working with animals and understanding animal behavior from dogs, cats, cows, horses, deer and other various wildlife. A subject I really sunk my teeth into was Animal Behavior in college. I was intrigued and saddened by studying animal behavior and did not always enjoy going to one particular zoo in Minnesota for my research of papers and discussions.
Addiction, I have dear friends who are and were addicts. Friends who are in recovery. A little over two years ago I was tossed into the addiction world where I gained more information and knowledge I ever imagined. Often I have co-workers who turn to me to pick my brain about drug screens, patients, patient behavior, etc. I do my best to answer the questions within my ability and quickly turn it over to a medical professional so I can help the patient get the best care as quickly as possible.
They say "the more you know"...I'm not always certain about that at times. There is information about the horse industry which is sick and heartbreaking. There are times I wish I did not know what I know about that industry. What I have seen, and heard, is beyond what I share with others because they truly don't want to know.
Animal behavior, I often feel I can understand an animal better than I can a human being. Yet, people are so cruel to their animals. It is hard to watch their behavior and understand why they react a certain way. It is challenging to watch wildlife venture into new areas because they are being pushed out of their natural habitat, because apparently our current population has a craving for tall buildings and concrete. Yet, will also complain when a deer crosses a highway and they hit it.
Hearing how much frustration there is against farmers. These people who fight for their voice to be heard has probably never milked a cow, never pushed a hog, never stayed up way into the night to help a cow have a calf. They never rolled out at a ridiculous hour to help get the work done because the hay you cut yesterday needs to be baled today before that rain moves in - once it gets wet, you cannot bale it safely - wet hay bales increase the chances of spontaneous combustion. (which yes, is a real thing, if you don't believe me, ask my neighbor who lost his barn due to it).
Then there is addiction. So much education is lacking in that area. People are afraid to try buprenorphine because they feel they will be stuck on it forever, or they are trading one drug for another drug. They abuse it because they have not learned how to manage their triggers or struggles in life. Parents are sick of their adult kids struggling with addiction and cannot understand why they cannot get it together. Friends are lost because they are no longer the right friend for you, or if they are a clean friend, they are tired of the repeat behavior. The plea of "this time it will be different" has gone out the window a long time ago. That adds to the longevity of the new life struggle without the drugs and various medications. Not only are they fighting to get on their feet, now they have the added fight of proving themselves to someone who has no faith in them.
Sometimes I don't think about the things I know. Often I am not thrilled with how I gained the information. I wanted to train horses for film, have a ranch with beef cattle, expand my parents farm and live a peaceful life. After how many endless years of training horses I became burnt out, realized I did not want to relocate to California to try and make my name known, and eventually hung up the saddle and retired from the horse business.
As I love dance, there was a time I wanted to work my butt off, move to New York and become a Rockette. Due to a dance injury right before my first big audition for a dance team for a local minor league basketball team I had to hang it up. I do it for fun, I dance for me. I work out because I need to, not always because I enjoy it. Although, I do try to enjoy it and make it part of my daily routine.
Farming and all that goes with it is second nature to me. When you wake up to it every single day, you live it and breathe it, that lifestyle is a part of you.
Hopefully, as life keeps moving forward I will find a way to utilize this experience and knowledge in my writing. Maybe it will help to educate someone else, or maybe it will simply serve of interest to an unknown reader. No matter what, my experience and knowledge is here to be shared with others, and I hope to do that in future articles and books which are waiting to be written.
No comments:
Post a Comment