Who cares about such tiny trivial things?
I held the knot in my hand. This one part of her beautiful mane, twisted and tangled. I had been working away at it for the past week without much success. It was one of those stubborn ones. And it taunted me now more than ever; the morning before my client sessions. I wanted everything to be perfect. And this matted mess was the only little thing standing in the way between ‘perfect’ and ‘everything’. It's time for the scissors! I thought. But I didn’t reach for them.
Because everything was perfect: It was a glorious sunny day; warm but not too hot. There was a gentle breeze; perfect for keeping the bugs at bay. It had lightly rained the night before; not enough for mud, but just enough to wash the dirt from their coats. And the horses - grazing in the tall grasses that gently swayed in that soft breeze, their striking figures shimmering in the morning light - they were perfect, just as they always are, ready no matter what to hold the profound and powerful space that they do.
Isn’t that what matters?
So why did I care?
They won’t even notice! Why would they? Who would notice such a tiny insignificant thing amongst everything else that is here?
But it's what I've always done. It's what I was trained to do; look for the one thing. That one “not quite right " needle in a haystack of perfection. Just keep looking; you'll find it eventually.
Look at all the beauty that is here. Yeah, but what about that one thing that isn't so beautiful.
Look at all the good that is here. Yeah, but what about that one thing that isn't so good.
Look at all of the things you've done. Yeah, but what about that one thing you didn't do.
Yeah, but…. what about that one tiny insignificant thing that’s always there.
I let the pieces of mane slip from my fingers. You’re being ridiculous. Just leave it. Let it be. This little matted mess; It’s insignificant. It’s not important. It doesn’t matter.
The sessions were brilliant. The horses did their magic and my clients walked away with full hearts. They didn’t notice the knot.
And neither did I.
Why would I? I wasn’t looking.