While
I was trying to come up with a topic for today’s blog, two quotes popped into
my mind: “What would Brian Boitano do?” and, “We stand on the shoulders of
giants.” The first is a reference to DVDA’s song about the 1988 Olympic
champion figure skater; among other things, the lyrics assert that Boitano
would “make a plan, and he'd
follow through, that's what Brian Boitano'd do!” (As I recall, the title of this song
took on a life of its own for a while, whereby people would jokingly speculate
what the skater would do to solve their dilemma.) The second quote is from Sir
Isaac Newton, who credited the scientific discoveries of his predecessors in
facilitating his own success. So tonight I took stock of Mr. Boitano’s projected
response to a situation and took a loving look at some of the people who have
inspired me on my journey through life.
·
Mr. Roland. He was one of my history teachers in
high school, and probably one of the best
at what he did. I remember more of the information he taught than any other
teacher because he was such a good story-teller. Every lesson was like taking a
step back in time and walking down the streets or across the battlefields that
he described. He was very strict and terrified most of his students (including
me). However, he was fair and enthusiastic about teaching the next
generation(s) about what our forebears went through to make our country great.
·
Pet Shop Boys. From the moment one of my friends
introduced me to their music 25 years ago, I knew I had found a group that represented
how I felt as a Gen-Xer; coincidentally (or not), the lyrics of their songs on Behave described a lot of things I was
going through between 1990 and 1994. To this day, “Left to My Own Devices” (from
Introspection) remains my signature
song.
·
Sandra and Robert, my friends (and former landlords).
I had never really considered riding/training in dressage until I became their
tenant in 1990. When I visited them in 2002, Sandra invited me to sit and “have
a trot” on her Lusitano stallion. That ride marked the moment I officially
returned to my first true love, horses. Robert is the first person to teach me
how to drive stick-shift when he and Sandra let me cruise his Land Rover around
an empty parking lot at a grocery store. It was the most fun I’ve ever had
driving; by the way, this adventure was in England, so I had an extra challenge
of driving on the side I wasn’t used to.
·
Diana, Princess of Wales. People who have known
me for a long, long time probably remember me back in the days I had her
haircut and wore dresses and hats to school. To high school. But it wasn’t her fashion that intrigued me, or even
the fairy tale the public was sold (and bought) about her life. I was intrigued
and inspired by her ability to stand tall and smile in public, to be gracious
and carry on, when her private world was falling apart. The day moved home from
England, for good, I was able to keep myself together by focusing on my mental
image of the princess greeting someone at a fundraiser at the Serpentine
Gallery in 1994. She was wearing that now-famous black cocktail dress and
heels, smiling and extending her hand in greeting while her husband answered
questions about their marriage for a television interview. I thought, “If she
can hold it together so well—in public—while
her world is falling apart, I can and will do it, too.”
·
Katie, one of the advanced riders at Silver Gate
Farms (www.silvergatefarms.com)
when I started riding again after a 19-year hiatus from horses. She motivated
(and reassured) me to relax and enjoy the ride the first time I watched her
hand-gallop her horse before a jumping lesson. (She jumped big fences.) My trainer, Jim, pointed to them and explained, “See
that? She is completely in control of her horse.” He explained how and why this
was true, but the image of this ride is what really impacted me: she was
smiling and adjusting her sunglasses as they galloped around the arena. In my
memory, she was holding the reins in just one hand…but who knows? I was ready
and inspired to get on a horse and canter, too.
·
Katie again. It took six years for me to feel
really comfortable driving, let alone taking the freeway, when I returned from
England. When I told her this by way of asking if I could follow her from a
local showground to get back to the barn, she said of course. Then she added
the insight (advice) I now share with clients when I help them overcome similar
anxieties: “Freeways are your friend. Once you are on the freeway, you can only
go one direction so you can’t get lost.”
·
Dr. John Kappas and my instructors at the
Hypnosis Motivation Institute (www.hypnosis.edu).
Sadly, I never got to meet Dr. Kappas, as he had passed away before I started
my hypnotherapy training. However, through watching videos of his lectures, reading
his books and learning his teachings through the instructors at HMI who
lovingly carry on his legacy, I continue to be inspired as a student and
practitioner of hypnotherapy. Hands down, the Theory of Mind has changed my life.
At least, it has changed (for the better) the way I look at my life so I can
approach new experiences with curiosity, enthusiasm and interest rather than anxiety
or discomfort.
·
Monty Roberts, Chris Cox, Robert Dover, Jan
Ebeling, Gina Miles, Charlotte Dujardin. Each of these individuals inspires me
for different reasons and in different ways, but I consider them all role models
for the work they do in handling and riding horses. Every time I work with or
ride my horse, I remember his saying, “Low adrenaline equals high learning,”
and exhale any anxiety, frustration or impatience I may be feeling. My first,
most important priority is to make sure Galahad feels comfortable, safe and
confident in his work, and I need to be the leader he would choose for that
role. Mr. Cox’s advice that “you will never be on a runaway if you can ride a
fast horse” has become my mantra when I feel nervous about trying something new
during a lesson or if my horse shies at something. I just love the respectful
way that Mr. Dover and Mr. Ebeling interact with their mounts during a ride:
there is plenty of praise and long-rein/walk breaks to reward the horse while
they are working. Ms. Miles and Ms. Dujardin are my inspirations in my riding:
I want to be able to ride the way they do “when I grow up,” as I like to say.
Or, at least to ride well enough to participate in one of their clinics one day.
So, that’s some background about people who have inspired me over the
years. Who are your role models? Who
has influenced your life?
Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a
certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with
honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more
information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy®, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.
