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(This blog was
originally posted on July 2, 2014)
 |
| Photo by Rick Hustead |
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 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. 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?
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Sara
R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern
California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation
Institute in
2005. In July 2019 she was voted the Best Hypnotherapist in Santa Clarita,
California. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.
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