Tarabelle
Tarabelle
As a psychologist I often spend time with individuals who have lost their optimism. And perhaps as you read this blog in some aspect of your life, or even in nearly every aspect of your life, your optimism has been lost.
Hold that thought. I want to introduce you to a new equine that has come to our program. And I promise that having both ideas in mind - the thing about lost optimism and the one about the new donkey – that those two things together will make sense by the end of the blog.
She is beautiful in the wonderful way that donkeys can be. Her hair is a deep brown colour so that she gets called such names as ‘Mocha’ by our clients. And of course, her nose is white. She is trim and fleet of hoof. And her name is Tarabelle.
When we first get a new equine into our program we watch for temperament and manners. Of course, we want our clientele to be physically safe. We also want to get an idea what sort of reactions the equine is likely to have in client situations to help us plan activities and select the equines to be involved – hoping to make the best fit for client needs. And so when Tarabelle came we had some observing to do.
Fortunately, we have started to use Tarabelle in the midst of a magnificent autumn of blue skies, comfortable temperatures and trees changed to hues of brilliant yellow and gold. This has been perfect weather for us to have our sessions in the outdoor paddock. It is with this backdrop I see Tarabelle with our clients. Oh by the way, we are looking forward to having Tarabelle work with our clients because she is proving a little hard to catch. Ah, should be interesting times, eh?
And so a client enters the paddock with the task of sorting out which of the three equines there might get the name “optimism” as he has experienced “optimism” in his life. The client had a couple of halters to experiment with and he went from one equine to another. And as equine temperament and manners would have it, it was Tarabelle who was the last one left.
The client was careful in his approach, and even hid the halter behind his back (do you think that would fool a wise and self-protective donkey?). Crouched down in front of her he got close enough to reach out and touch her nose. I have this vivid picture of it all, watching them in profile with the fabulous blue sky and the brilliant autumn leaves, and her mocha brown hair. It is beautiful.
And then she scampered off.
Later as we were walking back from the paddock we talked about his relationship with optimism in his life. He used to have it well in hand. This client has had a period of recovery from a life changing crisis, gradually building back. He has been surrounded by good people and has done very well in many ways. He has much that he likes about his life right now. But optimism has largely left him.
But as we talked after the time in the paddock, he could tell me times even recently when he touches optimism even in the midst of this, little things that have went well. It was like crouching in front of Tarabelle and reaching out to touch her nose, halter behind his back.
I don’t know where future sessions will go. I suspect that he will eventually get Tarabelle haltered. And I hope that in the strange way of the human mind that he will realize that he is getting a firmer hold on optimism as well. It will be great if it works out that way.
Optimism is a feeling about the future that is somewhat like the vivid blue and the brilliant golds of an autumn day. There is a sense of clarity about it. There is a sense of beauty and appreciation wrapped up together. It is a way of thinking about the future that recognizes that even though branches will become barren and skies will eventually be leaden overhead, there is still profound knowing that it is a magnificent world and we can be present within it.
The Canadian autumn will progress. The client will continue his journey of recovery. And Tarabelle will show her unique temperament and manners in sessions. And while all of this may present its difficulty and discomforts we can still reach out and touch, and perhaps eventually get control of a deeply positive sense of ourselves and our future.
Thank you, Tarabelle. What you did that day in the paddock was truly fine.
Whinnying off (or should I say “braying off?) for now
Terry
