My Five Things: Why I am Not Riding

Five reasons why I haven't ridden this week ...

1) A clinic - riding two days with Chemaine, twice on Sunday, plus hosting the other riders and then having the clinician stay at my house kind of wore me out a bit. I figured my boys could use a day off. That was Monday.

2) A dental appointment happened on Tuesday, the day I was going to start riding.

3) A presciption needed to be refilled, and then a large floor lamp had to be picked up at Pier 1 Imports (love that place by the way). There went Wednesday.

4) Our weather turned really gray and dreary and somewhat drippy on Thursday. Instead of a ride, I hand grazed the boys on the lawn.

They didn't mind.

5) But the real reason I took a few days off is that I am finally, finally settling into a routine. That doesn't sound right, I know, but moving really rocked my little world. I dislike change to my routine, and moving so dramatically has really shaken my foundation.

We moved from a 1,200 square foot house into a house of more than 3,000 square feet. This house is just big. Navigating its maze of rooms alone keeps me mentally challenged. I also had to furnish the house (yet another delivery is coming tomorrow), and numerous repairs had to be made. After nearly two months, those things are still happening. 

Most people would probably find my circumstances exciting. It's truly an amazing house, but for someone who thrives on repetition and routine, all of the upheaval has caused me a great deal of mental and pysical stress.

The lamp that I picked up the other day somehow helped to settle some of my anxiety. While it is beautiful to look at it, it's more than that. The placement of the lamp in my reading room was one of the last "big" things that was on my mental list of chores; the two chairs being delivered on Saturday will complete that list.

That little detail has helped me finally feel at home in this house. We all know that there is a difference between a house and a home. Somehow, that lamp just says home to me.

So on Thursday, when I swore that I was going to saddle up somebody, I didn't. All I could think about was rushing home to my now cozy home to cook dinner and relax, something I haven't been able to do for nearly two months.

As I sat on the sofa watching something mindless, my husband flipped on the switch to the new lamp. He knows how unsettled I've been feeling, but he also recognized the happiness that lamp has brought me. I hope I am feeling up to a ride this afternoon, but if not, I am okay with it. My boys will still be there tomorrow.

​Enjoy your weekend!