It’s not the problem, it’s how you respond….right? This is a huge theme in our equine therapy program. It really doesn’t matter which task you assign for a group, you learn their patterns of communication and ability to solve problems. The individuals’ willingness to tackle a difficult problem with no obvious and easy solution.
I was returning from Philadelphia where I presented science investigations (lots of stuff that airports might not allow aboard). My fellow science teacher and my daughter drove with me to PA to present at the national teachers’ conference. It was lots of fun, blah, blah, blah.
When we arrived, I told the valet at the hotel, “Do not role the driver’s side window down. It will not come up. I have 20 hours to go to get home…days on the road…it may rain between here and there….DO NOT ROLE DOWN THE WINDOW.”
“You got it. I’m glad you told me.”
Three days later, I call for the car and the valet pulls up with the window securely tucked inside the driver’s side door…rolled down all the way. Besides, it was a gorgeous, sunny day. I will not cry. I will not cry. It’s a beautiful day. Don’t cry.
I pulled onto the Pennsylvania Turnpike with my window down, everyone’s hair was blowing all over the place, we were unable to hear what anyone was saying. I kept telling myself, “I can do this. What would it have been like to settle this country? The settlers came in wagons and on foot or horseback. horseback?“ I had to stop there…I would love to have been on horseback right about then….
“I can do this. I can do this. I’ve always wanted a convertible.” There that’s better. I’ll go with the convertible-pretend. Wind blowing. Not a care in the world….I can do this.
Two hours later, after continually playing with the window button, my fingers were raw and sore, the window finally, slowly rose to the very top. Ahhhhh. There.
I did it. Now I know what it would be like to have a convertible.
