This morning, I’m sitting on my front porch, coffee in hand, the air is crisp and alive with the the sounds of early spring. It’s the first time in what feels like forever that I’ve had the chance to write here, soaking in the quiet rhythm of the world waking up. There’s a joy in this moment, a deep satisfaction that comes from leaning into the season—both the literal one unfolding around me and the metaphorical one in my life. It’s a reminder that everything cycles, everything has its day, and wisdom lies in knowing when to push forward and when to rest.

In Native American traditions, the medicine wheel represents the cyclical nature of life—birth, growth, decline, and renewal, mirrored in the turning of the seasons, the rising and setting of the sun. Each phase has its purpose, its gifts, and its demands. When we align ourselves with these natural rhythms, we find balance in ourselves and in our horses. When we resist them, forcing the process or pushing ourselves and our horses, we invite suffering and struggle.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. There’s a time to create, a time to work and build, a time to harvest the fruits of our labors, and a time to rest. The trick is recognizing whether the sun is rising or setting in our own lives. When spring arrives—whether it’s a burst of creative energy, a new opportunity, or a season of strength—we’re called to act, to work hard, to seize the moment. But when the whispers of fall creep in, when the days shorten and the air cools, we’re invited to slow down, reflect, and restore. We all know what happens when we ignore these cues. Wisdom, then, is in the noticing, in the quiet attention to what our place in the cycle asks of us.

Today, as I sit here on my porch, I feel the stirrings of a personal spring. The chance to write outside, to let thoughts flow freely. It feels like a gift. It’s a small but vivid reminder that joy often comes from leaning into the opportunities each season offers. When we embrace the moment—whether it’s a time for action or a time for stillness—we connect to a kind of ease, a flow that carries us forward in our lives and with our horses. ~ Paul

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