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Jackie B's avatar

How I loved and adored reading this story and your love of horses & riding. If I had written my story it would have been ever so similar and you brought it all back to me which was a precious memory. Thank you lovely lady!💖

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Alisoun Mackenzie's avatar

Love this Jane, thanks for sharing! I'm so glad you've rekindled your love of riding. I sometimes dream of twirling around the ice, spinning, and doing jumps, although that desire isn't strong enough. I've dabbled with taking up painting and various crafts, which I enjoyed when younger, but nothing has stuck yet. I'm open to what the future holds.

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Midlife Unfiltered's avatar

How I love your story Jane. How fabulous you are doing what brings you joy. It's incredible what's locked away in our minds and what comes flooding back. I loved it when you said dismounting was more like slithering. I feel like that getting out of our 4WD! :) I have recently started drum lessons. Full kit. I used to play drums as a kid in the school band and have always loved them. Drums for fun and for my brain health. The co-ordination is a real test but...just as you discovered, 'muscle memory' is amazing - what comes back and feels comfortable with practice and compassionate encouragement. Thank you for posting such a lovely story and bringing us out to play. Anita xx

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Jane Duncan Rogers's avatar

'Drums for fun' - I love it! It's so good to read this Anita, thanks for sharing it. Very inspiring.

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Juliet Batten's avatar

What a wonderful and encouraging story, Jane! I kept cheering you on as I read. I'm also reflecting on the difference between tackling something totally new when we are older (which takes care if it's a physical skill), and picking up an old activity whose memory lives in the muscles and bones.

Reviving an old, loved activity revives the spirit and taps us in to the power of daring and doing. I subtitled 'Spirited Ageing' as 'cultivating the art of renewal' — essential as we age. Your story illustrates that perfectly.

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Jane Duncan Rogers's avatar

Thanks Juliet - I love that sentence "Reviving an old, loved activity revives the spirit and taps us in to the power of daring and doing". You are such a gifted writer!

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Sue Matthew's avatar

Thank you for a happy read over breakfast. This brought up lots of memories of riding ‘Tassy’ as a 10 year old. For a year I had weekly lessons and occasional longer trecks. Our small alternative school was neighbour to horse paddocks and a wonderful horsewoman who took us riding. Yes, heaven..

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Jane Duncan Rogers's avatar

Tassy! What a lovely name. So glad it was a good read for you, Sue.

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Sue Matthew's avatar

It is a lovely name..there was a pony named Ginny..and Pam’s horse was Mcginty. All of this tucked away in my brain! Thank you 💜

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LINDA AMATO's avatar

Beautiful memories of a younger you 🌹

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Dr. Bronce Rice's avatar

Jane Duncan Rogers - I've just fallen in love with your story and your regression in service of the ego - as it is sometimes called when we find our way back to child-ish-ness in healty ways of living as an adult.

If I was you, and I bet you are, I'd be very proud of myself for speaking up for what I wanted buried deep beyond the years of life going on as it has.

Thank you - sometimes you don't know what you really need until it finds you looking in amazement.

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