What are You Harvesting this Season?

Fall is often thought of as the cozy season. But after the scorching heat of summer, as many of us here in Tucson know, fall is also when we finally get to spend more time outdoors. The cooler temperatures mean more activities, more gatherings, and more time to safely enjoy being in nature. And with the holidays right around the corner, fall can become a surprisingly busy time of year.

The irony that this is also a season associated with slowing down is not lost on us. In the spirit of fall, we’d like to pause, reflect, and consider what we’re harvesting this season.

Amid the busyness of our schedules, there is more to this time of year than simply ticking off tasks and events on our calendars. When we stop to consider what we’re truly harvesting, we may find ourselves noticing the joy, connection, and growth that happen in between.

Maybe our harvest isn’t about how much we’ve accomplished at all. Maybe it’s about the experiences we’ve gathered along the way – and whether we were present enough to notice them.

The Horses Don’t Rush the Season

One thing we can learn from horses is that they aren't worried about how much they have accomplished this year. They’re certainly not counting how many EASE or Healing with Horses sessions or equine-related classes they’ve been a part of. Nor are they rushing to jump to the next workshop. They respond to what is happening now.

Horses are incredibly aware of their surroundings. They notice changes in their environment, the energy around them, and what is happening within the herd. They respond to what is in front of them rather than worrying about what happened yesterday or what needs to happen tomorrow.

Spending time with horses gives us an opportunity to practice some of that same awareness.

Instead of moving immediately to the next thing on our list, we can notice what is happening in our bodies. We can notice our surroundings. We can notice how we're feeling, what we're carrying, and what we might need right now.

As we move toward the end of another year, the question doesn't always have to be “What else do I need to accomplish?” Maybe we can ask instead, “What am I noticing?”

During a busy season, there are likely many small things worth slowing down to experience. Perhaps it’s the sense of camaraderie at work when you and your colleagues commiserate over fourth-quarter deadlines. Or maybe it’s finally getting to sit down and unwind after a long day.

These experiences may seem small, but perhaps that’s the point. When we slow down enough to notice them, we begin to see that our harvest isn’t just made up of milestones or accomplishments - it’s also made up of the everyday moments we gather along the way.

What We’ve Been Harvesting at Equinimity

When we think about what we've been harvesting here at Equinimity, it isn't something we can necessarily measure.

Our harvest can be found in the memories, relationships, and connections we’ve nurtured throughout the year. This year has brought opportunities for us to continue learning and growing with our herd (both two- and four-legged) and to find new ways to create spaces where people can connect with themselves, with others, and with nature.

One of the biggest things we're harvesting this season (and every season) is gratitude. As we begin our fall offerings, we’re so grateful for the people who show up. Our volunteers and facilitators who give their time and energy, our community partners and supporters, everyone who has participated in a class or workshop or shared our work with someone else, and those who simply follow along by reading our newsletters and social media posts.

And, of course, we’re grateful for the horses, who continue to remind us that there is value in simply being where we are.

What Are You Harvesting?

As the year begins to wind down, we extend a gentle invitation to think about what you’re harvesting this year. It doesn’t have to be big to be profound. Maybe some of what you're harvesting came from experiences that weren't particularly easy… Maybe what you’d like to harvest is simply any time you have the opportunity to breathe.

Just being here and now is enough can be considered a bountiful harvest.