TAKING A NOSEDIVE

I was sitting on the dirt next to a barrel racing sporting event.  A day filled with fast running, pure determination visible on both human and animal faces.  It was racing against the clock, where technical skill and accuracy played an important role in the success.  My aim was to try and catch all the action the event had to offer!  Once one rider was finished, the next was standing ready to run, leaving me with no time to think about what I had just captured.  Sitting in the scorching sun, being sprinkled with dust and dirt is part of being a photographer.  Coming home with dirty pants and a sweaty shirt, is my proof that I did my best and had loads of fun!

The next rider was a tiny girl on her beautiful white horse.  Although everything was happening very fast, I soon realized that a less successful run around the barrel was on its way.  The horse lost her grip and literally took a nose dive.  The saving grace was the soft sand and the low angle of the horse.  As both rider and horse landed on the ground, I realised that neither the girl, nor the horse were injured.  The horse came back on her feet as quickly as she fell down and with visible disgust ran out of my field of view.  The girl remained seated for a while before she got up and went to comfort her upset horse.  I went on shooting the rest of the day, without thinking about it again.  It was only when I got home, browsing through my “day’s work”, that I realized what I was privileged to have captured not only a “nose dive” moment, but an important life lesson!

Looking through the sequence of the fall, I could see and even feel the emotions.  At first the girl was determined, and then almost surprised as she realized that control over the horse was no longer in her hands, the anticipation of the fall itself, and finally her reaction after she landed on the sand.  It was noticeable that she was laughing as soon as she hit the ground.  That made me think about the way people handle “falling down” in life as well.  We are all “competitors” in the game of life.  We are participating with the expectation of success, the hope that things will go as planned, but life does not happen that way.  Life is full of bumps and turns, unexpected events to make us fall off our horses leaving us sitting in the dirt.  Nobody can escape those unwanted situations, it is part of life.  Many books have been written about getting up and moving on after a difficult period, but I would like to ask a different question.  “What do you do when you are sitting in the dirt?”

We were created with a free will, we ALWAYS have a choice. The way you handle a difficult period in your life, is a cognitive decision.  You can choose to be extremely negative, complaining about everything and finding fault in everybody that shares your space.  Some people even choose to see a problem in every possible solution, they will even subconsciously sabotage all positive elements in their lives, because they feel hurt and wronged by life.  A negative sphere is developing around those people that will only have more detrimental effects.

Then you get those people, like the girl, who choose to have a more positive outlook.  Although the situation is difficult and even hurtful, they choose to still smile and maintain an open mind, knowing that this is part of life.  They see it as a period where they have to take a hard and honest look at themselves, trying to facilitate their own personal growth, understanding that they have to do something in order to get out of the dirt.  With a more positive mind-set they try and recognise life’s lessons in order to be better than they were yesterday.

Life does not just happen, there is a purpose to everything, you just have to see it.  The Roman Stoic Philosopher, Lucius Annaeus Seneca said:  “We suffer more often in imagination than in reality,” which implies that we often make things worse because of the way we think about it and approach the demanding situation.  With a positive mind-set, you will be able to search for solutions and you will find them.  These types of people make difficult times less hard, as they CHOOSE to use it as an opportunity to grow, instead of an opportunity to sulk and complain.  Their mind-set does not take away the current circumstances, but the emotional impact on themselves and those around them is vastly different.  They tend to come through tough times much quicker and stronger, as they choose to learn, work and grow!

Remember, life is not fair and it does not owe you anything.  We are entitled to nothing, but we do have a huge responsibility.  We do not live on our own island, we are surrounded by other people.  The way we handle our challenging times, will serve as an example to others and that will eventually influence how a family, a company and maybe the wide spread community handle difficult situations.  We are not always aware of how our behaviour is influencing those around us.  Make sure that you handle your “nose dive” in life with a positive mind-set, in order for you to grow and to be able to make a positive contribution to the world around you! You have control over what you choose, make sure you choose wisely!

• Alta Oosthuizen