As our beautiful summer moves toward September, I am reflecting on the moments this summer that I want to take forward with me into the fall. I often imagine inside of me that I have a fuel tank and I get to choose the fuel that I want to put inside it. I love being aware that I have choice and that really energizes me. I personally find that choosing consciously brings me more energy rather than sleepwalking through the choices I make.

I want to share a very moving moment that I experienced this summer. I still smile and my heart opens whenever I think about it.

This summer I visited a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre. It was for all animals that have been abused, abandoned, lost, shot, maimed, etc. There were so many!

One animal was a horse named Mona. Mona had been neglected and abused so badly that when they found her she was skin and bones. She was dying. The staff nursed her back to health. When Mona became strong and healthy a staff member tried to ride her, but Mona stubbornly refused. No one could ride Mona.

The centre is also a healing centre for autistic children. The children come to hold, pet and touch the animals. It is so moving and very healing both for the children and for the animals. It’s also very moving for anyone who observes the beauty of this interaction.

One day an autistic girl in a wheelchair came to the centre. She was drawn to Mona. She began to come regularly and pat Mona.

Then the unexpected happened. Mona approached the girl and bent down on her knees in front of her. With the parents’ permission, the young girl was placed on Mona’s back, and together they walked through the field. It was completely unexpected for everyone. Mona had never let anyone ride her.

The rescue workers later tried to sit on Mona’s back. She threw them off. Mona would only allow autistic children in wheelchairs to ride her. She would shun other adults and children. How strange is that!

To this day autistic children come to the rehab centre and those in the wheelchairs ride on Mona’s back.

I smile, and my heart opens as I share this with you. It is such a gift to see and feel the possibilities that are there for us in unexpected moments, especially the ones that present themselves to us without us having to do anything to make it happen.

I remind myself to stay watchful and open to the possibilities that are around me. No sleeping at the switch. Many of us are so run by our own minds, that we miss the beauty in the moments.

If you live in your head, allow yourself to observe something that really opens your heart, and watch how your whole chemistry changes in your body.

I have returned from my holidays, and I come back with eyes that notice differently. As I begin the day I wonder what curious, unexpected, smiling thing will happen today.

I’m smiling, how is your smile these days?