Closer With Every Hoof Beat
Published by GHC • May 18th, 2009 • Category: Junior Blogger Archives, Odds & Endsby Rachel Danielle, age 14
Every hoof beat, every step, brings you closer to your destination.
This was something I learned when my horse was still alive. After long trail rides, when we both would grew tired, and all I wanted to do was gallop home. I learned patience. Every hoof beat brought us closer to our destination. I learned to enjoy those times with my horse. Sometimes slowing down to look at things is all that you need to clear your head. Pursuing your destinations, pursuing your dreams, can get wearying. You grow tired. You wish you were there already.
I’ve been angry with myself. It seems that an endless amount of polishing brings me no closer to my dream of getting my book published. No amount of work seems to take me anywhere!
And then I read The Little Things by mustang23. I thought I got the message then, but it took a little while to sink in. The little things count. The little things are what add up to big things.
The thing about lessons is that you have to remind yourself of them. Sometimes you have to relearn them.
Every little step is bringing me closer to my dream. I’ve asked a friend for help with editing, I’ve told a few other people about my novel and gathered support and encouragement, and I’ve created a website about my stories, little things that have helped me tremendously though it took me awhile to realize it.
Don’t ever think your work is taking you nowhere. Just keep working. Every step of the way, every moment of the ride, brings you closer to where you need to be. Ride on, but enjoy the ride! Too often while riding I’d let beautiful moments slip by, beautiful moments that I could have enjoyed with my horse.
There were moments of honey gold sunset. Moments when the world was coated in fresh, hazy, dewy morning. Moments when the mountain air was fresh and flavored, the atmosphere and sunlight like sparkling cider. Moments of deliciously sweet amethyst twilight. Moments when Lightning’s whinny rang out like music over all other earthly sounds.
And I nearly let those moments slip by without a thought, thinking only of getting where I wanted to go.
Enjoy the beauty and the encouragement you find along your path. Keep a journal so that you can see that you are coming along. A journal is a great tool for seeing how you are learning and growing, and also for stopping to dwell and ponder on the enjoyable parts of your journey. Get and gather encouragement, but give it out too. Those around you are embarking on journeys of their own.
I’ve come slowly but surely closer to getting my book published. I’ve come slowly but surely closer to creating awareness about my writing. I’d appreciate support on my journey, and I’d also love to give support to anyone else that needs it. You can see my website at lilymaiden.zoomshare.com.
I’ve learned to struggle, to press on even when you feel like your feet are rooted in place.
Enjoy your ride, keep working, and know that with every hoof beat you are getting closer to where you need to be. Enjoy every hoof beat!
Champion article i agree with you 100% I know it must seem tuff to try and publish a book but the publishers want nothing but the best from their clients. You have to get an editor to look over your work continously and it never seems to end. I wish you all the very best in your carreer as a writer
~HF
Rachel Danielle, congrats on every hoof beat and creating a site to promote yourself as a writer. Having an active blog helped Jessica Burkhart get ‘discovered’. She’s a very nice lady and very savvy about online promotion. I bet she’d be willing to share advice…
I encourage anyone who’s interested in being ‘lead mare’ of her own herd to go for it — assuming you have support from your parent(s).
Beautiful article, Rachel Danielle! You are so right; the little things are what counts. You know, there’s this saying by Mother Teresa: “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” I think I’ll think of you whenever I read this. :)
A journal is very helpful! I have one; I just have to remember to write in it…
Good luck with your book, and don’t EVER give up! It’s really good so far, and I’m praying that it’s a bestseller! :)
Again, awesome job! Your articles always bring tears to my eyes.
Rachel, you are doing an awesome job, I can’t wait for your book to come out, I know it will. You have my prayers, support, whatever, you ask it, you got it. LYLAS,
m23
Thanks LeadMare, I’ll look at Jessica’s blog! I also have this page, which you can reach on my main site mentioned above, rachel-danielle.blogspot.com
On this page I’ll be posting a few parts of my book! (It’s got unicorns!)
Your words are music to my ears(or eyes)!
I’m writing a ‘book’ right now and I often think of trying to publish when I’m finished, but when I go back and read what I’ve done I wonder if its good enough. My mum thinks I write real well, but again, is it good enough? It gets really frustrating and sometimes I will walk away from it for weeks. Then I will get a fantastic idea and I’m back at it with new hope, and who knows maybe someday I will get published!:)
I encourage you with every fiber in my being to do what it takes to get your book published! Remember, you probably won’t get the first publisher’s acceptance but keep trying! J.K Rowling was refused by almost everyone and now she’s one of the best known writers ever!(I think it was her… did she write the ‘Harry Potter’ books?….well whoever did ;D)
Wow! I went to your site and it is amazing! It is awesome to know someone besides me who is a Christain, LOTR fan, and[of course] loves fantasy and horses!
I love how you manage to share your experiences and lessons learnt with GHC in a heartfelt and always beautiful blog. It’s important to appreciate the things you are doing, not the things you can or will do. Publishing a book is very inspirational, in fact it was only today when I was thinking about what it would be like to buy your novel off the shelves. Always know I support you 100%.
BTW, I love your site! It’s so cool, and I LOVE the interview with Tippy, and the letters. I am buying this book…! :D
Thanks mustang23! And at http://www.rachel-danielle.blogspot.com/ I’ve posted parts of the story. Tippy is my dearest beloved. : ) Even if he is rather… short.