My doctor took me for a walk around the farm where she lives. I was physically and mentally exhausted and discouraged.
The farm was full of life. There were insects, horses, rabbits, and cats. She told me to focus on my body in the environment. When I was ill, I intended to escape from the reality. So I expected nothing when meeting the horse named Fira.
As I got closer to Fira, she nuzzled(用鼻子爱抚) my chest, putting a gentle pressure over my heart. Something happened inside me: I felt as if I had reached a wellspring(源泉) of my fears, hurts and failures. I began to melt emotionally in an uncommon way. I patted Fira's nose and breathed in her smell. Fira helped me feel loved and safe. After that, I began working with Fira often, learning basic communication and leading methods to work together with her. She connected with me by responding to my emotional state and reflecting it back to me in an open, friendly way.
In my meetings with Fira, I learned to live in the present, to focus on what was happening this day, at this moment, in this place. I learned to forget the past, with all its hurt. I learned to forget the future, which hadn't happened yet. I found deep peace in leading her along the path, by using my own power to judge whether to start, stop, turn left or turn right. I found inner quiet and even joy. My work with this horse was part of a journey out of a very dark night in my soul.
