What Is Your Next Chapter?

By Cameo Miller

Illustration by Bethany Caskey

The article this time is about what you might do if you can no longer be a riding instructor/ trainer. Some of you will be inclined to quit reading right now thinking that you are just beginning your career, or that the need for this is a long ways off. And I am well aware that the vast majority of us continue to do this, literally, until the day we die. And, yes, I know of many of us who have continued to be successful even with rather severe physical limitations. But if the last few years have taught us anything, it is that things can change in an instant. As we get older our abilities change too. One of the things we are all taught from the beginning of setting up a business, is to begin planning towards a different future. Usually this is in terms of finances (setting aside money, investing any money we can) or planning out a course of learning for ourselves to get us to future goals. Changing directions or adding in extracurricular activities is not something we usually are told to think about as part of our business plan. But, perhaps, we need to at least give it passing attention.

Many things other than age can derail us. There are an infinite number of reasons why what we are currently doing, or what we have planned for the future, may not continue as we have envisioned. Moving, death, serious illness (ours or someone close to us) natural disasters, divorce—the list is long. Sometimes these disruptions put a serious crimp in what we are doing as well as what we had planned to do. This is true for any profession, so we should not be surprised that it may effect ours too.

Most of us are truly dedicated to our profession. The horses, our students, teaching, training—it isn’t what we do, it is an integral part of who we are. And the other things which require our time and attention—family, (immediate and extended), a job outside of our profession, etc.—leave us little time to add in things which we might just enjoy. These are all things which require that we GIVE of ourselves. We are happy to do this for a wide range of reasons. And we get satisfaction and enjoyment from this giving or we would not be so invested in our work.

As much as we love what we do, we are not JUST this. You have never been JUST a riding instructor and/or trainer. It has clearly been part of what defined who you are, but it is not the sum total of you. Nor does no longer being able to do it to the same degree or in the same fashion cause you to be less than. It is just the next chapter in your life.

What other things make you happy, give you a sense of peace? What things did you wish you had time to indulge in? These are the things that can give your life meaning if you can no longer practice your chosen profession. These are the things you can whole heartedly claim in your life during this next chapter. If you are one of those just beginning or in the middle of your career, these are the things you can start working towards. It is easiest to switch gears if there are already pathways started. So think of what little pavers for this pathway that you can incorporate now so it will be even more available to you in the future when you may need or want it. Even if you never need this new pathway, the bits of it that you have incorporated into your life will bring you bits of joy along the way since they are things you have defined as important to you. And all of those bits of joy give TO you rather than being something you give to others. They can be part of the balance between giving to and the receiving of.

A new chapter is an opportunity to blossom in a whole new way. It is not ‘since I can no longer…’, it is ‘now I get to become…’. Adding in parts of this when younger is not ‘in case I can’t’, it’s ‘when I get a chance to’. Your attitude towards a new direction is not about the actual choices you make, but about how you perceive the choices you make. Whether you view change as a step towards something new and exciting, or as a forced retreat. Even if you are one of those who continue to teach and train your entire life, how much you are able to do it may change so that you will be glad to be able to add in other things which bring you joy in the doing. And having those sparks of joy all along the way will only enrich your life. Life is an ever changing, ever unfolding experience. We make decisions about the paths through it that we choose all along the way. If, at some point, we choose a divergent path, there can still be great fulfillment and joys to discover. A new path you are on does not mean you are less than. Just like the one you would have left, it is only what you make of it. Savor the path you are on, enjoy the new one if you chose one, but revel in the ability to choose. You get to write your own story.

About the Author:

Cameo Miller is a Masters-level clinical psychologist and a Level IV ARIA Certified Instructor based in Michigan. She is a member of the ARIA Evaluation Panel and an ARIA National Test Center Administrator.