I was sixteen, maybe seventeen, when it happened. My friends and I were riding on our favorite trail by the riverbank. Six big, beautiful horses, happy and eager to fly forward, loving the freedom. The air was full of summer; nothing but blue sky, majestic trees bathing their branches in the slow stream of the river, sun overhead, and the world zipping by us in exhilaration.
The path veered to the right, away from the river and into the forest. We were going fast, way too fast for such a narrow road. Then the time stopped for a split second. My friend ahead of me ducked and instinctively pushed a tree branch off, just barely clearing it. It slinged back, smashed into my face and shot me out of the saddle, right under the hoofs of the horse behind me.
The hard fall knocked the wind out of me, but luckily other than couple of bruises I was not seriously hurt. Even my horse Nero was shaken up and became skittish, breathing hard and flaring up his nostrils nervously. I didn't want to get back on him, not after what just happened. But the only other option was to walk the four miles back, bruised and all.
This was my first serious fall and for the first time I was suddenly scared to ride again. My friend said to me: "The longer you wait, the harder it is to get back on, until you talk yourself out of riding all together. Hop on and let's go!"
So I did.
There will always be obstacles, problems to solve, mountains to climb, unexpected branches that may smash your face... In real estate and in life. After all, "too easy" would mean too boring -- at least for me. And with triumphs and victories also come occasional defeats, bruises and disappointments. So dust yourself off when you didn't get that listing, the buyer canceled or the expired wasn't too friendly. It happens to ALL of us once in a while. Hop back on, because believe me, the ride is worth it.
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