Thank you for sharing that wonderful story. I grew up in the city but I still caught my farm-raised mom's horse-girl gene. There wasn't one year I didn't look forward to visiting my grandfather, his farm, the animals, and the wonderful tranquil simplicity of it all. It wasn't until my grandmother died he didn't have the will to keep them anymore and one by one they were sold. Last year I had to say goodbye to the last of his dark brown beauties. It still hurts sometimes and while he doesn't have the farm anymore, I hope someday I can share the same experiences with my kids and show them a bit of where they came.
Also I love your approach. :) It's a great lesson and one I certainly hope I can keep, being quite the procrastinator myself at times, constantly questioning what I do and when/how I'll do it and when/if I'll be able to. I'm nevertheless proud to say I've started to take more chances and continue what I've started to get to where I want. It's hit an miss a lot of the time, and I'm bound to make a million mistakes on top of the million I've made already, but I do it without regrets, knowing it can only get better. By the way, your works look beautiful from what I've seen and I cannot wait to get better acquainted with them. :)
Something that helps me stay grounded is my parent's Campbell mint-green wind-up clock. It's gentle ticking has stayed with me through studies and work, never letting me miss an important date, never failing to wake me up in the morning, nor lull me to sleep at night. It's sturdy, reliable, and it has helped me stay connected to the present, as well as the past. Time has always fascinated me, it's a comfort, knowing when I am, as well as where. Each morning I wind up my clock again, never certain of what will follow, and determined not to live any of it with regrets.