Getting by With a Little Help From Our Friends

Our herd of oldsters has made a change in their routine.

In the depths of winter, they seemed quite content to spend the majority of their time hunkered down in the shed or close by.

They were out of the wind and away from the larger herd, which are two biggies on their list of “must haves.”

Their Mamas Didn’t Raise Any Fools!

I still find them at the shed area when I show up with feed pans around noon each day. They may be old, but they are certainly not stupid. They know the schedule. I can count on each of them to be there. We have our own version of a mutual admiration society going on.

Lately though, when the feed pans are put away and it’s clear to everyone that I’ve handed out the last alfalfa cube or horse candy of the day, they head single file down the lane. (If you click on the photo above you can get a better view of  their trek.) No more hanging out at the shed. They move as a unit, with some agreed-upon destination in mind.

Perhaps they’re moving toward water.

Or maybe just a nice sunny location in the pasture.

They remind me of a herd of elephants walking across the plains of Africa.

They are a team.

A family.

The oldsters feel safe when they’re together.

They are so clearly comfortable with each other.

They’re friends (if we were to attach a human experience to horses.)

And on those occasions when one of the horses is removed from the herd, for example, for grooming or exercise or a visit from the farrier, the rest of the herd is concerned.

They wait.

They call for their missing member.

They don’t settle until the missing horse is returned to the fold.

Me Too!

To me, that’s the essence of community and I value having it in my life.

I need to be part of something larger than just me.

I love the interchange between people.

I feel cared for when my friends notice that I’ve been “missing.”

In return, I notice the same for my friends.

We are a community.

And just as the oldsters find safety and companionship in their herd, we humans find the same with our friends, our neighborhoods, and our towns. It’s how we all get by – with just a little help from our friends.

Connect With a Friend Today

I invite you to share whatever may be your equivalent of an alfalfa cube or two with your friends today, and remember just how lovely it feels to be part of a community. They are your peeps, your tribe.

Leave a comment below and let me know how you reached out.

--Jean