I spent the better part of yesterday at a Kentucky Derby Party.  It is an annual event my Aunt hosts since coming to the family via Kentucky, when she married my Uncle.  We have food, drink, wear fancy hats(optional) and pick our favorite horses then watch the race!

Watching the “Fastest 2 minutes in Sports”  is exciting! It’s a rush of anticipation full of speed, and adrenaline where the fastest horse wins.  There was clear leader for 3/4 of the race.  Pushing ahead early, staying in the lead coming around the first three curves.  Fast and strong , barreling down a soggy, muddy track.  Quite calmly, coming into the final stretch there is a Horse called “Orb”.  Third from last in the final leg when he comes out of a turn picking up speed, passing 11 horses! Within seconds he is stretching his neck, moving into striking position….Then another leg and he has passed the top five, now he is neck and neck with the leader and in a final push, Orb wins!! Very late in the race, a quiet, methodical push to win.

I have watched the race over and over again last night and again this morning online, my mind connecting with this dynamic.  The 139th annual Kentucky Derby, a metaphor for life. All of the people like horses lining up at the gate to cross the finish line.  Fighting, moving, speeding through the race to win.  There are those that push ahead in the early moments out of the gate.  Their strength, speed, build, stamina and mind pushing them to move, and move quickly.  Move ahead, or move out-of-the-way, that’s the name of the game and the 2 million dollar purse is the reward. In the case of life I have realized that I too have been a horse quick out of the gate. Speeding through my life to get the “purse”. Many people are.  Running to get more.  Like the affluent owners of the thoroughbreds that win, pushing and working for accolades and titles. The ability to say “my horse did it”  The horse?  The horse who is actually in the race just has the spirit to RUN!

I realize while watching this Kentucky Derby, that I have learned.   We are beings that can evolve and change.  I have learned that we need not heed to the chaos around us to run our race. What is around us is not nearly as important as what is inside of us.  There may be other horses around trying to win too, but that doesn’t mean you can’t run your race!  We can adapt like horses  on a muddy track ,  we can still run!  We don’t have to be the leader out of the gate, we can plan and move and win when we are good and ready.  Like “Orb” the 139th Kentucky Derby winner, we can move through the mud, the rain, and move through the race with 20 other horses headed in the same direction, but how you choose to run is what will separate you from the pack.  That is  what this horse did.  Third from last in the final leg he pulls all of his strength, all of his will and he passes the other horses to win the race!

That’s the person I realize I am becoming. In  this race called life. I was a little behind in the beginning (I made a few poor choices), but  I am running it differently. I am running for me.  I’m passing by, stretching my neck out , grinding my feet into the mud to get to the finish line. In my final stretch, my heart, my soul, all that I aspire to be…..will win.

It is my hope that you all can do the same.  Find your finish line, whatever you precieve that to be, the run your race on your terms, in your own time, and you too will win!

May you always find Peace and Light as You Rise Above…..

Toni