Magic

We all have those days at our respective jobs where we want to pull our hair out, scream, and perhaps even quit.  Then we have those days that remind us why we do what we do, especially those of us in the social services area of work.

Today was one of those latter days.  The kind that makes your heart swell and eyes well.  A day of pure magic.

The past few days, I have been working with 6 middle school kids who are pretty resistant to being in the day program in which I work.  Resistant to being there in the first place bubbles over into small battles over seemingly simple things....like going to group, cleaning up their lunch plates, being respectful to one another.

Change in our predictable schedule also becomes a struggle and today was the monster of all changes for this group.  Today, our schedule included a field trip to a therapeutic horse ranch.  On Monday (two days prior to "the horses", as we affectionately refer to our experience), five of the six kids were adamant that they were not going to go.  So adamant was one kiddo that he had a 2 hour rage at home because his anxiety was overwhelming, and he thought by throwing this fit, he would be able to avoid this potentially uncomfortable experience.  Another gal insisted she would not even come to the treatment program that day and most certainly she was not going to the horses.

 The two days leading up to the field trip, we attempted to coach the kids in skills, calm their anxieties, and encourage them in all sorts of ways.  Sometimes our attempts bred anger, and most certainly none of the hesitant ones were sold on going.  We still had one very uncompromising gal and one very uncompromising boy.

Then today happened.  I was surprised to see all six faces arrive at the program today.  Our rigid gal was unusually quiet and withdrawn in the morning, and I was a bit concerned she would refuse to leave the building when the time came to head up to the horses.  But the time came, and she hopped in the van no problem.

We arrive at the horse arena and went to observe the horses.  The kids mindfully observe the various horses, and when they feel a connection, they raise their hand to claim which one they want to work beside.  Our hyperactive, socially awkward boy surprisingly waiting last to pick his horse allowing all the other kids to have their first choices.  His buddy ended up being the most vocal and energetic of all the horses, just as this kid was the most vocal and energetic of our bunch of kiddos.  All kids picked their horses and approached them very cautiously, even our most resolute boy and gal.

They each brushed their majestic beauties, cleaned their hooves, and got to practice leading them around the arena.  Building confidence and conquering fears all the while.  Bright smiles on our most hardened kids.

Toward the end of our time, the kids got to ride their new found friend.  Our uncompromising boy?  Yes, he rode around the arena with the brightest smile I have seen from him.  Not only that, but he encouraged the others to do the same, even the other boy who irritated him during their time together in the program.

Our uncompromising gal?  She, too, wore a bright smile as she rode Shiloh.  By the end of it, she was hugging her horse saying she did not want to leave and requested to have her picture taken. Perhaps even a tear was shed as she said goodbye.

This experience was beyond anything I have ever experienced.  The connection between horse and human was something I had never seen.  I'm still unsure if the animal matched the energy of the kid, or if the kid chose the animal because of shared characteristics.  Maybe a little of both.  Whatever it was, only one word can explain it.  Magic.