MASTER HIROSHI - Part I

 

Sarah slumped against her horse's neck, fighting back tears of frustration. 

 

Another failed training session. Despite endless hours of practice, there was friction between her and her horse. Her Instagram feed mocked her with its stream of perfect riders and horses who all trot for a 10. 

 

That's when she noticed the old man watching from the shadows of the indoor arena.

 

He was small, dressed simply in worn jeans and a faded jacket, his long silver hair matched his flowing beard. Something about his stillness caught her attention – a quality of presence that seemed to fill the entire arena.

 

"You ride tomorrow's horse," he said softly, his Japanese accent gentle but clear. "But today's horse? Him, you ignore."

 

Sarah felt her cheeks flush. "I don't understand."

 

"Come. Bring horse. I show you."

 

Against her better judgment, Sarah dismounted and led her horse, Monarch, toward the stranger. As they approached, she noticed his eyes – dark, calm, impossibly wise.

 

"I'm Hiroshi," he said simply. "Once, long ago, I train imperial horses in Japan. Now, I watch young riders chase perfection while missing truth beneath them."

 

Before Sarah could respond, he reached for Monarch. His hand didn't quite touch the geldings neck, hovering just above the skin. Monarch lowered his head, releasing a deep breath.

 

"You feel?" Hiroshi asked.

 

"Feel what?"

 

"Exactly." He smiled. "Horse breathing now. Heart beating now. But your mind? Your mind in show ring next month. In perfect test that does not exist. Meanwhile, this moment – only moment you can actually touch – slips away untouched."

 

Sarah started to protest, but Hiroshi was already moving, his hands drawing an invisible map in the air around Monarch.

 

"Here, tension from your worry. Here, resistance from his confusion. Here, strength waiting to flow – if only rider was present to channel it."

 

"I am present," Sarah insisted. "I'm always thinking about my riding."

 

"Thinking is not presence," Hiroshi said. "Thinking is distance. Come tomorrow, same time. Bring horse, but leave your thoughts about riding at home. Bring only yourself, as you are. We begin there."

 

He turned to leave, then paused. "One question before tomorrow: Do you know difference between rider who chases perfection and rider who finds mastery?"

 

Sarah shook her head.

 

"Perfection is future that never comes. Mastery is being perfect friend to this moment, even when moment is imperfect."

 

He smiled again. "Tomorrow, we learn to be perfect friends to imperfect moments."