It’s Time

The time is finally here. The time I’ve been waiting for. My very first international competition. This is not how i pictured it, it’s not the event I thought it would be, or even with the dog I expected; but isn’t that how most wonderful things happen, in the least possible way you would imagine? I leave tomorrow with Zippy, for the EOJ in Czech Republic (I’m excited just writing that). Oddly enough I’m not as nervous as I thought I would be. Turns out I’m more nervous about Zippy flying in cargo (AHHHH), than I am about the competition. I feel complete and utter excitement. Our last training session was almost a week ago, and it did not go as planned, post turns fell apart, as did rear crosses, and yet, I still felt okay. Instead of training this week, Zip and I have been hiking, and its beautiful. We’ve hiked almost everyday this week. Today, alone in the woods with him, I felt complete serenity. Serene is never a word I would use to describe myself, and still today, that is the only way to encapsulate how I was feeling. I thought of the competition and my heart no longer began to race, I no longer thought of all the things I could have, should have, done to prepare. I thought of the competition and my heart filled with joy. I hope to carry this feeling with me next week going into competition. Everyone has told me to not be nervous, but I wanted the nerves, I wanted the edge they bring. I thought I needed them. And I’m sure they will come when competition begins, but right now, I’m enjoying the serenity.