A Lesson in Resilience.

Because resilience isn't about avoiding disappointment. It's about finding the courage to show up again.

We've all been there. An opportunity presents itself and before we've even considered saying yes, we've thought of seventeen reasons why it's probably a terrible idea. What if I'm not good enough? What if it goes wrong? What if everyone is watching? It's remarkable how quickly we can talk ourselves out of something before we've even given it a chance.

Apparently, nobody gave my 12-year-old daughter that memo.

Last weekend, with less than 24 hours' notice, Eadie was asked to ride a friend's pony at the World Equestrian Centre, a venue she'd dreamed of riding at since our first visit in 2023. There was just one small detail. She'd be riding hunters, not jumpers, the discipline she knows and loves. And the reason she'd been asked? Her friend was also competing in the same class and couldn't possibly ride two ponies at once. So, without hesitation, Eadie said yes.

She turned up, got herself into the zone and focused entirely on the job she'd been asked to do. She was ready, mentally prepared and excited to finally ride into an arena she'd dreamed about for years. So when the class was unexpectedly postponed until the following day, the disappointment was very real. All that anticipation, preparation and focus, only to have the moment taken away just as it felt within reach. And yet, despite the frustration, she picked herself up, reset and returned the next day with the same determination. She'd made a commitment to her friend, and a little disappointment wasn't going to stop her from seeing it through.

Watching her ride into that arena, I felt something I hadn't quite expected. Of course I was proud. I'm her mum, that's practically in the job description. But more than that, I genuinely admired her. I admired her loyalty to her friend, her willingness to step outside her comfort zone and her ability to focus on what needed doing rather than everything that could potentially go wrong. Even after the disappointment of the previous day, she hadn't allowed it to overshadow the opportunity in front of her.

And it got me thinking. When did we become so afraid?

At what point did we start allowing self-doubt to make decisions for us? When did we begin needing guarantees before we'd even consider giving something a go? As we get older, we seem to become increasingly aware of all the things that might go wrong, and somewhere along the way, that awareness can quietly turn into hesitation. We become so concerned with the outcome that we sometimes forget there's something rather wonderful about simply having the courage to try.

Yet here was a 12-year-old reminding me that courage doesn't always mean doing something extraordinary. Sometimes it simply means showing up when somebody needs you, even when the circumstances aren't quite what you're used to. And resilience isn't about brushing off disappointment or pretending it doesn't matter. It's about allowing yourself to feel it, finding a way through it and being willing to give something another go.

January 2027 is still our dream. Eadie, Gyp and their show team, Arrow Equine, heading to the World Equestrian Centre together. It's something we've been looking forward to for a long time, and I can't wait to see them enter that arena as a partnership.

But this weekend gave me something I hadn't anticipated. A reminder from my daughter that loyalty matters, disappointment doesn't have to mean defeat, and bravery deserves celebrating. Perhaps, as adults, we could all benefit from being a little more fearless, a little more resilient and a little less concerned about what might go wrong.

Turns out, I'm still learning from my 12-year-old.

Dedicated to my beautiful and brave daughter, Eadie.