Inspiration

The other day I was looking through one of my favorite books, Careers with Horses, doing some research for a project.  Now, as a journalist I have to try and remain objective at all times, but I have to say that personally, this book probably changed my life.  As cheesy as that sounds, it's true.

There are so many professions listed in the book, but there's really only one that stands out in my mind.  When I read the profile on Moira C. Harris, that was it for me.  I hadn't even considered that writing about horses could be a career for anyone, let alone for me, but here was this woman, the editor of a magazine that I read religiously every month, saying that it was possible to have a successful career combining writing and horses.

I always loved reading the editor's note in Horse Illustrated.  Harris was pretty, her horse was gorgeous, she was funny, and she was the boss. All of a sudden I had an image of myself, pictured on my very own editor's note, myself as the boss, and I liked that image.  From then on, Harris became the focal point, the tangible goal for my education and potential career. Moira C. Harris became this representation of everything I wanted to be, everything I aspired to.

Earlier this year, when I had my first published grown-up article, I posted a triumphant status on facebook: "Look out Moira C. Harris, I'm coming for you!"  When I later found out that she had passed away after a battle with breast cancer I felt horrible. I worried that somehow my ambitious comment had been misinterpreted by the universe and it was my fault the horse world lost this amazing voice.

While I was paging through Careers with Horses again, I inevitably went back to the interview with Harris.  It made me so sad to read about how happy and busy she was just a few years ago and now to realize that she's gone. That's the amazing thing about the written word though, it is immortal. Long after we are gone, our words remain.  Even though she is gone, Moira C. Harris will continue inspire me, and I have no doubt- others like me, and push me to pursue the career I want.