This time last year, I found myself on vacation at Miraval. While the resort was a little too “L.A.” for my appreciation (entitlement of some infringing on the relaxation of others), I did enjoy a hot and dusty afternoon spent with cowboy-therapist, Wyatt Webb, in a program called “It’s Not about the Horse.” While too lengthy and complicated to describe in detail here, the point of the exercise was to leave personal baggage in the horse ring and take away an “Aha” moment through (what appeared to be) a simple exercise with a horse.

My particular moment sums up as, “Sometimes you’ve just gotta move the goddamn horse.” In other words: No matter how much drive, desire, or determination you have, if you do what’s already been done, don’t be surprised when you get the same results.

I watched a dozen people try to lift the same leg on the same horse in the same manner again and again and again – all without much success. When it was my turn, I realized I had to work with the same horse, but I could switch legs. So, I moved the horse, grabbed a different leg and, voila, mission accomplished.

If you are not getting anywhere, sometimes the best action to take is to step away and approach from a different angle (moving the horse). Is this damn crust the horse this week? Do I need to scrap it and start fresh?

Today, I make banana bread and leave the tart crust for tomorrow.