I have been using the building pictured to the left for years and it's been a true blessing. A place I could pay per use, that was warm in the winter and had ample parking. It was also a plus that they allowed dogs. The difficulty about this space, it wasn't "my" place. Others used the building and I had to schedule my training times well in advance so I could hold consecutive classes. I had to pack all my training tools and load them in the car and take them to this place weekly. Often when I arrived it was set up for meetings - tables and many chairs set in various patterns. I would arrive early for my class and start the process of tearing down all the chairs and moving the heavy tables to the sides of the room. I did this week after week for my 6 week classes - a few times a year. And I was happy to do so...thankful to have the space to rent indoors for the winter months.I had been looking for my own space to train for some time. I thought of building a place at my small farm to hold classes and found out quickly the expense was enormous. I looked at modular buildings and sheds. I thought of using my two car garage for a while. It is after all finished and a large enough space to hold small classes. But what to do with all my pony carriages, how would I cover the cement floor and how would I heat the space. Everything I thought of had quite a bit of expense attached to it and being a small business I didn't feel it a good idea to take on such a large loan.
This year another group decided to use the same building above. They had their schedule and year well planned and filled the calendar with their various practices and events. When I called to schedule my classes, it appeared that there was only one night free and only free for so many weeks - not 5 or 6 consecutively. Uh, no! I thought my training business might come to a close for the winter months. What else could I do? It appeared I no longer had an indoor space to use. I was devastated... Maybe it was time to move on from something I so loved. Just when I was comfortable with the idea that perhaps God had something else in store and I could move on...
My son invited me to go on a walk with him to reminisce. And out of nowhere, this empty Classroom (upper right) appeared. And the rest as they say...is history.
If you had asked me a year ago what my ideal "place" - space to train - would be I would have described my Classroom. I always saw myself as a teacher and the humans and dogs as my students. A Classroom setting fits this idea perfectly! It's bright and airy. I love that lots of sun flood through my tall windows. It's perfect for private sessions and large enough for classes as well. It's warm in the winter and will be cool in the summer and has ample parking. I can fit most of my agility equipment in the space and will be able to continue to teach basic agility - or Ogilty as I call it - a combination of working on both agility and obedience behaviors. It's perfect and inviting!
The best part about my space is it's mine...I can set up my equipment and decorate anyway I please. I have all my training equipment at my finger tips. Amazing, the very moment I felt devastating loss, was the very moment my hopes and dreams became a reality. Change is good!
