02/06/2025
Two months ago on the 25th of March we welcomed Renae Ann into the world 🥰. Our lives changed the second we found out we were expecting and with that we have learned a lot about how precious life is and that the strength needed to live in this world lives inside us if we are brave enough to believe it.
Something that continues to amaze me is that every comment about our baby's features whether it be from friends, family, or strangers is expressed in awe, everything about her seems to be perfect to everyone. As I listen to the comments I realize that many of my own features that I struggle with and have had negative comments on, are the very features that are admired in our baby.
All of this has made me realize that after we hit a certain age the world loses respect and admiration for life itself. We are expected to be a certain weight, look a certain way, and make a certain amount of money. Life itself is no longer valuable or enough… instead it is something to hide from. It seems like every baby is perfect to everyone… until they hit a certain age.
Why is it that life is so miraculous at a young age, but after we hit a certain age the things once admired are now being judged?
Along with the judgement of the outside world, we learn to judge ourselves, to be harsh with ourselves, and to be embarrassed. This judgment leaves us feeling frustrated and robs us of joy and the ability to learn and grow. It limits our strengths and fuels our weaknesses.
Like every other part of the world, the horse world can sometimes be about appearance, money, and fitting in, giving the student a false reality to strive for.
This causes a fear of making mistakes, and also believing that the ones that hide the struggle don't really struggle at all.
WE ALL STRUGGLE PERIOD.
What if we looked at ourselves and peers with the same awe that we look at babies with? What if instead of hating on the way our hands handle the reins, we looked at them with admiration for trying so hard?
What if we smiled when we watch videos of ourselves riding and trying our hearts out? What if we looked at our bodies with pride because they are helping us achieve our goals and making things happen?
My goal this year is to appreciate just how capable my body is, and just how capable I am. We should be proud of what we are capable of, proud of our dedication, and proud of the results we create. Yes, we need to push ourselves to grow… but we can't grow if we don't love the very things that make growth possible.