Is where I’ll be tomorrow! I’m taking 5 horses, a furry papillon named Higgins, and myself to spend the winter there. I am glad that I am able to do this for so many reasons; the first being that financially we’re able to allow me to do this, but also that I don’t have any kids so I am free to *move about the country*. Because someday I won’t be free to *move about the country* like I am now. I’m also continually thankful to Zach who has agreed to live without me for four months. In case none of you have heard, I’m the lucky one in this relationship! He graciously allows zebra print chairs into our living room. He won’t come in and turn off HGTV if that’s what was on, and he supports my every endeavor and is the biggest cheerleader a girl could have. I have learned so much about life, living here in this place. So much from him about making life easier to live; and plenty about the animals and caring for them.

In the last 18 months I have specifically learned that getting upset doesn’t help you solve problems. It only makes you more likely to compromise as you aren’t thinking clearly. I have put into practice the concept of letting go- as in the only person/thing that I can control, is me. Being mad doesn’t do you or anyone any good. And worrying only puts creases in your forehead. If you can change something do it. Don’t fret about it or spend time worrying. Affect change. Affect the things you can. Let go of everything else. And if you believe you can do those things, then you CAN. And as such you will be more effective and less affected by what life throws your way.

I think the one thing that I am going to take with me and run with for the year is the word “believe”. Because if you don’t believe in something, you’ll fall for anything, right? But more than that because you have to believe in yourself first. Believe that you can do it. I am going to begin to do that again. There was a time in my life when I believed I could do anything. That whatever I wanted was possible. And that spark in me was stripped away by certain individuals. I’m sharing my 2010 word with y’all because I need you to remind me when I get down or am too hard on myself or on my horses, or if I allow someone to run me down or tell me that something can’t be, that if I believe hard enough in my ability, that I can make anything happen. I can’t say that I’m taking this journey alone. Because I’m not. I’ll have God, Zach, and y’all with me to help remind me that if I set my mind to something I cannot fail. I may not reach the level of success I wanted (RIGHT THEN), but I have to remind myself that there are milestones and every try, every good thing, gets me closer to having a better horse, making a better run, and maybe, closer to a run of PRCA rodeos and eventually a run to Vegas. And besides that, all the fun I’m going to have and all the trials and tears mixed in make me a better, stronger, more well-rounded person.

So I’m going to spend the winter working on fulfilling that life-long dream that I have of running down the alley at the the Thomas and Mack Center in December. And I’m going to be gracious, hold firm to what I believe about training my horses, my riding, my ability and not let anyone tell me I can’t.

Because I BELIEVE I can.