The South Dakota Cowgirl

Life on the Ranch Through My Lens

You are here: Home / fall / Thirty Days of Thanksgiving

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving

by 15 Comments

012I started this late. The first of November was here, and gone before I realized it. And I had/have been cranky, sick and otherwise acting like an ungrateful, spoiled little rich girl from Texas.

My house isn’t big enough.
I hate the flooring.
I want new kitchen countertops.
I want a bigger bathroom- complete with a soaker tub big enough for two.
I despise my closet.
Our bedroom isn’t big enough.
There’s no room for *stuff*.
I want more storage.
I will never have the big, pretty, house I want.
So what is the point in trying, dreaming, planning or scheming?
I’ll be living in this 1750 square foot, 4 bedroom house (which really should be 3 because, 4 bedrooms in anything under 2000 sq ft is too small) for. The. Rest. Of. My. Life.

Really, Jenn? Get. A. Grip.

My mother always told me growing up, that negativity was my default setting. The above are the thoughts running through my head in the last couple weeks. I am totally acting like an unmarry-able, obnoxious woman. In part it is the prednisone. In part it is me, not loving myself. Not believing in the good that IS my life. Not seeing all the blessings. Not being content. I don’t know where the happy girl that I used to know has gone. But, I must find her again. STAT.

On Facebook the other day, my friend Pony suggested that we post something that we’re thankful for, EVERY Day in November. I didn’t see this, of course until the 8th or something, but I decided I could back-track and start with the first day of the month. So that’s what I’m going to do. Because I really need some perspective. And possibly a re-organization of my life’s priorities.

These are not in any particular order, and I’m sure as I go on, the list will be harder to make. I plan to update it daily. If you’d like to play along, you can leave the things you’re thankful for in the comments section and I’ll compile a big list of them all for a post on December first.

1. I am thankful for God who loves me unconditionally.
2. I am thankful for pretty, red walls in my kitchen, that were, painted that color, without fuss, by the best man in the world. 🙂
3. I am thankful that Zach wakes up and thinks to himself, first thing in the morning- what can I do to show Jenn I love her today? What can I do to make her life better?

I mean, how lucky am I to have a man that thinks that way?

4. Chickens. I love my chickens.
5. That I have the ability to get up every morning and do exactly what I want to do that day.
6. Baby Bam Bam. I may have expected two colts this year, and only ended up with one. But he’s a pretty great one at that!
7. A wonderful extended family. Families don’t come better than the one here. Honest.
8. Wide Open Spaces. Room to make big mistakes. Room to be myself.
9. That Zach thinks I’m a great cook.
10. That I have a roof over my head and I don’t have to worry about losing it.

11. My health. I have eyes that work to see. I have ears that work to hear. I have a healthy set of lungs. I have healthy legs. I can ride, I can walk, I can climb.

12. I am thankful that I live in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave- where opportunity abounds. All I have to do is reach out and take it.

13. That I have a pantry full of food and a freezer full of meat.

14. That I no longer have to work in an office! My office, is God’s country. How great is that?

15. That I have great friends.

16. That I am able to spend my days horseback if I desire (which is what I did yesterday).

17. That I have carte blanche over making our house a *home*.

18. For super parents that raised me to be a functioning member of society.

19. I’m thankful for the beautiful weather we’ve been having. It’s one less month of wintery weather that we’ll have to endure in the cold north of South Dakota. Really, while it snowed three times in October, it has been just gorgeous this month!

20. I am soooo thankful for my laptop. It nearly died this week and Zach saved it.

21. I’m thankful that Zach is able to save computers and understands technology. I love you, babe!

22. For all the good people in my life.

23. For all the experiences I’ve had in my life- both good and bad.

24. For a comfortable bed.

25. For my own space.

26. That I don’t have to wonder where I’m getting to eat today.

27. For the ability/funds/opportunity to shop on Black Friday.

28. That I beat my little brother in a game of Bowling last night.

29. That I live in such a peaceful place surrounded by people who love me.

30. For the many talents God has given me.

About ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

Jenn Zeller is the creative mind and boss lady behind The South Dakota Cowgirl. She is an aspiring horsewoman, photographer, brilliant social media strategist and lover of all things western.

After a brief career in the investment world to support her horse habit (and satisfy her mother, who told her she had to have a “real” job after graduating college), she finally took the leap and stepped away from a regular income; trading the business suit once and for all for cowgirl boots, a hat, and jeans. She has not looked back.

When Jenn first moved to The DX Ranch on the South Dakota plains, she never imagined she’d find herself behind a camera lens capturing an authentic perspective of ranching, and sharing it with others. Jenn has always been called to artistry, and uses music, writing, images, home improvement, and her first true love of horses to express her ranching passion.

Horses are the constant thread and much of her work centers around using her unique style of writing to share her horsemanship journey with others in publications such as CavvySavvy, the AQHA Ranching Blog, the West River Eagle, the family ranch website, and her own website.

Using photography to illustrate her stories has created other opportunities -- Jenn’s brand “The South Dakota Cowgirl” has grown to the level of social media “Influencer”. This notoriety has led to work with Duluth Trading Company, Budweiser, Wyoming Tourism, Vice, Circle Z Ranch and Art of the Cowgirl, to name a few. She also serves as a brand ambassador for Woodchuck USA, Arenus Equine Health, Triple Crown Feed and Just Strong fitness apparel. Her photography has been featured by Instagram, Apple, TIME Magazine, The Huffington Post, and Oprah Magazine. Jenn’s work has been published internationally, has been seen in several books and has graced the covers of several magazines.

Jenn became a social media influencer by accident when she started to explore Instagram as a way to share her life on the ranch with folks that don’t get to experience it. It’s grown into an incredible platform that she uses to empower women, create an environment for self improvement and share life on the ranch.

When she’s not working, she loves to drink coffee, play with her naughty border collie named Copper, start ranch colts, and run about the country chasing cans. Her mother still thinks she doesn’t have a “real” job.

Give your horse or dog, or cat the gift of mobility.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. The Wife says

    I’m thankful for having a husband that loves me for me, which is truly amazing! And even though I gained 20 lbs, he still thinks I’m beautiful and tells me so.

    Reply

  2. Sprite's Keeper says

    I love this! I need to remember more what I am thankful for. Sometimes, especially when I’m under the weather, I get irritated with those who are healthy. JOHN. He’s sleeping right now, next to me, breathing easy while I wheeze my way through the coughing and general suckiness. But I am thankful that he is healthy since I get a night off where he deals with Sprite’s cunning tactics at bedtime when I’m obviously too far gone to handle it.

    Reply

  5. Chelsea E. Toy says

    I’ve been feeling the negativity lately too, Jenn. I was forced to retire my old rodeo mare just last month, and that seemed to put me into a downward spiral of negativity and just generally being bummed out. But, a good friend of mine told me – life is all about plan B, and I’ve really been trying to think of things that way.

    So, in response to your being thankful for everything you have – I’m thankful that I do have a back-up horse, and I’m thankful I’ve learned to hang on to her decent enough to still be able to rodeo. I’m thankful for parents to help pay my vet bills – more importantly, I’m thankful for the best parents in the world in general. I’m thankful for my amazing boyfriend, who, though he hates her, hauls my mare to the roping pen and heels off of her just to make me happy and keep her head sane.

    There’s much more, but this is your blog – you’ve inspired me to think a lot more about what a cowgirl should really be thankful for.

    Reply

  9. Maureen@IslandRoar says

    So funny you posted this; I’ve been thinking of jotting down things I’m thankful for on a regular basis. I think it just helps me be more positive. And with gray island winter days ahead, a little positivity will come in handy.
    I love that picture of you and Zach. You, my dear, are beautiful!

    Reply

  10. Chanel says

    I love this. I started a 30 days of fun campaign for the month of November which is kinda similiar. Will have to start blogging about being thankful for all the fun opportunities I’ve had for the month.

    Reply

  12. Kate says

    I love this. It’s so important to focus on our blessings! What I’m learning is that it’s all how I look at it. I complain about cleaning my house and doing laundry, when really I should be thankful that I have a house and plenty of clothes!

    Reply

  13. Jamie says

    I’m thankful for all my bloggy friends, my family, my health and that I have a roof over my head when there are sooo many out there who don’t right now.

    I’m dropping by from The Wife’s blog….I’m following and I’m adding you to my blog list as well.

    Reply

What's on your mind?