Slow Down!

I find in our culture there is always this push to exceed limits, go faster, push forward, and essentially run till you burn out.

Now I am definitely not opposed with pushing yourself, giving 100%, and exceeding limits....

Got Gold at my first jiu jitsu competition last weekend. Ian and Sheri (Who I met in Africa) came to watch! They are such an awesome couple, so happy to have met them!

But sometimes we need to SLOW down!

And this is more a post for me then anyone else! I don't like to slow down! I have so much energy, I love exploring, experiencing new things, being successful, pouring my whole self into something. Non of this is bad, but I definitely over due it sometimes, and as I lay in bed my lungs filling with mucous, and my head heavy from clogged airways for almost a week now, I am beginning to realize that maybe I would recover quicker from ailments if I gave myself some time to recover.

I made a decision this weekend to give up doing something that I would normally not do! Two things actually! Ask for a day off of work, and give up showing Denver on the weekend.

I don't like taking days off work short notice, because I do love my job, I commit my time to it, and I want to be reliable. However, I always tell my co-workers they should take the day off when they are sick, so I decided to do what I advise and allow myself to heal.

Giving up the horse show was a little harder, I won't lie. I love competing and I feel like Denver and I really had a shot at doing well. I remembered the fable of a man though, who ran all day around this large section of land to claim it as his own. He covered many miles by the end of the day, but when he crossed the finish line he collapsed and died due to his greed for more land then he probably needed. In healthy circumstances would pushing myself to do well in the show and bring home ribbons matter? No, it would be good for character. However, being sick as I am and pushing myself would only be for my desire to hang a few more ribbons up on the wall. It would not be fair to Denver either, placing ourselves in that situation, and there will be other horse shows.

This is kind of a funny post to make before I begin National Novel Writing Month where I will literally put every spare minute of my day into finishing a 50,000 word novel in a month. It was a super rewarding challenge last year though and I want to do it again. Last year I wrote a novel called Witness about the end times and witnesses mentioned in the book of Revelations (Bible). This year I am devoting the challenge to complete a memoir about my Trip tp Africa! Here is a little sneak peak!

Synopsis

Memoir about my three month trip to Uganda. Twenty years of age, minimal traveling experience, and first time in an undeveloped country. A journey of discovering, unexpected adventures, making dreams come true, battling disease, and love.  

Excerpt

I want to take you on a journey across the seas to reddish soil, dark skin, affectious smiles, lizards, laughter, dance, and song! To a land with corruption deep in its core, where bloated chests heave, where dark powers reside, and blood is not uncommonly seen. 

Where I only shed tears once, where I was happy, anxious, excited all at once. Where my heart got captured and torn apart. The land deep in my dream land that I saved up to see, the dreams of the people I grew to know, and who became family. 

So enjoy the ride from car crash, sickness, laughter, dance, song; parched lips, deadly liquids, witch craft, spirituality, love, heart, and running from harm. 

So even if you are busy and challenge yourself relentlessly as I often do, take half a day off sometimes, do something you enjoy, make sure you sleep. Pause an activity and never feel bad taking time to admire beautiful things!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Saturday evening I went out to the horse paddock searching for Denver. Him, being a dark colour, didn't make it easy! Suddenly, his dark face came out of the night, and nuzzled me. I pulled the grain out of my pocket and offered it to him. He then continued grazing, and I rested against his back peering into the darkness. His slow and steady breathing was calming, as I gazed up at the cloudy night sky. I could see the light colour of my breath in the cold, but I felt warm leaning on him. I thought back to when I had first got on his back at Cyndi's request. How nervous I had been, because every one told me he was crazy....

And he was!

Yet so am I! I thought about the falls, the progression, the horse show, and then to us in the moment, silent, yet bonding. I felt so thankful that Cyndi decided Denver would be a good match for me! 

Denver has taught me many lessons, and is always there for me when I need him. Whenever I feel down, he brings me out of it. After Africa, I was having a hard time adjusting back to my old life. He was my grounding, and focus. 

I have so much to be thankful for this year! I'm not even sure where to begin!

First of all, I am thankful for you my friends, family, and followers; For your support, guidance, and companionship over the year! Without you all, it would be really hard to go on!

I am very thankful for Cyndi and the barn family at Absolute Equestrian! Thanks to them, I have become a better rider, learned new skills, and increased in Equine knowledge! They are also a family away from home, and are always there for me when I need them.

I am thankful that I had the opportunity to go to Uganda. It helped me grow in confidence, maturity, and gave me a more concicous and open mind. Plus, it was the adventure of a lifetime!

I am also thankful for the hard experiences I have had this year. Such as almost drowning in cow poop, and being sick with Typhoid. It made me realize how fragile our lives can be, and that we need to make every day count, because it could be our last! I am thankful that I survived the illness, and being stuck in poop, and that I still have a chance to live life and make the most of it.

The time I had with my family this summer was also a blessing from above! Hannah and I bonded over horses, I grew to like my sister Nancy more, realizing that being different from each other is okay! I also found my relationship with my mother improved and that we connected better then we ever had before. 

Hannah and I swimming with a horse

I am very thankful I had the opportunity to go to the Passion to Purpose conference in Regina this year, and am very thankful that Tom Shmidts Construction in Killaloe sponsored me to go. I learned a lot about my one passion (International Development), made many new connections, and friends. I hope one day to put what I learned into action even more!

And for all these things, experiences, and blessings, I give thanks to God, for they all came from him. No matter where I am in the world, in my travels, or obstacles that come my way, he is always there to carry me over. I don't expect anyone to understand, but in my world where nothing is constant, he is the constant. He is the only motivation I need to push myself in life, because I am so thankful for the gift of life he has given me!

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving! Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers. 

"Gratitude can turn common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings." - William Arthur Ward

What's Next?!!

What's Next?!!

I have to say this has been a very eventful year! To Recap.....

 London England

Africa

Absolute Equestrian

Frontier Trails

Passion to Purpose Conference

And now...…

 SCHOOL!

After much thought, I finally decided to go. I've been pushing it off for awhile, but now that I am going, I love it!

It was hard to decide which program to take! I applied for four different animal related courses and got accepted into all of them! That didn't make my decision very easy though. At first, I accepted the offer for Equine Managment at Ridge Town campus, Guelph University. However, I have become rather attached to the Durham region and especially the folks and animals at Absolute Equestrian. They have become a family that I'm not ready to leave yet!

My final decision has been Animal Care at Durham college, which is the equivilent of Vet assistant. It is working out very nicely! I decided to get my own apartment. Its ideal, because it is about equal distance from the school and the barn. On the weekends I work at the barn, spend time with Denver, and the barn family. Then during the week, I go to school and do jiu jitsu in the evening. 

My new bed!

One of the kittens at the barn

Sorry that I have not been very on top of the blog this year! As you can see, there has been a lot going on! Now that I am settled down till about May though, I should have more time to keep on top of it! Stay tuned for more adventures to come!

Photo creds (Sheri and Ian, Devyn Gallagher, Alicia Campbell)

Why Africa?!

Why Africa?! I get asked this question a lot, almost every time the subject is brought up. Why did you risk your security going over to a continent you knew hardly anything about?! Why go over there and help, when you can help them from over here?!

A misconception is that I went there specifically to help the people. Although I did help, and made positive change, I needed to go for myself! There was something that was needed for my personal growth there. I wasn't satisfied with hearing about the starving children in Africa, the poverty, and the culture; I needed to go see it for myself.

Young boy showing off his art work

Girls dancing for me!

The children showing off the soap they received through donations by Absolute Equestrian

I did see it! I came across women who had been abused, across children who ate one meal a day, walked through piles of garbage in the city, and heard horror stories from several of the people I encountered on my journey. I also saw the importance of family, the joy in little things, an eagerness to learn, and people who were alive instead of zombified by technology.

Children in Kampala cheering on their school teams

Teaching in Kampala

Serving porridge to the children

Young girl showing off her art work

Africa made me a happier person! Was it the healthier diet, or the laid back lifestyle?! I'm not sure, but it felt like I was where I was meant to be! I became a more confident women through this journey. I grew more comfortable teaching in front of a large class, of travelling on my own, and I got to know myself better, because myself was the only person I came with. I learned what love is, how to deal with hard situations, and to always trust in God. People took advantage of me at times, but I learned from that as well. No has become easier to say, but so has yes!

Holding a new born baby

Teaching Kindergarten in Kampala

Fred and I

If any of you ever get the chance to travel to a third world country, I encourage you to go! It can be scary yes, life threatening potentially, but despite the challenges I faced, I am 100% sure it was the right decision to go! I look forward to the day I can set my feet back on African soil!

(Photo creds Ian and Sheri)