Nature is unendingly magnificent.
Her splendour is spread across endless space and manifested on countless worlds, but for us, her most wondrous gift remains her willingness to teach us about ourselves. Learning to see and understand the natural world around you, you become the pinnacle of nature’s accomplishments. God created the universe and nature before He created man. Then God created man and appointed him as guardian and custodian of His creation. What an honour this is for humanity.
We are supposed to be intelligent beings who have been given the assignment of taking care of this beautiful planet we call home, yet there are people out there destroying the environment and hunting species to extinction. We were given the power to love and nurture this creation so why have so many lost this love? Why have they become deaf to the cry of helpless animals and defenceless nature? We can all make a difference in a positive way to be a better steward of the land. Animals shower us with unconditional love and a special bond can exist between man and nature. It is there for all to share, not just for a select few.
As a cowgirl I came to understand how a relationship with nature contributes joy and peace to human life. This relationship begins with the land where the forces of nature shape destiny.
Whether tending cattle or horses or other animals, livestock is at the centre of a cowgirl’s existence. It is only when you have to care for the wellbeing of animals that you begin to appreciate the power of the natural world. It is the simple living that enhances awareness of and openness to the beauty of the natural world.
To live and work as a cowgirl is seriously hard work with days that never seem to end, and which last from sunrise and late into the night. With the way of life, there is sweat and dust, and the heat or cold of ranching, the smells and hard labour. Ranch life forces you to study the sky and land every day, trying to anticipate nature’s intentions. The care of the land and the animals always comes before a cowgirl’s comfort. It’s a care that is given with love and respect, not just because it is her livelihood but because it’s also her purpose.
Horses will always be a part of a cowgirl’s life as they have come to define her. Their relationship is an iconic virtue of teamwork that is bound together by trust and courage. Through mutual understanding, they become one because a cowgirl understands what it means to be a horse – how the horse reacts and relates to other horses and things. She respects her horse’s boundaries and knows his behaviour as a herd animal. She understands that her goal is to become her horse’s friend and companion, and that trust is the most important element of their relationship.
An authentic cowgirl allows the land to rejuvenate her spirit. She finds solace amongst her animals where nature speaks to her heart. She always finds that communing with nature calms her soul and restores the fire that burns deep within. It is this fire that drives her to face each day to embrace new challenges.
Having ‘cowgirl spirit’ is not about WHERE you live but HOW you live, so what does having cowgirl spirit mean to you?