The Power of Determination
When I was a kid, I used to go and visit my Aunt Betty and Uncle Bud in New Mexico during the summer months. It was always an adventure, one that I looked forward to greatly. I called Uncle Bud, my cowboy uncle. He loved his horses and enjoyed sharing that love with others. I was no exception. When Uncle Bud went to practice his ropin’ he would let me tag along and open the cow chutes for him. I thought I was pretty special straddling that fence and opening those cow chutes. It was fun watching him chase those cows around on that horse, lasso swinging around in the air and dry desert dust creating a thick fog around the rodeo arena.
One day after he had finished ropin’ I wanted to ride, being so young and a horse novice at best, Uncle Bud saw fit to give me a ridin’ lesson. Now I had been on small horses and ponies before, but never the gia-normous horses that Uncle Bud had. His horses were the biggest I had ever seen in my young life. As I stood next to the majestic beast I was preparing to mount, the task looked impossible. The stirrups of the saddle were eye level and honestly, it was quite intimidating to be standing there trying to figure out how I was ever going to get on that horse. Nevertheless, I stood, studying the situation, then gave it my first shot.
It was a small challenge to get my foot in the stirrup, but I finally got it there. Afterwards I stood, suspended in mid-mount, trying to figure out what to do next. Not knowing what else to do, I started hoping up and down on one foot, psyching myself up for that final forceful jump that would propel me into the saddle. Finally, I was ready – and with one giant push I was in mid-air. Then just as quickly as I went up, I came back down. There I was, laying in the desert dust with Uncle Bud towering over me, he reached down with his cowboy hands and helped me up. As I was brushing myself off, he said “That’s not how you get on a horse.” After a few instructions and a demonstration, he motioned for me to try again. A few more tries later, and I still was not on that horse. Feeling defeated I looked up at Uncle Bud, and told him I didn’t want to ride anymore and I was ready to go home. Besides the sun was starting its descent into the western sky and it would be dark soon.
Uncle Bud wouldn’t hear of it, he looked at me sternly, pointed his long cowboy finger at me and said “We aren’t leavin’ here ’til you get on that horse. I don’t care if you ride or not, but you’re gonna get on him and I’m not going to help you.” I could tell he meant business. At that point, I don’t know what I was more afraid of – the horse or Uncle Bud. He just stood there hand on his hips, looking at me. After a few minutes, of our little standoff he said, “Well – are we gonna be here all night or are you getting on that horse?” I looked over my shoulder at the horse, then back at Uncle Bud and in that last glance I mustered enough courage to try one last time. I walked over, pretended to adjust the saddle (like I knew what I was doing), looked back at Uncle Bud again, then in one not so smooth move I managed to pull myself into the saddle. I felt so proud. There I sat, high looking around at the beautiful desert terrain surrounding me. For a short moment I thought I could conquer the world.
If I had been writing a blog when I was 12, my edition that week would have said, “Today I Learned how to get on a horse.” But really, there was much more to that riding lesson than mounting a horse.
What did I really learn that day?
As I have reflected recently on my memories of Uncle Bud, I have realized how many life lessons were imparted to me that afternoon.
I learned determination – to not quit until you have done what you set out to do.
I learned perseverance – to never give up no matter how hard something seems.
I learned independence – to believe in your own strength to accomplish what you want
I learned persistence – to keep trying until you succeed.
I learned not to underestimate myself – because even when I don’t believe in myself, there are people around me who know I can do it.
I learned confidence – to not be afraid of a challenge.
Finally, I learned that when I fall off of my horse, the only thing to do is to get up, brush myself off and try again.
Uncle Bud is not with us anymore, but the lessons he taught me that day will live on with me forever. I don’t know if it was his military training that made him push me so hard, or just his nature…but I’m glad he did it, because it was a lesson I will never forget.
Today, I learned how to get on a horse.
Is there a person or circumstance in your life that has inspired you or caused you to want to keep going when you wanted to give up? I would love to hear about it. Leave me a comment and share with our community.
Proverbs 22:6
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
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Dr. Krista Abbott is an Internet revivalist, author, speaker, creator, and coach spreading a message of love and hope. She is passionate about helping people discover and fulfill their purpose in life while equipping them with the resources they need to realize success. Through her business, Krista serves multiple international clients in the areas of publishing, writing, product development, social media management, internet marketing, and leadership training, as well as business and life coaching.
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Love that story
And now I feel myself grateful for your uncle Bud! It is so important to have people that believe in you…
Another lesson: adjust the saddle a bit and then go for it!
.-= Robin Lynn Brooks´s last blog ..Listen for that Real Connection in Relationship Building =-.
Robin,
GREAT one!! That’s a whole new blog post there!!! Adjusting the saddle. I love it!
Hey Krista: Just love your story to give us many lessons – perserverance, determination, keep going, and so forth. Tell us more stories and the lessons you teach. Booya!
Krista,
Valuable lesson you learned there, and I can so identify with it. Several years ago I was thrown into a work situation with a CPA. There was no one to train me on 11 different programs she used everyday. She hired me because I told her I loved challenges. Well that one was a MAJOR one.
She wanted everything done yesterday and when I dared to ask her a question she would say, “Go figure it out. You said you liked challenges.”
That first month I wanted to quit single day, but I hung in there, taught myself Lacerte, etc. and gained a lot of confidence in my ability to handle pressure AND learn a lot of new programs simultaneously. It was a lesson I’ll always cherish! Even today when I can’t figure something out, I hark back to that learning experience and more often than not am able to work my way through the problem.
.-= Darlene Davis´s last blog ..Passion For Music – Part I =-.
What an inspirational story Krista! Uncle Bud reminds me of my grandfather..who I grew up with..and who taught me similar lessons.
Thanks for the reminder of these great life lessons…I feel motivated to ‘go get on the horse’ on a couple things I’ve been putting off.
Thank you for all that you are and all that you give…I appreciate you!
@Jay, Jay,
That’s awesome!! I look forward to hearing how those projects work out for you now that you are getting in the saddle with them. Keep me posted!
Krista
Truly “uplifting” story in every way. Every kid should have an Uncle Bud. You got to experience the fruit of your own labor and it was so good that you chose to share it with us, out of all the experiences you must have had in your life. Thank you Krista and thank you Uncle Bud!
@Monika Genehr, Hi Monika,
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I appreciate your kind words. Uncle Bud was truly an inspiration in my life, and hopefully through this story, he can continue to inspire others.
Wonderful spiritual post Krista! As it appears that you learned many lessons on that day and it got you where you are in life.
Determination and motivation is the key to success. As one of our mentors Jeff Olsen says: In order to be successful, “you must stay consistent and persistent over a long period of time.”
It great to see that you understand these principles and it will be just a matter of time until the rest of the world does too!
To Your Continual Success!
Dave and Dawn
Thank you Dave and Dawn! I like that quote from Jeff Olsen. It’s the small things we do consistently over time that make the biggest impact on our life overall.
Hi Krista,
what an inspiring post, I love it
these qualities are so important , and it made me think of some of the challenges I have had during the last couple of years.
The Quote is one of my favourites
.-= jean´s last blog ..‘Becoming Part of a Tribe’ =-.
Awesome Jean – when we stay determined and see things through, we can see our challenges turn to blessings.
That’s a wonderful story Krista. If we all had an Uncle Bud to motivate us! It also makes me nostalgic about my childhood and being around the horses and farms I grew up with. So many things to be grateful for. Thank you!
Thanks Jennifer. Glad you could enjoy some memories.
Thank God for Uncle Bud. That gave me chills. Sometimes we don’t even know HOW to get on the horse. We need someone to teach us right? That sounds like it was a major influence for being where you are today.
.-= Nick Logan´s last blog ..Why all the buzz about Tribe Syndication and Blogging Alliances? =-.
Hey Nick. Thanks for stopping by. Uncle Bud was certainly an inspiration, not only to me, but to many others. The things I learned that one day helped establish the determination I use in business even now.