Embracing the Quest: My Journey to Becoming a Cowgirl and the Power of Following Your Calling
Try saying the word ‘quest’ out loud. Doesn’t it sound romantic? So short and yet so big with wonder and hope for that ‘something more’.
It’s a calling that starts as a whisper and elevates in volume as you take each step. The itch for a quest is within all of us. It holds novelty and challenge in our lives, creates a sense of accomplishment and helps us to see the world in a new way. As humans, quests are a critical part of work and life.
One of my quests has been whispering to me since I can remember. It was a calling to mountains, to horses, to hats and boots. It is my quest to become a Cowgirl…
Many of you already know that Idaho has become my happy place. It’s a place I’ve been visiting since I was about three and the place where I fell in love with the concept of being a Cowgirl. My great uncle was a bona fide Cowboy and held this air of intelligence and authority when it came to anything he did with his hands. Among many other things, he introduced me to horses, the rodeo, western life and the mountains.
Upon his passing 5 years ago, I felt a deep calling to go back to his ranch in Idaho. And I’m so glad I answered.
Idaho is the place where my mind is calm, my body is active and my heart is full. The surround-sound of birds chirping, cows mooing, ground squirrels scurrying, antelope running and the occasional wolf howl fills my pores and seeps into my soul. It’s the ultimate rejuvenation of my spirit. I go as often and as long as I’m able to.
Two years ago on one of my solo trips, I heard voices (real human voices, not in my head). Now, this is the kind of place that if you hear voices when you’re not expecting them, you go on high alert. It’s private property and there are no neighbors for quite a ways. I got up, anxiously looking around and listening to where the sound was coming from. A short walk later and my binoculars in tow, I spotted them. And it was the most beautiful sight.
In complete awe, I watched a woman, her young daughter, and their dog wrangle a heard of cattle from one side of the mountain to another. My heart just about stopped. It was, and still remains, the most badass female profession I’ve ever witnessed from afar.
They were too far away to introduce myself, but close enough to feel a spark reignite inside of me. I needed to understand this more. I had to know these amazing people. And, as a city girl, I had a new perspective of what life could look like.
Another year went by after that moment of admiring these Cowgirls on the side of our mountain and I finally had the chance to meet them. I was like a teeny-bopper meeting Justin Bieber. Totally unsure of whether or not I’d be able to play it cool or just embarrass myself.
Everything I heard about Chyenne and, her husband, Jay Smith was true. They are some of the kindest, most welcoming and appreciative people I’ve gotten to know out there. As young professional cattle ranchers, they are the complete package of agriculturalists, ranchers, and entrepreneurs.
When I mustered up the courage to tell Chyenne about my major girl crush on her, and how amazed I was to watch her work, she was oh-so-cool and reminding me, “well, that is my job.” Why of course it is, but it just so happens to be the job that I have had fantasies about since I was 3. And I never saw a woman do it!
After we got to know each other better and I confessed about my inner desires to be a “pretend Cowgirl for a day”, Chyenne quickly and kindly confronted me. And it went a little something like this:
“What do you mean, ‘pretend Cowgirl’?”
“Well, you know, like follow you around and just admire what you do for a living?”
“How about next time you’re out, you come out with me and I’ll show you around? You won’t be a pretend Cowgirl, you’ll start to become a real one.”
Below is an image of us last week. Chyenne was not only true to her word, she spent a day educating me on what it really means to be a Cowgirl, a rancher and an agriculture advocate in 2017. She listened to my desires and is now a mentor and friend in my quest journey. And while I’m not gunning to change professions, I am elated that my quest to become a Cowgirl is now coming to life.
But what if I didn’t see her on the mountain that day? What if I didn’t tell her how it made me feel? What if I didn’t share that I wanted to understand it more?
I’m a firm believer that you must say what you want out loud, to as many people that will listen, at as many opportunities you have. Magical things happen when you do your part and the universe puts you in alignment with those who can support your innermost quests.
So what journey are you on? What quests have you started to take and which do you hold secretly?
I encourage you to own them out loud, take steps in making them a reality and bask in the joy that comes from it.
Stay tuned as I continued to reflect and write about the next steps in my Quest to Become a Cowgirl!
To learn more about the coolest Cowgirl I know, Chyenne Smith, and their Ranch visit: www.facebook.com/JLazySAngusRanch/