I have so much spare time on my hands during the day that I usually bust out a few manips a week. I know a lot of newbies and others sometimes don't have the money to purchase nice quality images because they are training a bunch of animals, or they just haven't racked up the cash. 

Sssoooo.... I want to hold some kind of contest that gives you guys a chance to win the below layout image. 

https://ibb.co/02PJQRX - Whoever wins will get their name put on it, or not, whatever. 

Let it BEGIN: (The answer that touches me the most - will win)

Question: 

What has life taught you recently?

thats so cute!

Life so far has taught me to JUST DO IT!

I always felt held back or scared to do the things I wanted to do. I ALWAYS wanted to get into the sport of Reining!

If it wasnt for my wonderful husband, I would have NEVER even pushed myself to get into the reining world, which has led me to the ranch riding world as well!

Now I have a wonderful trainer and made some awesome friends along the way!

Since JUST DOING IT, I have turned my $2 backyard horse into a "Ranch Versatility Horse" worth probably 15x2 and add 3 more zeros!

If it wasnt for my trainer telling me to JUST DO IT, I would have never entered my first 3 show ranch riding series and actually came in reserve champ for the whole thing our first time out!

If it wasnt for my trainer telling me to JUST DO IT, I wouldnt have gotten my horse to learn flying lead changes or the start to a spin!

If it wasnt for me JUST DOING IT, I would have never entered the obstacle course challenges either!

Seven has always placed super high in the challenges and we even won highpoint at the last mountain trail course!

So guys JUST DO IT!

How awesome is that?! Thanks for sharing! That is an awesome you're breaking out your bubble! 

bump

Recently, life has taught me that sometimes change is okay. A shift in your dreams, goals, and they ways you thought you were going to achieve them are okay. 

I've  really been struggling with my journey back into riding, after several bad falls that ended in ER visits, my spirit was broken and I didn't really know if I wanted to continue. But I took a step back, and evaluated how far I've come, how hard I've climbed and scraped to get to where I am now, and realized that maybe it's okay to have a change in "plans". 

I thought that I had everything figured out and ready and then BAM. Life throws a curveball. And I've had to learn and accept that not everything is going to work out the way I'd planned, which was hard for me  I'm such a dedicated person when I set my mind to something, and change used to absolutely terrify me  

I never saw myself as someone to take the time to raise a foal from ground zero, but I've purchased my first foal in-utero. I still have some of the same goals, just a different journey to get there. And that's okay. 

Change is absolutely, 100%, okay. It may seem scary at first or make you think you're not sure of where to go or what to do, but you'll figure it out. And it'll all be fine.

Another awesome answer! Thank you for sharing! You're absolutely right - change is scary! Glad you have comes to terms and are learning new things! 

Trigger warning: deep depressive thoughts

Life has been teaching me that all in all, I'm right where I'm supposed to be. It's been frustrating for me; I've been annoyed and upset with where I'm at and dreaming of something that's just wildly out of reach right now. And I've been learning to let it go, because these things are out of my control. And for whatever reason, God has placed me here and is keeping me here. I may not see the reasons why just yet, but I'm learning to believe that they're there.

The last month has seen a massive attack on my mental health, all of it centered around how disatisfied I am with my life (and compounded by the dissatisfaction and disappointment about my situation from the people around me). I reached a point last month where I found myself thinking every day, "I don't know why I'm alive. I'm tired of being alive. I don't wanna do this anymore." Not suicidal, just very very tired and losing hope.

But a couple weeks ago - and I'm just starting to realize that this was God's intervention, His own voice - I remembered something my pastor said a couple months ago. About prayer and needing to give all things to Him. To be more conscious of how we pray, what we ask for, when we're asking for it. To be specific if we can, or to just unleash it all and ask for help. For guidance. If you don't know where you're going, or you don't know what step to take next, and you just need help, you just have to tell God that you don't know what to do and that you need His help.

So I've been doing my best to do just that. When I'm feeling overwhelmed or hopeless, I just stop. And pray. And tell Him I don't know what I'm doing. I'm tired of not knowing, of living with this stress and doubt and hopelessness. And I ask Him to guide me. Point me in the direction I need to go, open doors if I need to move or keep them closed if I'm where I'm supposed to be. And all the closed doors, one after another, are a lesson in learning to be satisfied with where I'm at, of trusting Him and His ability to provide for me.

It's so hard. But it's getting better.

I've been clawing my way out of one of the deepest pits I've ever fallen into, and every single fighting step upwards is based on this: I'm right where I'm supposed to be.

Anyone else in for a chance to win? :3

Mango, Im sure this one is familiar to you!

Jeremiah 29:11“‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

Lately life has taught me just how precious it truly is. With loosing a very good friend and daily customer at the store where I work who took their own life only hours after I seen them (I was the last person to see this person) I never would have thought they were severely depressed, had I, I could have made more of a change in their life. I could have gave them hope. Never in a million years would I have thought this is the last time you will ever see this person put your own burdons aside and help them. My lesson in life is to not take people for granted let them know you love them and be there for them, they could be gone anytime.

Rest in peace dear Martin until we meet again. 

Life has recently taught me that you cannot let fear hold you back from making a change. I have been at my job for over 8 years and there have been numerous times I have thought about quitting but my logical mind has always talked myself into staying.

After the most recent events of my boss not letting me step away from my computer for 10 minutes (I work remotely) to sit in on my 7 yr old daughters doctor telehealth chat when she had covid, to me getting a no call / no show after I was terribly sick with a stomach bug last weekend because I didn't make a second call into a second reporting system that I was going to not be at work. I let my direct supervisor know at 2am when I was up for the 10th time throwing up and called the other place as soon as I woke up and could function. But because I did not also call that reporting system before my shift started, they say it was a no call no show. 

Life is precious and I am done with being treated like a robot who means nothing to the company other than to make them money. They constantly say how important their employees are and how flexible they are, yet they treat us like garbage and don't really care. 

I am on to my new adventure of job hunting, which is terrifying and exciting at the same time. But I will not stay in a place that I am truly not appreciated nor care for my family in times of crisis. 

You guys have all learned some pretty awesome things! I will be choosing a winner - TONIGHT! Stay Tuned!

Okay, so it has been a REALLY hard decision in deciding who will win, because all of these answers were very good, and I connected with all of them on a personal level in things that have gone on in my life. Honestly. It really is hard for me to just come out and say "X" won, but I'd love to THANK you all for sharing! So, for those that participated I'd like to offer each one of you a pixel of your choice. Just send me info on them, and I shall do them. 

A congratulations to MANGO!

I personally have been going through something very similiar but unsure of the outcome or where it will take me. But for right now, I have a to take a deep breath and truth God. 

congratz mango!

Aw, thank you Dakiti ❤️❤️ And thank you Aza, the spirit of that verse has been pretty helpful with all this ^^