I took a nice, long, trot last week on my faithful steed, Dino. The sun shone down on my back as I listened to his hooves clop along on the gravel and squeak, like basketball shoes on the court, when we had to cross snow. Sage grouse and antelope grazed in pastures near us, until the dogs, that chose to trot along, spooked them from their places.
Our ride was agenda free; I rode simply for the enjoyment one gains from sitting astride a horse in God's gorgeous country. Like it does every time I throw a leg over a horse, my mind wandered to so many places.
At the time of my ride, Christmas was knocking at our door, and I realized that, here at the ranch, we don't partake in the normal "Christmas Spirit" thing - that spirit you often see from people only once a year, used as a reason to bring good tidings and great cheer. To do the right thing and be kind to your fellow man, are often mantras tossed about this time of year, but here we practice being the Christmas Spirit each and every single day.
Everyone is always welcome. Always. Folks are instantly put at ease here. They'll find no judgment about anything. What they will find is a listening ear, a good meal, a hot cup of coffee, great horses, and advice, if wanted, given from the perspective that we'd all get along with each other if only we knew how. We are always inclined to give back to our fellow man because that's the only way to live. Full of promise, positivity and gratitude, we feel so fortunate to live the life we do, that giving back is the only way to share that blessing with the world.
We feel so strongly about giving back that we started a family-run, nonprofit called Project H3LP!, which stands for Horses, Humans and Honesty, but really you could substitute any H word you wanted: Humility, Happiness, Healing, etc. The list could go on. This is one of the ways we keep the Christmas Spirit alive throughout the year, and it is absolutely one of the most fulfilling things about life. Seeing the faces of kids light up as they learn how to empower themselves, by steering a big horse around the ring, showing kindness to each other, and learning that they can, if they only try, makes my heart happy and full.
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Life isn't about receiving things. It's about being the best you can be. It's about being selfless, giving unconditionally, being consistent and setting good examples. Treat people as you'd like to be treated and do it each and every day, all year long, not just at the holidays. And if you treat people as you'd like them to be, instead of how you think they are, they'll likely rise to the standard you're setting for them. Just like a colt on the first ride is ridden like he's a finished bridle horse, he might not understand what it means, but he will eventually learn to find that good feeling.
I'm so thankful for the life I live. I'm thankful for sunshine, cloudy days, snow and rain, heat and drought. Thankful there are people around me who love me, set excellent examples and treat me as the person they know I can be, I'm forever indebted. For wide open spaces, city places and all the humans that they house. I'm thankful for good cowdogs and bad cowdogs because the love of a dog is unconditional. I'm thankful because we can choose to LIVE the Christmas Spirit all year long. I give thanks for Christ, who was born, died, and rose again which gives us a reason to celebrate Christmas. And, of course, I'm grateful for nice, long, trots, on faithful steeds, because life between these ears, is the best life I can lead.
Editor's note: Zeller is a South Dakota cattle rancher who raises Angus, Brangus and Quarter Horses with her husband and his family. Contact Zeller at jennifer@thesouthdakotacowgirl.com .
