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I wanted to share this "Inspirational Story" because it's my favorite. The story below is from my close friend Erin. I met Erin back in 1994 at the Reno Rodeo, she was Miss Reno Rodeo and I was a DJ for the local country radio station. At first we were just acquaintances but then we both started working for the same rodeo company. We would travel together and hang out before and after the rodeo's. It was during that time that we became close friends. Erin and I have been through so many life changes together, with men, jobs, family and no matter what our friendship just keeps getting stronger. When I've needed Erin the most, she has dropped everything and been there for me. She never judges my decisions, but will give me her honest opinions yet stand behind whatever it is I want to do. Erin has a way of making all her friends feel special.

xxxxxMost of us long for a healthy, happy relationship, but we're just not sure how to get it. This is why I chose Erin for this Inspirational Story. After years of not getting it right, she took the time to search her soul and truly learn to be happy with herself. That is where, she says it all starts, with you!


We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
-Joseph Campbell, Author

Erin's Inspirational Story

xxxxxI think most of us have those moments in life when things change at the most unexpected times in the most unexpected ways. We struggle against this change and yet when you look back you come to realize that it was the best thing that ever could have happened.
xxxxxMy life change happened in June of 1998(like most women I do remember significant dates) I had my heart broken by someone who I cared very much for, someone who I thought would be in my life for a long time.
xxxxxI lived in my "Dream" world for a while letting myself believe that I was the victim and that I had no responsibility in how I was treated. I was wrong not only on that, but about many other beliefs that I had held for most of my adult life.
xxxxxIt was a conscious choice to change, into someone who I could be proud of. I first had to take responsibility for all of the decisions that I had made not only in this relationship but in my others as well. I had to realize that I had let myself be treated badly because I didn't feel that I deserved better. I had to learn how to make myself happy. This was huge because not only had I never taken the time to really figure out who I was as a person, but I didn't know how to be happy and fulfilled without some type of relationship.
xxxxxThese were not overnight realizations, they only came with a lot of tears, a lot of soul searching and a willingness to believe that everything happens for a reason.
xxxxxIt took me two and a half years to find peace in my life. During those years I began doing things that had brought me happiness in the past and choosing to try things that I had never done before. I bought a horse and began competing in horse events, barrel racing in particular. I had horses growing up and I knew that it had brought me great happiness and I felt really good about myself when I was competing or just out for a ride. I had never lived alone, so for a year and a half I did just that. I highly recommend this to anyone who is trying to get healthy emotionally and who is trying to become self reliant. I read a lot of books and wrote letters to all the people that I felt I some type of emotional issue with, I then burned those letters letting the negativity associated with them go. This was my lessen in forgiveness, for my feelings of negativity hurt no one but myself. I made more of an effort to be around my family, to spend quality time with them and appreciate how lucky I was to have them in my life. All of these were important, but I feel that out of all of these things the most important thing I learned was to be happy with myself. I believe that you can never be truly happy in a relationship until you can he happy alone. That means doing something like going to a movie alone and not even caring what other people might think or just realizing how good it feels to do whatever you want whenever you want, alone.
xxxxxWe all find happiness in different ways and we all have different life experiences, but I feel that life is a gift to be lived to the fullest. To do that we have to face our fears and not let them rule our everyday lives. To be who we are and know that that person is good enough and valuable enough to be loved and treated well.
In my experience I found that what you put out there is what you get back. If you stay positive even in the face of challenges things have a way of working out for the better. I stayed positive, even when I felt sad that maybe I would never find a healthy relationship or on those days that I questioned where I was going in life. It paid off because I now have a healthy relationship with someone who loves me for who I am and for all that I have experienced in life.
XxxxxI will finish with a quote taken from one of my favorite movies (Gladiator) which I believe states my feelings currently, "What you do in life, echoes in eternity!"

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