Thanksgiving Gratitude: Discovering Renewal and Freedom at Serenity Vista
The bottom line is that horses can change life outcomes.
In my life, I have been to the depths of darkness. And I have been restored to a life of light. I have been granted choice filled hope more times than I can keep count. This seems to be my special power in life. I’m a comeback kid and horses have been part of my restoration and recovery every time. In fact, horses seem to have a lasting and life or death impact in my experience. As a result, I am on a mission to help others find hope, embrace change and believe in themselves. Incorporating horses in my recovery has enriched my life.
Upon departing Serenity Vista’s holistic retreat, I moved to Skyland Ranch in Gold Bar, WA. I knew I wanted horses in my recovery. It felt like coming home having been raised on a 2,000-acre farm in the mountains. This program for men in recovery involves horse and ranch life, equine assisted therapy, acceptance in a community and offers love and hope at a time a person may not feel that. For me it also planted the seed for my work in service to eventually found Emerge with Horses. How powerful to pay attention enough to the present moment’s surroundings that it connected me to the purpose I have always had waiting to surface at exactly the perfect time.
A firm commitment I made to myself at this point was to work on my personal health - emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically - in order to actually eventually be available to professionally serve others. I also hired professionals to help me build my vision. I made a commitment to myself to never be without a horse again and my personal horse, Buddy, came into my life. He’s perfect for me and his personality mirrors the self development areas I desire to grow - how ironic?!?! Two major lessons I have learned about myself to this point are that:
The backbone of Emerge with Horses is offering a rite of passage that involves a separation, maturation and return. It creates the space for a person to see they are more competent and therefore confident than they may realize. They see a path through and beyond any fears that are holding them back. It is by feeling and sitting with emotions people learn to harness them rather than avoid them. It calls a person into meaningful service to ultimately improve character, mindfulness and resilience through equine partnered encounters.
My approach is holistic and highly customized. I find personal insights all over and I meet people where they are. For example, I got a major breakthrough in my confidence and drive to unstoppably create Emerge with Horses from the movie A Star is Born. In it I could see who I have been like, who I want to be like, what happens when I have hope and the value of unconditional love. And as a result, I could see how my resilience, character and mindfulness are my secret sauce in life.
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US. In 2017, 47,173 Americans died by suicide annually. An estimated 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes annually, making alcohol the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Drug overdose deaths rose from 16,849 in 1999 to 70,237 in 2017. Given this reality, I’m always looking for learning and growth in my surroundings and this story is just one example.
In my next post I will focus on giving you a more tactical view of the work I do, facilitating equine partnered encounters. If you need hope or options for change in your life, email me at jake@emergeresilient.comto schedule a complimentary talk and to set a plan for your next steps.
If you are interested to see how Serenity Vista Recovery Retreat can help you on your path to freedom, please contact us. SerenityVista.com or call 1-786-245-4067
This is the second of 3 posts in an invited article series. Serenity Vista is grateful for these inspirational submissions from Jake LeClair of Emerge with Horses.
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