Caution: Cowgirls (and Vulnerability) Ahead

A little story about the (surprising) power of designing my first cowgirl hat ...

I was feeling a little “wobbly” the other day, while visiting my aunt and uncle in Texas.

• Betsy’s definition of “wobbly” = disoriented, fearful, nervous, about how an unknown future is going to unfold.

I feel “wobbly” at unpredictable times in this unpredictable season I am in … which adds to the wobbliness of … feeling wobbly!

• Some days I feel hopeful, and other days, I’m publicly crying, out-of-nowhere (dangit!) while out to dinner with friends — or in this case, with my aunt and uncle in Dallas.

Cute t-shirt, but right now, life feels A LOT tougher than me!

So as part of our weekend adventures in Texas — and to help me feel better — my aunt brilliantly suggested we drive to Forth Worth to see the daily cattle drive of the Longhorns.

Ummm, yes please.

The horns of the Longhorns can reach up to 9 feet in length!

I was amazed how our adventurous little afternoon in Fort Worth helped me to shift from feeling WOBBLY to feeling … STEADY.

And it all started with a visit to a … “Hat Bar.”

***

“I have to show you this place where you can design your own cowgirl hat!” my aunt exclaimed. She swung the door open with purpose and gusto, almost as if she knew something transformational was about to happen once I entered in.

Fleastyle Hat Bar in Fort Worth, Texas

She explained how the process worked:

• You pick out a cowgirl hat

• You walk around the store and pick out the pieces you want to add to your hat

• And then you take your hat, and custom pieces, to the store stylist who puts it all together

“You want one?” my uncle asked. “Our treat.”

Ummm, yes please.

***

As I started picking out the pieces for my unique cowgirl hat … the process reminded me of a powerful truth I recently learned:

• In times of uncertainty, which can overwhelm me, it’s grounding to remember and honor the unique pieces of who I already am, and the story about my life which has already been written.

My spirit leapt as I walked around the store and delightfully hand-picked items that represented different aspects of who I am.

For my hat I chose cowgirl boots, because I’m a little “country.” I chose dark colors, because I’m a little “city.” I chose a longhorn charm to remember the day. And a dried plant that reminds me of the “cattails” of South Carolina where I grew up. Finally, I chose a “heart” because I believe in bringing my heart to what I do.

I noticed a palpable shift in my mood as my hat came together. I felt proud of these unique parts of my identity. It made me feel that even though there are so many “unknowns” ahead — I have a lot to stand on.

After our time at the Hat Bar — we headed to the cattle drive (the daily parade of the Longhorns down the street).

While waiting for everything to start, I posed on a Longhorn with my new hat … (another brilliant idea from my aunt).

… And even though I was sitting on top of a 2,000 pound animal, I didn’t feel wobbly!

I felt steady.

Quite steady.

A special thank you to my aunt and uncle for treating me to a special day

May this post encourage you — that if you are facing an uncertain road ahead — remember and hold on to the parts of you that are already there. ❤️

Thank you for reading my post! Before I conclude, I want to honor the legacy of the original cowboys, the Mexican “vaqueros” who my aunt taught me about. They developed advanced horsemanship and lasso skills — which influenced the later American Cowboy tradition. They played a pivotal role in shaping the American West’s ranching industry.

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