After my baby sister lost her battle with cancer last year , I did not think I could go on , not even for another day. Cat was my love and my life as I prayed for a baby sister my whole life. At the age of 17 my prayers had been answered. Catherine was the pillar of light with her radiant big black olive eyes.
Her smile and laughter lit me up and took away any despair I was going through as a young adult. My future was planned out in my head, with Cat as my leading star in my fairytale until tragedy hit.
On September 4, 2020 I got the devastating call from Cat that would change our lives forever. She cried , and told me she had cancer and asked me to get to her as soon as possible. I through my dogs in my jeep and drove right to Colorado to be by her side and to fight the good fight with her.
We tried to learn to dance in the storm but the storm was too overwhelming and the treacherous hurricane swept over.
Cat lost her battle with cancer in April and my hopes and dreams were shattered.
I needed to get back and try to learn once again how to dance in this storm that has taken over me and all involved.
My baby sister was my answer from heaven and the love of my life. I wake up day after day with so much pain in my heart that my own body has become physically ill. But we fight the good fight and we dance until the storm clears and we stand tall like a sunflower and seek for the light.
A new path has begone as I created “Project Younicorn “, in my sisters name. I adopted four beautiful rescue white horses that reminded me of the beautiful unicorn full of hope and healing.
As I always called my baby Cat my little unicorn because she brought healing and hope into my lonely life as a teenager.
This magical program of hope has been built to help all of us going through grief and trauma after a major loss or tragedy has occurred.
I rescued these cremello horses to provide them with the love and healing help they deserve. I knew they would be a perfect gift to heal me as we have built the strongest human -horse relationship.
When we go through trauma and devastation , we typically pull back and retreat because our pain becomes “Too Much .”
Therapy fails, due to too much reiteration and rumination of words we do not want to hear as we are already to filled up with sad noise in our heads.
Friends become strangers and family members become invisible.
Isolation becomes the inevitable and that is why horses become our main healer if we choose the path of being healed by the human – horse relationship.
When grief turns to despair , humans can not heal but horses can.
Have you ever watched a group of horses frolic in a field? If you have, then you already know it’s an enchanting sight. Their energetic galloping, playful nuzzling, and jubilant tail-flagging are not just delightful expressions of equine enjoyment; they offer insightful lessons about the importance of play, lessons that we, as humans, would do well to incorporate into our own lives.
1. Play Fuels Creativity:
The playful behavior exhibited by horses – bucking, rearing, or even play-fighting – can be translated into our own need for creativity and innovation. Just like horses experiment with their movements and interactions during play, allowing our minds to wander freely and explore multiple dimensions can stimulate a wide array of creative solutions and ideas.
2. Building Social Connections:
Horses usually play together. It’s a fantastic way for them to establish bonds and understand their place within the herd. Likewise, play for humans, especially group activities, can help strengthen social ties and improve cooperation and empathy among individuals. Whether it’s a friendly game of soccer in the park or an engaging board game with family members at home, play facilitates connections.
3. Play as a Stress-Reliever:
A playful horse is typically a happy horse. The release of energy during play often serves as stress relief for equines. This is a lesson that humans can certainly learn from. Escaping the rigors of everyday life through playful activities can promote relaxation and enhance our overall mental health.
4. Physical Fitness:
The physical benefits of play are undeniable. As horses play, they engage in aerobic activity, which contributes to their overall health and well-being. Humans can also boost their physical fitness and improve their health through playful yet active exercises like dancing, swimming, or even playing catch!
5. Teaches Resilience:
In horse play, there’s often some mock-fighting, chasing, and other mildly rough activities. These playful settings allow them to learn resilience and persistence. Similarly, engaging in play helps us, humans, to face challenges, take risks, stumble, get back up, and keep going. Play, therefore, isn’t merely fun. It’s also a kind of practice for life.
As adult humans, it’s easy to set ‘play’ aside as unproductive or childish, considering it an act of indulgence rather than an essential activity. However, horses serve as living reminders that play is crucial for our mental, social, and physical health. So, it’d be wise to follow their lead and add play to our daily routine, be it in the form of yoga, painting, gardening, or even a simple stroll in the park. After all, play, as horses demonstrate, really is serious business.
Stay tuned for our magical healing program “ Project Younicorn as we unveil this beautiful program and introduce you all to our healing unicorns on Catherine Grimaldi Panes celebration of life April 28, 2024 .
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