Love What You Love Unabashedly…Joy Is Contagious!
When you’re excited about something, don’t be afraid to share it…no matter how silly it may come across to others.
I love when people are excited about what they’re excited about.
I don’t have to be into whatever they’re excited about, I’m just excited they’re excited.
I follow a woman in her early to mid thirties on Instagram who loves Justin Bieber. Like she’s dressed up as him for Halloween at least four times!
I don’t have to be obsessed with Bieber to enjoy her joy of him.
Her unabashed excitement, joy and fun with it is contagious!
This “loving what I love” is how I found myself saying Yes to a “Behind The Chutes” tour of the San Antonio Rodeo.
One version of me wanted to think it was silly to go on a tour of something I’ve been around most of my life (rodeo).
Another version was excited to go, but thought I might keep it to myself since I have a lot of friends who live the lifestyle and might think it was silly.
And the version that won is the version that unabashedly embraced my excitement around becoming a true fan of those who rodeo at the highest level, especially the athletes (cowboys and animals!) in the rough stock events!
Seeing the parked Calgary Stampede semi that trucked in some of the best bucking horses in the business from their 23,000 acre ranch in Alberta, Canada brought the horses I’ve witnessed in my living room on The Cowboy Channel and way up in the stands to life, in a momentous way.
I’m sure others might think it’s just the truck that brought in the stock, but, to me, it was THE TRUCK that brought in the famed horses from THE Calgary Stampede!
Standing on the back of the bucking chutes connected me to all the greats who have stood in the same spot before climbing over the top of some of the best broncs and bulls in the world.
Some of the best would stand there an hour from when we stood there to perform that night.
I snapped this picture thinking about the light shining down on the history that’s been made and the stories that were still to unfold…
…some that night as the second semi-finals took place, more the following day as the Wildcard performance took place and finally the full story of the 2024 San Antonio Rodeo would be revealed Saturday night as the Finals unfolded.
To some, this is just a metal platform the cowboys climb on to get on whatever they drew, but, to me…
…it was THE PLATFORM that linked the best cowboys competing at the HIGHEST level of rodeo with the best stock being brought to the most ELITE rodeos.
Standing in front of the bucking chutes made me think of all the great broncs and bulls that have made history 8 seconds at a time.
The San Antonio Rodeo is one of the biggest winter rodeos the best of the best go to each year. Only the top are invited and only a handful come in through a qualifying rodeo.
History is made from THESE bucking chutes!
When you’re a fan of the rough stock events, you’re not only a fan of the cowboys, you become a fan of the best broncs (and bulls) in the business. You get to know their names, what stock contractor they come from and who makes the best rides on them.
Seeing them was like seeing one of the cowboys ~ Exciting!
Again, it brought what I saw on tv in my living room or high up in the stands to life in a big way, especially taking in their shear beauty and size…they are HUGE and GORGEOUS!!
This guy in particular is called Fringe Jacket (they won the bareback riding on him that night).
Speaking of cowboys (and this was in no way a guaranteed part of the tour, but, rather a delightful surprise!), I got to meet Statler Wright, the youngest son/brother of the famed Wright family!
To be a fan of the rough stock events is to be a fan of the Wrights (at least in my book, lol). 
My point in sharing this is to simply (and unabashedly) share my joy and delight in experiencing this “Behind the Chutes” tour!
It’s to be an example of joy flowing without constriction!
And to encourage you to do the same with whatever excites and delights you!
Be about what you’re about without hesitation or restraint.
People will respond to your excitement, because the purity of it is contagious. (And if they don’t, who cares…you’re still enjoying what you love!).
Before I go I wanted to share a quick announcement…
The price on The People Pleaser’s Guide To Reclaiming Your Personal Poweris going up THIS FRIDAY, March 1st!
It’s currently$33 and will be going to $44.
You can snag your copy HERE.
I may pop back in here with a reminder later this week, since it’s time sensitive.
Always Shine Brightly,
Shanna
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