No matter what it may be, all of us as people have passions and hobbies. We have things that we enjoy doing. Whether they be stress relievers, adrenaline shooters, or just heart-warming activities, we all have something that we like. Having a hobby shouldn't be a stressful aspect of life, but an aspect of life that is fulfilling and enjoyable. When your passion suddenly becomes a burden, that's when a major issue arises.
One of my passions and hobbies is riding my horse Bobby. I'm an animal lover and although I love all animals, I don't necessarily enjoy riding all horses. I rescued Bobby and he has been my best friend since the seventh grade and I love seeing him and taking care of him. When I started to become better and better at riding, my mom used to always ask me if I "wanted a different horse" or if I "wanted to ride other horses who were more advanced than Bobby." The answer was always and will always be never.
Riding is not and will never be purely a sport for me. Amongst the barns and stables that I've been at, I've watched people ride horses solely to get better at the sport and I've watched people go through countless different horses in pursuit of becoming a better rider. This isn't and will never be something I stand for. I believe in forming and maintaining a strong bond with your horse and that is what Bobby and I have.
Bobby is my passion and riding him is enjoyable and is a hobby for me. When pressured to take lessons or to ride other horses, I sometimes find that riding becomes a burden and a bit stressful for me. This is when I know that I need to take a step back and reevaluate what riding means for me. I never want riding to be a burden or to be stressful, therefore when I see that's what it's becoming, I know I need to make a change and remember why I love it so much; because of Bobby.
When your passions and hobbies begin to become stressful, remember to never lose sight of why you do them and why you started in the first place. Remember to reflect back on your intentions and never let your passions turn into a burden.
