Should have listened to Daddy.

Dear Darling,

If you are going to chase your dreams, there is a great deal to know about winning and losing.  How to get there and how to get back up when you throw it in the dirt.  I've made all the mistakes, and I have many regrets.  My daddy use to tell me a lot of things, and I rolled my eyes and went on with it. Now I know, I should have listened to my daddy the first time around.

Some of these are his, others I picked up along the way.  Most of them the hard way........

1: Do not waste an opportunity to practice.  Who hasn't told you this?  Big dreams take big work.  At some point in time, you will face a challenge that you never thought possible.  You will be unable to practice and advance your skills.  You will run out of time, and goals will pass you by. Do not waste a single practice.  Do not half-ass it.  Do it.  On the days you don't want to make yourself do it.  Damn sure do it.   Yeah you need to take a break and recharge but you don't want to wake up one day, and know if you had worked harder you would have been a national champion.  It will haunt you for the rest of your life.

2: Listen to advice.  If it doesn't work, throw it out the window.  It never hurts to listen to someone.  Try it.  If their wrong, say the hell with it, and try something else.  No champion will ever tell you that there is only one way to do something. Mix and mash until you find what works well for you.  Don't be afraid to change it up, you might surprise yourself.

3. Mental Game is important. Every time you back in the box, go to take a shot, ride into the arena, you must know that you are the best.  You are prepared, and you used every opportunity to become the best there is.  Practice knowing. Put yourself under pressure, even if its for a dollar.  You have to know how to do it when it counts.

4. Do not be afraid to lose.  You will never get better, you will never become the greatest if you don't make mistakes and learn how to fix them.  If you aren't going for the win, why are you going?

5. FIX IT. I don't know anybody that likes to lose.  If it ain't working. Change something.  I don't care if its a little thing like changing ropes, or a big thing like changing horses.  Don't get stuck on something because you want it to work.  Change it so it can.

6.  Watch who your hanging out with.  You will fall into their patterns.  Surround yourself with the people that you want to be like.  Hardworking, positive individuals who can line your ass out, even when you don't want too.

I have screwed up, been bucked off, shit I have fallen off like a fat girl.  I have skipped practices,  drank too many beers, and made some shitty life decisions.  But I have been there, and I got real close to everything I thought I ever wanted.  Don't make the same mistakes.  Life goes on, just because one part of the dream doesn't fit in with the rest doesn't mean you can't fix it and get where your wanting to go, but it damn sure helps if you do it to the best of your ability the first time around.

-Cowgirl Lady