Coffee Clutch with Dutch Henry: "Don't Let It Stop You!"

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

"Don't Let It Stop You!"

Howdy Friends!

Each time before I do an interview for a story I worry, sometimes for days, about it. Will I ask the right questions? Will I understand their meanings? How can I possibly write a story that captures their heart, meaning and essence? It often piles boulders of stress so heavy on me I sometimes get belly ache. And even as I begin the interview I continue to fret; am I hearing what they are saying, how can I tell this in an interesting way they will approve, can I capture their message?

I just finished my interview and story for one of the most wonderful horse women whose mission it is to encourage all of us to, "understand the whole horse," Dianne Little. As is my custom I sent my story to her for her approval and she wrote back. "Thank you Dutch. You have done a wonderful job. I cannot comprehend how you gathered so much insight from my rambling thoughts. Not only are you an advocate for the horse, you are able to put your natural talent to work for that cause."

I share this because I believe it can be a teachable moment. After the weekend of Inner City Slickers at Heartland Horse Heroes helping the young ladies understand the importance of managing self-doubt, and going for their dreams, and then Monday morning chatting with students at Appomattox Christian Academy about writing and confidence, I thought it might be a good example of how each of us may struggle with our own demons, worry, and self doubt, but if we learn to expect it, wrap our own strength of determination around it and march forward, we can conquer our fears, or at least put them in a box and succeed in our quest.

Will I be just as worried before my next interview, yup, I already am, but it won't stop me. Don't let it stop you.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch

2 comments:

Jodi Lea StewartOctober 22, 2014 at 1:24 PM
A great and insightful blog, as usual!
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Welcome to the Coffee Clutch

Welcome to the Coffee Clutch, a happy place to visit. I write uplifting stories about a wide variety of subjects from horses to birds and nature, to love and family and friends. Sometimes I'll post excerpts from stories I've written for Equine Publications. Sometimes I'll post about writing itself. Coffee Clutch got its name because I often write while enjoying my morning coffee in the barn with my mare Kessy, and all our critters. Join us here for fun conversation and stories I promise will make you feel good.

It's For The Horses

This is not a book about riding, or training horses. It is a book on my thoughts, ideas and suggestions on how folks might find the joy in doing things for the horse, with the horses’ point of view as the leading guide. My hope is to help as many people as possible learn to hear the horse, feel their spirit, and in that way help horses everywhere. Over the years I’ve met and worked with remarkable people and horses who taught me about their feelings, their joys, their sadness, and their spirit. As a horse advocate everything I do is from the horse’s perspective, including this little book. Every story, idea, suggestion and thought on these pages will be to suggest and share thoughts and ideas on how to maximize a relationship between horse and human—from the horse’s point of view.

Tom Named by Horse

The only man ever to offer Tom respect is Red Cloud. The only woman to give him love is Red Cloud’s granddaughter. Struggling with his own personal demons, Tom finds himself wedged between honoring that friendship and staying true to the depths of his conscience. Amid a backdrop of tumultuous social upheaval, he finds nothing prepared him, the woman he loves or Chief Red Cloud, for the changes about to thunder into their lives, sweeping them helplessly into the tides of human conflict and historical drama. Available on Amazon.

From The Banks OF Little Bear Creek

The Tom Named by Horse Saga continues. Three years after the death of Tall Dog, Tom Named By Horse and Soft Cloud have turned the little soddy, the lands granted them by Red Cloud, and the lean-to barn into a thriving horse ranch, fulfilling Tom’s dream. The Plains Indians Wars, or Red Cloud’s war, is mostly behind them, and the lands have had their transformation as Red Cloud’s vision had warned years earlier. Trailing horses from the ranch to Denver city has become an annual event for Tom, Buck and the rest, and this is the story of that trail. In the spirit of a good old John Wayne movie, vengeance, cattle and horse thieves, a dirty sheriff and corrupt mayor, and a wedding make this year’s drive a ride you’ll want to tag along on.