Dear Forward Stride Community,
Thank you for being part of our “herd.” As we close out the calendar year, I am filled with gratitude for everyone who has been along on our journey and continues to walk with us. We have brought you many stories of how Forward Stride programming helps to improve individuals’ resilience. But what does that mean? And how are you helping with your involvement?
The definition of resilience is to be able to return to a state of happiness, success, or well-being after something challenging or difficult has happened. The truth is that we all encounter adversity in small ways or large almost every day. Building the skills to be able to bounce back can make a significant difference in a person’s private, social, work, or school life.
It turns out that working alongside horses within our programs often provides many small opportunities to build those skills. Strengthening muscles and balance in vaulting might mean fewer and less devastating falls. Teaming up with our therapists, ponies, and volunteers in therapy sessions might lead to better posture, increased ability to speak and communicate, more friends at school, and more overall joy for life. Sometimes the feeling of warm safety that envelops individuals at the barn means they understand that life is not completely full of uncertainties. For others, it can be hard to navigate the challenges of reduced activity, loneliness, and isolation that often accompany aging, but Forward Stride’s programs offer many levels of support and opportunity, ensuring that folks always have a community and “home” here. One of the best gifts we can give is the opportunity to form lasting friendships, complete with fun, laughter, and friendly competition. These bonds grow social awareness and prove that laughter is the best medicine.
As much as Forward Stride is able to be a place of growth, connection, safety, lifelong learning, and companionship for individuals, though, I am always amazed at how the very strong community and partnerships we have forged through the years is what lends resiliency to Forward Stride, too. It is only through thousands of hours of volunteering, generous monetary and in-kind donations, dedicated and knowledgeable staff members, and the truly giving, forgiving, and kind actions of our outstanding herd of horses that Forward Stride exists. When the world feels like chaos around us, we choose to share learning, growth, healing, and LOVE with one another.
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!
