What made you happy today?

[BigBlueHen53]

I started volunteering at a hippotherapy barn a few months ago, with the intention of taking care of the horses since that's what I love and have a lot of experience with. Turns out, they have a huge need for people to help out with therapy sessions for the clients, and though I have very little experience with people who have disabilities, I thought why not, if that's what they need, they give good training so I'll give it a try.
It's turned out to be a hugely rewarding experience, more than I ever would have expected.
Knowing myself as such an introvert, I expected to be just OK helping people with physical disabilities but uncomfortable around people with intellectual and emotional disabilities, but it turns out I love working with all of them! Not what I expected from myself, at all!
Of course, I do also work with taking care of the horses and love that part.
Anyway, the thing that made me really happy today: a girl who is non-verbal and tends to stare into space and be fussy and not able to pay attention or understand direction, who I've helped out in her sessions a few times before and considered her exhausting and challenging - today she looked right into my eyes and saw me for real, and gave me a big smile, and laughed like she was enjoying herself. Not something I've ever seen her do before!

I love these clients! Every one is different, dealing with different challenges, every one is interesting and fun to relate to in whatever is their own way. Some are non-verbal, some are chatty, but the most rewarding part is, everybody has made progress in the skills they are working on by the end of their session.

Have to mention the horses - they are true angels and saints. They made me happy today as well.

I loved doing this as well, "back in the day!" It is so rewarding. One day they brought a beautiful but very withdrawn, even frightened, young Native girl, who was clinging to her attendant. They did not know if she would participate. I'm Hispanic and had long dark hair. When she saw me, she said, "Mommy?" and reached for me. I smiled, took her hand and led her to the horses. Together we stroked them, and, quietly coached by the lead therapist, got her on a horse. I side-walked the horse through her session and she did all that was asked of her. She hugged me before she left. How can you not love these people! What a wonderful program. You were blessed. Thanks for this memory, and so many more.

 

[Eggs_Over_EZ]

Checking on our broody hatched chicks and seeing one jump up onto the hens back instead of under her wings. It was funny as once it got up their it lifted its head high as to say “I am King or Queen of the hill”.

 

[RebelFord81]

My sunbathing girls

 

[007Sean]

This is why I love 'tiny tots' at pow wows!
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1264556455003671/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

 

[sourland]

@007Sean that little guy was really into it - gotta love that.

 

[007Sean]

@007Sean that little guy was really into it - gotta love that.

Yep, some of them have been going to pow wows while still in the womb, and most will be dancing before they can walk! I really love to watch them at pow wows.
He certainly has the 'ladies' attention!

 

[sourland]

He certainly has the 'ladies' attention!

Umm, is this another reason you love pow wows?