My newest friend, Freckles Bueno, has many lessons to teach and stockpiles of love to give.
I met Freckles at Stepping Stone Farms, a horse rescue sanctuary specializing in equine-assisted learning. Through their natural intuition, horses help foster healing and personal growth.
I’ve written about my love affair with rescue animals for two decades. Freckles is just one of the many animals who have inspired me to overcome my struggles and change for the better. The thing that surprised me most about Freckles is the way they found me in a crowd. They had a message for me, and I was ready to listen.
Horses (and most rescue animals) are human lie detectors. They mirror exactly what you are feeling even if you don’t know what you are feeling. Never ride a horse when you are angry unless you want an angry ride.
It works both ways. Bring a horse loving calm, and they often give it right back. Rescue animals take this reflection to a whole new level. They recognize our trauma because they have lived it.
Horses are not supposed to be alone. Trauma often develops in both humans and horses when they are physically or emotionally separated from the herd. At Being Valued, we spend most of our days helping people feel less alone. Freckles and their friends do the same.
On a beautiful autumn day, Freckles helped me see myself differently. It’s time to stop apologizing for being old.
I’ve been swept up in the belief that the older I become, the less value I have to offer the world. I’ve been unconsciously making myself more invisible and consciously more worried about showing my face in public. My friend Freckles mirrored that right back to me.
Freckles is a gray-haired mare with spots. They weren’t born that way and neither was I. It happens with age and sun exposure for both humans and horses. I didn’t know until now. Aging is beautiful.
Freckles reminded me of the fun of riding through life outdoors and free. I’ve spent more time outdoors than most and my face tells the story. Just like Freckles, I’ve earned every sunspot and every gray hair. And just like Freckles, I’ve become more lovable with age.
I may still color my gray and try to cover my spots, but I do love these parts of me. Makeup fades, and my roots still speak the truth. I’ve loved every moment under the sun.
My wish for myself and the world is to be more like Freckles Bueno. Seek people out from across a field or across a room. Shower people with love and attention. Celebrate a life well-lived. Keep having fun in the sun. And always remember:
Gray hair, age spots, and Freckles are muy, muy Bueno.
