The Unexpected Cow Encounter That Unlocked My "One Day" Dreams

Do you have a "bucket list" filled with good intentions and the promise of "one day"?

Me too... and I think most people do. We scribble down aspirations, big and small, and then tuck them away, waiting for the perfect moment that rarely arrives. But this past weekend, I realized something HUGE, and I wanted to share it with you because I believe it can have a profound and beautiful impact on you too.

Every year, "the boys" (my son and hubby) and I make our annual visit to the state fair in Pennsylvania. We absolutely love it! And without fail, every year that we've gone, a particular desire has tugged at me: I wanted to interact with the cows.

If you know me, you know I'm a HUGE animal lover. While dogs are my absolute tribe, I also have an undeniable soft spot for farm animals, especially cows. Seriously, I'm the person who screams "COWWWSS!!!!" in pure delight every single time I pass a farm with them grazing. 😂 I just can't help it; it's an automatic, childlike reaction (even when I'm driving alone, no less! Hahah).

Yet, for all those years at the fair, I never seized the opportunity to pet them. Why? Because I was too scared to ask the farmers. I was convinced they'd think I was a total weirdo, an adult woman ridiculously excited about farm animals. The fear of judgment kept a simple, joyful dream just out of reach.

That all changed this year.

There were two separate places where cows were available for interaction, and I decided to go for it both times! It was a conscious choice to push past that old, nagging discomfort.

Can I tell you that my inner six-year-old came through in full form? With a big-assed grin and all, I was in absolute, unadulterated joy, fulfilling a tiny but significant dream on my list.

I was genuinely surprised to learn how incredibly soft their fur is… softer than a goat's, even! And even more surprised to discover how incredibly gentle they are. I had always heard they were wonderful beings, but getting to experience it firsthand... with a goober-covered hand at that after feeding them! Haha... totally WORTH IT.

For the rest of the day, I carried a heart full of pure joy and a grin that just wouldn't quit. It was such a small thing, yet the feeling was immense.

That's when the huge realization hit me: whatever our dreams are, big or small, grand or seemingly silly, they are not silly, they are not weird, and you and I absolutely deserve to go after them. Even if you might feel or be called a weirdo. This lesson has become even more profound for me after my cancer journey, which truly cemented the preciousness of every moment and the importance of living life fully, without reservation.

(The farmer and his daughters might have looked at me like I was completely bonkers, with the dumbest, happiest grin plastered on my face the entire time I was with their cows. But honestly? I didn't care… I was too busy being absolutely ecstatic!)

So, whatever you've got tucked away on your bucket list, no matter how insignificant it might seem to others, go after it. Set a date, make a plan, and remember that you are totally worth having that experience. That little spark of joy, that sense of fulfillment, is waiting for you.

What's something on your list, and what would it mean to you to finally experience it? Reach out to me and and let me know… I would love to cheer you on!

Here's to embracing our dreams and our inner weirdos.

xo,

Ryn