Sharing Stories Changes Lives

I still remember the first time I shared my story of deep hurt with a friend. I was terrified—unsure how they would respond. Would they judge me, blame me, or turn away?

But when I finally spoke, the words flowed out. My friend simply listened—with compassion, understanding, and belief. That moment was the start of my healing journey. I found the courage to open a gate that had long been closed around the pain and loss from childhood trauma.

That experience taught me one simple truth: sharing our stories changes lives.

The Healing Power of Sharing

Research shows that telling our stories is a vital part of emotional healing.
Psychologist Dr. James Pennebaker found that expressing painful experiences in words helps people make sense of emotions, reduce stress, and improve both mental and physical health.

When we share in a safe, non-judgmental space, we begin to integrate our losses instead of being defined by them. Storytelling transforms pain into ...

We were getting ready for a ride. Everyone was saddled up and warming up in the pen. Cambria was trying out an English saddle on Belle and was walking over the bridge in the obstacle course when suddenly Belle became agitated. She began stamping her feet, clearly distressed. Something was hurting her—and she was trying to manage that pain while carrying a rider.

I ran over quickly and started running my hands up and down Belle’s legs to see what was wrong. There was no visible injury, but it was obvious that something had stung her. The pain lingered even after the cause—later discovered to be a wasp’s nest under the bridge—was gone. We were able to remove the nest, but the sting and the experience stayed with us for the rest of the day.

That wasp sting mirrors the sting of grief.

Loss, whether it’s the death of a loved one, a major change in our relationships, work, health, or a traumatic experience involving our horses, often hits us unexpectedly. We try to wipe it away, move past...