Life is not always a bed of roses and it doesn’t always serve us buttery croissants for breakfast. It often happens that what have seemed to be a beautiful and amazingly fragrant flower at the beginning, with another position of the planets and alongside a variable which is our life, the flower turns to be a dead weed trying to inflict pain here and there with a sharp spine, which slowly, noiselessly hurts not only our hearts, but also our souls. As I’ve already mentioned before, life is the greatest variable that we will have a chance to encounter in our lives. Happiness isn’t everlasting and suffering also comes to an end. Everyone has to walk through this bumpy road, hiding various demons trying to wear both our souls and bodies down. One needs to make the right decision and it depends only on us whether we wallow in sadness and grief focused on the surrounding us world or whether we decide to be energetic and sensing joy of life individuals, despite the fact that we are no longer the same people from before the moment when we were touched by a given tragedy.

Animals are people’s best friends. Their therapeutic influence, on the ones who can commune with them, is simply undisputed. One of the most loyal, proudest and smartest human’s companions are horses, which although are not too talkative, can still listen to everyone who needs to get sorrows off their chest and what’s the most important they’re not judgmental and they never tell secrets to anyone. Their great value has been appreciated by my today’s interviewee – MaryAnn Ensz, who already in her childhood had the opportunity to discover that they can be her real soul mates, and in difficult moments they can give her some comfort, which couldn’t be offered by any other person. In this interview you’ll get to know more about MaryAnn, as well as about her passions and plans for the nearest future.

Passion Piece: Could you tell my readers a few words about yourself?

MaryAnn: I’m a lifelong cowgirl, love adventures and travel, love dogs and wildlife. I’m the youngest of nine kids.

Passion Piece: You say that your dad had you on a horse long before you could walk. Have horses always been present in your family?

MaryAnn: Yes, horses have always been a part of my family.

Passion Piece: How did your passion for riding horses and horses as such develop? What do you consider to be your greatest success?

MaryAnn: All horses are wonderful buddies, but the horse I had when I was growing up was my best friend. He was always up for an adventure, always listened without judgment, and never told my secrets. Every little girl needs a “Velvet” in their childhood!

Passion Piece: Is being a cowgirl easy in the cowboys’ world? Is cussing helpful?

MaryAnn: True cowboys have the utmost respect for cowgirls, and admire our abilities. Lol, yes, excited utterances release tension, so whether one says, “oh fudge”, “oh piddle”, or words requiring symbols to replace the letters in writings for the general public, tension is lowered so one can get back to the job at hand.

Passion Piece: What jobs did you learn to do? Are there any practical jobs girls are better than men at?

MaryAnn: Horses are a lot of work, and it takes dedication. One learns at least the basics in horsemanship, feeding, watering, grooming, saddling, as well as fencing, and numerous other farm chores. Some people are better at certain jobs than others, but around horses it’s just important for the best person to do a particular job, regardless of whether it’s a cowgirl or cowboy.

Passion Piece: How can horses change people’s lives? What lessons can they teach?

MaryAnn: Because horses are such wonderful listeners, they help people shed anxiety and focus on the horse instead of their troubles, this allowing them to relax and perhaps gain a different perspective, more insight. That in and of itself can change people’s lives. Horses have an aptitude for being the most patient with those who need it most, however they can be quite flighty, so people must learn to quiet themselves in order to calm the horse. They require much care, thus teaching responsibility, time management, and building a work ethic.

Passion Piece: What else do you deal with in your life?

MaryAnn: I’m still struggling with traumatic grief following the suicide of my beloved husband/best friend. I credit my horses for my ability to pull myself, though kicking, screaming, and crying, along the road to get to the point I even wanted a little bit to move forward. It didn’t matter how little I had/have slept, or long I had been bawling, or how badly my body ached… the horses had to be fed… twice a day. They didn’t recoil at my swollen eyes, my lack of hygiene, the tears constantly running down my face, instead they allowed me to wrap my hands in their manes and press my face against them, even racked with sobs. Six months and one day later, my Dad died unexpectedly. While I was on a trip during the third anniversary of my husband’s death, trying to do a hard reset, one of my sisters died unexpectedly. The horses have been a comforting constant in my life.

Passion Piece: Why did you decide to set up your own blog?

MaryAnn: Over half my life was spent working alongside my husband in his dental practice. When I lost him, I also lost a career I loved very much. I spent the first few years after his death in a thick, suffocating fog. Having both deep depression and high anxiety make traditional work a nightmare to even contemplate.

I love working, and had planned to launch a blog before. I have always been known as the storyteller, and am told all the time I should publish my writings. A couple of years ago as I was going through some things I came across some of my stories, and laughed, actually laughed. That reconnected me with the blog idea, and I started working on it.

Passion Piece: Where do you find your everyday inspirations to write?

MaryAnn: My mind never stops, and ideas often tumble through while I’m during chores, driving, watching wildlife, or even a song might bring up a subject.

Passion Piece: What have difficult moments in your life taught you?

MaryAnn: I can keep pushing even when I think I have absolutely nothing left in me to give.

Passion Piece: Do they make people stronger? If yes, how have they changed you?

MaryAnn: Difficulties break some people, and some people find their strengths, more than anything I think they intensify a person’s traits, rather than change them.

Passion Piece: What are you passionate about besides horses? What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

MaryAnn: I adore traveling, love exploring new areas, new foods, local culture. Watching and photographing birds and other wildlife is exciting and calming, too. I love to cook/bake. I enjoy hiking, and am planning to get back into kayaking.

Passion Piece: Where do you see yourself in the nearest future?

MaryAnn: Writing, writing, and more writing, as I search for a way to produce income.

Passion Piece: Is there a particular dream you’d like to come true?

MaryAnn: Producing income streams to provide for the necessities and travel!!

Passion Piece: Which motto would you like to share with my readers?

MaryAnn: Don’t be afraid to wander off the path, just don’t ever forget who you are.

Passion Piece: Thank you very much for this truly inspiring conversation and I wish you continued success both in your private and professional life!

I hope that MaryAnn will be a great example for all of you and will be a living proof of the fact that in spite of what happens in our lives we can always regain our balance and happiness, even if it’s not always easy and we sometimes doubt that we will be able to smile again in the future.

See you around!

Yours,

Passion Piece

Photos by: MaryAnn Ensz