Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tomiah Madrigal . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Tomiah, we are so appreciative of you taking the time to open up about the extremely important, albeit personal, topic of mental health. Can you talk to us about your journey and how you were able to overcome the challenges related to mental issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
With all the difficulty that comes with mental health issues, managing a normal day to day life can be a lot to handle. As for myself, dealing with debilitating anxiety the majority of my life made me think even the simplest of things were out of reach for me. Having an anxiety disorder burdened even the happiest of memories I made. Having to cope with it at such a young age made it immensely harder to see my future as a normal one. However, there were glimpses of light in the darkness that surrounded my mind. Finding a passion in the equine field as well as my interest in the botany that goes into the finest wines made me eager to escape this world of fear I was living in everyday. With the motivation for success I moved to San Louis Obispo, I had made it to college. If you had told 15 year old me she would be living alone hours away from her hometown while simultaneously going to school and having a horse to take care of, she would have laughed in your face. For me, the battle between my mind and I will always be alive but so will the fire that keeps driving me ever forward. I have my family, my horse and my friends to thank for constant support through the storm.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’ve been an equestrian since the age of 9, I recently had my 20th birthday and my current horse Charlie is 10 years old. We’ve been partners in the riding worlds for about 5 years. Without him and all the other horses I’ve been so fortunate to know in my life, I wouldn’t be who I am today and definitely wouldn’t have the career I have today. Having to care for such a large, magnificent and yet fragile animal at such young age made me quick to learn about proper responsibility. Through my relationship with Charlie I noticed just how little I actually knew about his body. Being in the competition world you tend to stray from the actual knowledge of what it is your horses body is doing for how often you compete. It was only until my senior year in college that the idea of being out of training program and simply riding on my own was my chance to become my horses advocator. After all, he does more than enough for me every day of his life. I began my hunt to get my certification in Equine Masage. I already knew where my horse tended to have some pain, but it was after I began my certification schooling that I realized just how much tension he carried throughout his entire body. I can confidently say that today Charlie feels and acts younger than he ever has. I’d love for my short story to be an inspiration to those out there that are lucky enough to have a special animal in their life. For the sake of our sweet animals be eager to learn more for their benefit!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Some advice that I’d want to give may be the most helpful to young high schoolers or even college students. Even though you may have no idea what you’d want to pursue as a job or career, it doesn’t last forever. Also, just because you choose one career path doesn’t;t mean you have to stick with it your whole life! An example I can think of is my own father. Being a graduate with a bachelors in Ceramics, he never would have imagined himself in the sales industry for over 25 years. Even after being a titan in the clothing world, he still felt he wanted something more. So, at the age of 48 he decided to start his own company. He made a product that he wanted to use to help the world. It took he ten years to perfect the product before he could officially launch to the world. Now, his company iDome has helped shelter those that lost homes in the Maui fires. From my father alone I learned that no matter how old you get, it’s never too late to learn something new or chase after a new dream. The skill of communication also came naturally to me after watching my parents. Since I was little they always made sure I knew I had a voice. Making me quite the talker in elementary school. Let’s just say I had a BIG personality thanks to my parents. Growing up in such a silly household gave me the confidence to never shy away from who I am. Thanks to that I can easily navigate through the process that is college education. Not being shy gave me the opportunity to make connections related to my field of study and current career. After all, before you sell anything to a potential new client, you have to sell yourself first. A last piece of advice I can offer to anyone who will take it is, keep an eye out for opportunity and seize it whenever you get the chance.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
Personally, when I am feeling overwhelmed I love to cozy up on my bed and watch a feel good movie. I know it sounds very simple but from me it’s perfect! Even taking a moment to look around your room and appreciate the smallest things you have can be so helpful for your brain to calm down. Practicing gratitude is one of the best ways to help an overactive mind. Simply taking a few minutes to close your eyes and breathe with intention will better your mental state.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: T.c.m.eventing
- Other: Email: [email protected]
