Meet Melinda Lewis

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Melinda Lewis a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Melinda, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

I’ve always been a capable person with a good attitude, someone that felt like they could move mountains.

A few years ago, I went through a relationship that fractured my self-worth to the point that I no longer recognized the woman in the mirror. I quickly went from a lifetime of being athletic, to having 40lbs to lose. From confident and unshakeable, to very real panic attacks in the grocery store. No confidence. No self-esteem. Just a complete breaking.

I rebuilt from what felt like ground zero. It started with a mindset change. You have to find a way to make the self-deprecating thoughts stop. I filled their space with Ed Mylett, Cameron Hanes, or David Goggins constantly in the background while I worked or drove.

I started imagining what the person I wanted to grow into looked like, and did my best to show up as that woman.

My circle of influence got very small, only positive goal-oriented people that believed in me and contributed to my growth were allowed in.

I made very small, doable pacts with myself, and I followed through with them. -In the morning, I’m making my bed and getting a quick workout in.. even just 10 minutes. In the afternoon I want to practice for a certification to build my skills as a farrier. Honoring the small things you say you’re going to do changes the way you view yourself, you feel stronger and your commitments will start to get just a little bigger.

Something happens when you start making small gains. Maybe you lose 3 pounds. Your home starts looking a little less chaotic. Maybe you make some progress on whatever your own brand of certification is. You’ll start seeing yourself a little differently. You missed a workout yesterday, but you aren’t going to miss two. That’s not who you are anymore. Yeah, its raining outside, but I cant miss a forging practice or I’ll break my streak! You get a little skin in the game, your pride gets involved, and you start gaining some momentum.

This growing is how you build confidence in yourself, and self esteem naturally follows. I’m back to thinking I can move mountains again. It feels good!

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’ve been a full time farrier for a little more than a decade now. Some people think being a woman in this industry is pretty unique. There definitely are fewer women, but getting to be more and more.

In the beginning I was told it was something I wouldnt be physically able to do, that it was a man’s job. So, I made the commitment to do it, and to try to do it to the best of my ability. I now have a wonderful career in an industry I love and have built a business and clientel that I’m proud of. I feel like I’ve been given a gift to be able to wake up as an entrepreneur, and to work with horses everyday.

Things do seem to be changing, though. A few months ago, I literally traded my saddle for a bluewater sailboat! I’m in the process of bringing the old girl back to life and soon to be outfitting her to be completely self-sustaining out on the big blue. I’m learning to sail. (Something I probably should have learned first, but sometimes the cart comes before the horse.. in my life anyway!)

I’m planning on setting sail for the islands within the year and seeing where and how far it takes me. I’ve started developing some new skills to finance my travels, namely sewing and marine canvas work, but a few other things as well. Hopefully, I’ll still get to shoe a pony here and there and do a little artistic blacksmithing.

This has been a lifelong dream. But now it’s actually happening, we are in the middle of our first adventure- a week long solo journey from Louisiana to Alabama where I’ll finish getting her ready to go. I’m counting on some hard knocks, but also some life-changing experiences.

A YouTube channel is in the making so friends and family can keep up with where we are and how it’s going. Of course, I hope you’ll follow along and explore new places and celebrate the highs and lows with me!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Determination. I think that whatever it is you’ve set your mind to do, you have to be committed to get it done, no matter what. You can’t have any quit in you. Anything worth having will put up a fight. You’re going to have to earn it. If you persist, you will eventually win, even if you’re getting your butt kicked in the moment.

Attitude. I think it’s probably the most important thing. The ability to keep a good attitude and being mindful when it’s bad. Gratitude is a big deal. Even in the thick of it, finding things to be grateful for can completely change your spirit, and I believe it attracts even more things in your life to be grateful for.

Skills can be acquired. Dont be afraid to learn something new.. and especially don’t be afraid to be bad at it for awhile. It’s just part of the process of becoming great. Never stop growing.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

I’m often overwhelmed. I want to do big things, and almost always those things involve doing something new to me. Whenever my goal seems daunting, I have to break it down into smaller more manageable pieces, as many small pieces as it takes.

Make a list of all the tiny steps to get to your goal instead of just looking at the goal itself. Then ACT on the small things.

This does two things- it gets you a step closer to your goal and it builds your confidence that you can get there.. because you actually are doing it! Don’t just stare at the big daunting thing like a deer in headlights. Small moves will get it done and leave you feeling accomplished instead of overwhelmed.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/159BmzhZD4/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@sailingwithsparrow?si=4T7FcCWKzau-HmVo