Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jamie Kohler. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jamie, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I would have to say that I get my resilience from my Lord and Savior. I could never get through my difficult times and challenges in this world if not for my relationship with Jesus Christ. If he went through brutal torture and suffering for me, there is nothing I cannot push through for him and through his strength. I definitely have my moments that I want to give up. Jesus certainly has every reason to have given up on me, but he chose to save me and love me. For this, I owe my every breath.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a God fearing animal lover that grew up with a passion and gift with animals and, in particular, working with challenging horses. After growing up showing horses and riding professionally, I started to feel like there was still something missing, an emptiness. Following a series of life changes and events, I soon realized that God could use me and my passion of animals to help love others and show love through sharing the unconditional love that animals give to all of us despite our looks, abilities, or pasts. I realized that animals display the true unconditonal love of Christ to everyone. We began adopting rescued horses, dogs, (and cats) and began providing animal-related activities and horseback riding to individuals of all shapes, sizes, colors, ages, and abilities. The mission of Blissful Dreams Rescue Ranch is to share the love and gospel of Jesus Christ through therapeutic horseback riding and animal-related activities for children and adults struggling with psychological, emotional, physical, and relational challenges while using formerly abused, neglected, and abandoned horses and dogs. Animal behavior can be so misunderstood, just like people that are “different” can be misunderstood. It is difficult to explain without witnessing it in person, but there is something amazing that happens when you connect misunderstood animals that have been given a second chance with individuals that are misunderstood and/or hurting.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three things that have been most impactful on my journey would be patience, experiences, and knowing that no 2 individuals (whether human or animal) can always be communicated with in the same manner. One additional important area that I am still learning is that none of us are perfect and we learn from our mistakes. It is okay to make mistakes. In order to work with animals or people, you need patience. If you are going to work with them together, you need extra patience. If you don’t already have patience with kids working with horses, you will either learn to have it or you will lose every battle.
All of my different experiences with a variety of mentors of different ages, expertise, and backgrounds has been extremely helpful in my journey. We can all learn from each other if we have open minds and open hearts. I am all for working together and networking in life.
Whether horse, dog, cat, chicken, or human, we all have different personalities. We need to learn how each individual learns and how they respond to different communication. Some of us cry if you look at us wrong and others of us need to be “spoken to firmly” in order to get things across. It is extremely important to know what works best with who. You can either make or break a person or animal with your words, communication, and mannerisms. It is important to really pay attention and get to know each individual as exactly that, an individual.
I had to add an extra one that is something that has been difficult for me. We all need to realize mistakes help us learn. We can all learn from and teach and encourage others through are own mistakes.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
The Bible has played a very important role in my development. A few of the most valuable and impactful nuggets of wisdom from the Bible are to love, forgive, do not judge others for we are sinners, and that if I cannot count on anything or anyone else, I know I can count on the one who suffered and was crucified for me, Jesus Christ.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://Blissfuldreams.org/
- Instagram: @Blissful_Dreams_Rescue_Ranch
- Facebook: Blissful Dreams Rescue Ranch
- Twitter: @Blissfuldreamsrr
Image Credits
Wayne Eggleston Jamie Kohler
