Hauling Partners & Lessons Learned

❝ 𝑨 𝒈𝒂𝒍'𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒂 𝒅𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒈𝒂𝒍'𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒂 𝒅𝒐.❞ ~𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝘆,𝟭𝟵𝟬𝟰~ ddittybit no.50

Can we talk a little bit about hauling partners? And the stories that unfold and become laugh until you cry treasured memories over the course of late night and early morning drives?

Y’all those are the moments when some of my absolute favorite stories were born and also some of the stories I wish I’d have been a “Fly on the Wall” when someone else is sharing their’s as well.

When you find a good hauling partner {especially after having a sub par one} it seems like a downright luxury. Am I right?

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to get in the truck with some really outstanding cowgirls (and cowboys) that I learned a lot from. It’s the kinda stuff you can’t learn from a book and being able to share in experiences together forges a bond that can last a lifetime. Whether it was the winner in the truck buying Waffle House for the rest of us, figuring out trailer tire fiascos, babysitting kiddos while your friend makes her run or simply being on the same page with each other’s quirky habits - the stories of hauling partners are some of the best told stories around.

This picture was taken in 2015 at the Paul’s Valley, OK IPRA of me and my hauling partner’s kiddos. The time I got to spend going to rodeos with Donna Rae Charmasson and her family taught me so much about this chapter of life I’m currently in right now. She was the first hauling partner that I’d traveled with that had young kiddos. On many occasions, she was loading up the kids to go one direction with us while her husband jump in another rig with the guys to enter the steer wrestling at pro rodeos. Donna had the best attitude as she juggled it all. She showed me the importance of getting my mind right both in and out of the arena by how she lived.

Getting a front row seat to my hauling partner’s story as a rodeo wife, mama and competitor was one of the most encouraging experiences of my life. There’s something about the way we show up in our own life story that can encourage others to show up for theirs as well.

How can you show up today sister that will make a difference in your life & those around you as well? Whatever it is - big or small- this is your friendly reminder to get after it. Never underestimate the opportunity you have to make a difference by how you show up in & out of the arena.

Make each day count,

Dakota