The Backpack

Chapter 27

“Okay,” Jon began, “I am starting to understand that my backpack and all that is in it and all that it does is my responsibility.”

“Good for you!” Buddy exclaimed, once again with a big smile on his face.

“But this all seems pretty daunting,” Jon stated. “I have to label emotions, evaluate how they impact me, fix my broken beliefs, get angry for the right reasons, and not hurt people. And I'm sure I left something out. All while simply trying to get through my day and get my work done. Or even dealing with my kids around home. If all of that were even possible, which I'm not sure about, it still sounds very complicated.”

Buddy reflected a moment. “Riding a horse can sound complicated at first, not to mention frightening that you're going to climb on a 1000‐pound‐plus animal known for ditching cowboys. But once you get the basics down, it is not that hard. From there, you're simply perfecting your craft.”

“I think professional cowboys and cowgirls might disagree with you if you're trying to make what they do sound easy,” Jon said, trying to sound like he knew a little bit about being a cowboy, even if he knew nothing about cows.

“Oh, they wouldn't say it was easy. But they wouldn't say it was complicated, either,” Buddy said confidently. “They would say what they do is difficult and takes skill, years of practice, and a lot of time spent on their head in the dirt. Which, by the way, is also what a good psychologist or a seasoned, people‐skilled leader might say. ...