Layla Rumley

“I Didn’t Have to Talk If I Didn’t Want To”

When I first came to Strides to Success, I didn’t really know what it was going to be like.

I just knew that I felt anxious and sad a lot.

My thoughts were really loud.

Sometimes my feelings felt too big, like they didn’t fit inside me.

People would ask me how I was doing, but I didn’t always know what to say.

One of the first things I noticed was that no one made me talk.

The horses didn’t ask me any questions.

They didn’t hurry me.

They just stayed with me.

Sometimes we walked together.

Sometimes we just stood there and breathed.

I didn’t know how much I needed that until I was there.

At the beginning, it was hard for me to slow down.

My body always felt tight and uncomfortable.

But the horses could tell when I was nervous.

My instructor helped me learn what calm actually feels like.

Not just talking about it, but really feeling it.

After a while, things started to change.

I learned how to notice when I was getting overwhelmed.

I learned how to pause instead of freaking out.

And I learned that it’s okay to take up space without having to explain myself all the time.

The more time I spent with the horses, the more confident I felt.

I started to trust myself again.

I didn’t get as upset as often.

I could handle hard moments better.

I felt more like myself.

Strides to Success helped me understand that I don’t have to fix everything right away.

I just have to show up.

Now, when things feel really hard, I remember what calm feels like.

I know how to breathe through it.

And I know I’m not alone.

If you are reading this and you’re able to help, thank you.

Your support helps kids like me have a place where we feel safe, can breathe, and learn how to handle big feelings.

even when we don’t know what to say yet.