Full Transcript for Finding Your Soul’s Work Beyond the Four Walls

00:06:33.600 There's something about for me, losing my mom rocked my world and cracked my foundation. 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:41.439 And even 25 years later, I still grieve and I missed her in such a way. 00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:44.639 Um, I talk to her every single day. 00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:46.399 She's friend of mind for me. 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:50.079 And I think that's what started my spiritual journey. 00:06:50.720 --> 00:06:58.560 And I started to realize that there's more to this life than work. 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:07.120 Um, at the same time, though, um, you know, I was still young in my career and trying to figure things out. 00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:16.720 And for that, it became more about family and helping my dad and sister through and brothers through that loss. 00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:34.240 And then fast forward to when I met you, at that time, uh my sister uh was going through terminal cancer, and I lost my sister while working at that organization. 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:51.439 And I think at that moment in time, that's really where I got far enough in my career where I started to understand, you know, life is much more than your career. 00:07:51.600 --> 00:07:58.079 Like I was hyper-focused somewhere along the way between my mom passing and then to my sister. 00:07:58.240 --> 00:08:00.000 I had lost myself. 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:02.959 I lost focus and just work. 00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:09.360 I wanted to be an executive, I wanted to help others at the same time. 00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:25.040 I love human resources just because in every organization I've ever worked in, it's given me an opportunity to see the entire business model, just not one aspect of it. 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:32.960 Like someone might get working in an operations function or a finance function sometimes. 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:37.679 You know, finance one could argue is very large in scope as well. 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:47.120 But HR has always given me permission to sit at the table with leaders in their teams and understand their business. 00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:52.960 And it's also helped me understand A to Z when it comes to a customer. 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:56.159 You know, uh working in retail for all those years. 00:08:56.480 --> 00:09:15.440 I just loved going to our designer's office in New York and watching him write um style on a piece of paper and just craft this amazing sweater and then get to learn how it all works through the process of showing up in a store. 00:09:15.679 --> 00:09:28.240 It just fascinated me and understanding the people and the talent that it takes to get something like that to actually show up in a store really intrigued me. 00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:38.480 And I just loved working in HR because it gave me the freedom to learn and work at a different level than being in a singular function, if that makes sense. 00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:40.559 Absolutely, it does. 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:47.519 So, Rana, you were talking about um the loss of your sister. 00:09:47.840 --> 00:09:48.480 Yes. 00:09:49.360 --> 00:10:02.240 When um, and also when you were when you lost your sister, uh, how you were in a in a role in human resources, how you loved being in human resources. 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:08.480 And what came up for me is that you're always in a learner mode, um, and you've always been a learner mode. 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:26.639 Like definitely, you definitely embody the one thing that I truly believe, and and I say it over again when I'm coaching leaders, is as a leader, you don't have to have all the answers, you just have to put good people around you and ask the question. 00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:29.600 Yes, be curious, right? 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:31.120 Something to be said for that. 00:10:31.279 --> 00:10:37.279 I had a a leader once say to me, Rana, it's always good to be green and growing. 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:42.159 I want to be the alternative, and I've never forgotten that. 00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:43.600 It is so good. 00:10:44.799 --> 00:10:45.279 So good. 00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:53.360 And what do you you always say personal development is what do I say? 00:10:54.080 --> 00:11:02.080 Kisses and cupcakes or yes, personal development is not kisses and cupcakes. 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:03.200 For sure. 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:06.559 Why is that hurts? 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:17.759 It's uncomfortable, it's pushing yourself to these uncomfortable places, and oftentimes for me, there's tears involved. 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:22.240 Always, and for whatever reason, I just love torturing myself. 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:27.039 I think I'm like always that person that wants sure. 00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:28.000 I'll give it a try. 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:29.279 Sure, why not? 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:30.480 I'll try that. 00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:36.960 And you know, even in times where I knew I'm not the subject matter expert in that, but I'll figure out a way. 00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:39.679 We'll we can figure it out together, right? 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:41.440 You always do, you always do it. 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:42.799 Totally, yes. 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:57.759 So there's one thing that um I spoke about this before and and on my podcast, one of them, and and and this is a little off topic, but we'll get back to stop performing life here. 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:11.440 But I want you to disp dispel disbelief around the HR function because a lot of people have the I don't trust HR, they're there for the company, this, that, and the other. 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:15.840 However, you know, I mean, all that other bullshit, you know. 00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:24.240 I mean, we've heard it since God was a boy, and and those are a lot of people's experiences, right? 00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:28.240 So we cannot not honor those and acknowledge that. 00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:34.720 However, yes, the way you lead is not that way, right? 00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:44.960 You you lead no

god no, but you lead in a way that is transparent to a fault. 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:46.080 Yes. 00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:54.960 One thing that I appreciate about you is that if somebody had the courage to ask you, yes, losing my job tomorrow. 00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:56.559 That's exactly right. 00:12:56.720 --> 00:13:01.039 I have to look myself in the mirror every morning when I get up. 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:13.679 So if somebody has the courage to come in here and ask me the difficult qu difficult questions of something that, you know, am I am I gonna lose my job? 00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:18.960 Or, you know, am I how am I seen in this organization? 00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:23.600 Or anything of that nature, I owe it to them. 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:29.679 I care about people and I care about how they grow. 00:13:29.919 --> 00:13:40.399 And I want to get people to where they want to go and be who they want to be, regardless if they're in the organization that I work for or not. 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:47.759 Like whatever it is that I can do to help and be in service of, that's what I'm going to do. 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:49.600 But it definitely is a real thing. 00:13:49.679 --> 00:13:52.799 It's kind of fun whenever people ask me, so what do you do? 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:54.240 And I say HR. 00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:57.120 I always get the oh God, really? 00:13:58.240 --> 00:13:58.559 Yeah. 00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:00.159 And it makes me chuckle. 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:10.080 And it also makes me sad because look, they've they experienced something that obviously didn't go well for them. 00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:13.360 And for that, I feel sad for them. 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:25.600 And I think that's why I work the in the ways that I do is to try and debunk that as much as I can for any organization, or just for me, personally and professionally. 00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:34.320 Because again, I'm the person looking back in the mirror at myself, and if I can't do that, then I've got big problems. 00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:42.000 So high integrity, a lot of transparency, sometimes to a fault, gulp rate. 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:43.120 Yeah, you know. 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:47.600 Um, I had a leader once tell me I can be feedback rich. 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:52.000 I'm not taking that as a compliment. 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:59.840 And she shared with me, well, it's critical feedback for you to gulp rate of people. 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:01.440 What is their gulp rate? 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:07.039 Pay attention to what they can hear and and the changes that they can make. 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:10.320 So I've always kind of kept that close too. 00:15:11.679 --> 00:15:12.000 Yeah. 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:13.440 Good, good, good. 00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:15.440 Yeah, there you go. 00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:22.960 Um, so you I will say something and or ask you a question. 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:25.440 Let me figure out how to phrase this. 00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:43.679 What is your one virtue, value that you hold on to when you're about to have that really hard, difficult conversation? 00:15:48.240 --> 00:16:01.440 I would say, oh gosh, one might be hard to narrow down, but I think it's uh honesty, respect, and honesty. 00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:06.159 That would be the two values. 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:14.080 It's so hard for me to narrow it down to one because those are such complicated, complicated exchanges. 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:17.919 But it it's never comfortable to do. 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:38.960 And I always have to call on my courage and always think about the person sitting in front of me and how I can help and support them in this journey, and how I would feel if I were them, and how would I want to hear that news if I were them? 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:43.039 And what kind of support would I need if I were them? 00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:53.759 So really trying to put myself in their shoes and approach it in a very kind and respectful way, yeah. 00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:56.480 Yeah, clear as kind, right? 00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:57.679 That's right. 00:16:57.919 --> 00:17:00.799 Clear from A Brown, clear as kind. 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:02.639 Yes, clear as kind. 00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:10.640 So you've had these really unique experiences as at work, right? 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:12.000 Your professional career. 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:29.680 You've learned a lot, you've developed these amazing skills, not as you know, a very highly capable leader, but also a leadership steward, a leadership coach, a leadership mentor, right? 00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:40.319 In your journey now outside of the professional world, has taken your love of equine. 00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:56.559 Totally, yes, passion around being um a cancer survivor and your leadership, and you've created something really cool and beautiful. 00:17:56.799 --> 00:18:00.720 Yes, I want you to share a share about that. 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:04.240 How did that start? 00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:05.440 How did it start? 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:07.200 Like, how did you start? 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:14.000 You have to tell me the story, tell the listeners the story that um with your dad. 00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:30.799 You mentioned your dad, and he said something about he dared you, or he said he did something that you proved him wrong, and it was about a horse. 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:31.920 Remember? 00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:37.759 So you remember the story that um with your dad about a horse. 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:40.480 I remember this story, yes. 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:45.440 Uh oh my gosh, I was like seven years old, my poor father. 00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:48.480 Like I said, I drove him crazy with wanting a horse. 00:18:48.559 --> 00:19:00.079 So I finally I think I drilled him down so much that he said, Look, if you can find a place to keep your horse, you can have a horse. 00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:03.359 And I was like, Okay, I'm gonna do this. 00:19:03.599

--> 00:19:25.839 And I don't think he understood exactly how determined I was to get a horse because probably about 15 miles from our house, there was a lady who I saw all the time, like driving home, and she had a pasture, and there was a horse, and her name was Mrs. 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:26.400 White. 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:27.440 I'll never forget. 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:29.759 As a little girl, I ran to Mrs. 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:30.960 White's house. 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:40.400 I knocked on her front door, and when she answered the door, I said, My dad told me I can have a horse if I found a place to keep it. 00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:43.039 Can I keep my horse in your pasture? 00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:53.759 She said, Well, honey, um do you have siblings? 00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:56.480 And I said, Yeah, I have some brothers and a sister. 00:19:56.640 --> 00:19:59.359 And she said, Well, my fence needs mend. 00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:04.799 And if your dad and your brothers can come mend my fence, you can keep your horse here. 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:13.839 And oh my god, Tassie, to this day, I still remember the joy I was experiencing. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:16.000 I ran so fast. 00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:27.039 Oh, so fast, and I'll never forget the look on my dad's face when I told him I found a place to keep my horse. 00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:30.799 It's like his whole expression, just no. 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:41.039 And he knew he was about to break his little girl's heart, but I'm like so excited, and he said, honey, I can't afford a horse. 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:46.000 I have six mouths to feed, I cannot afford a horse. 00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:47.519 I'm so sorry. 00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:51.359 And I was crushed, but I quickly got over it. 00:20:51.599 --> 00:21:00.559 I understood, yeah, and now today, doing what I'm doing, I'm like, woof, the work involved, it's a lot. 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:03.599 So he's he saved me too. 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:07.039 He saved me from all that. 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:13.680 I had no clue the work involved, but yeah, that was so funny. 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:19.359 So Rhana, you're you're um you're on a board today. 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:20.160 Yes. 00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:21.839 What's the board that you're on? 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:24.720 And how did you get to that board? 00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:27.759 How do you how did you discover the board? 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:30.799 Jump jump all into that board. 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:37.359 Oh, um, so I'm on the board of the cancer support community of central Ohio. 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:46.799 And um in 2017, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and it was a stage one breast cancer. 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:49.359 It was caught very early, thank God. 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:55.200 I went through my radiation treatments and went to work every single day. 00:21:56.400 --> 00:21:59.759 As I was going through, and I'd started a new job. 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:09.119 Uh

three months after I was diagnosed, which was scary enough starting a new job, trying to prove yourself. 00:22:09.359 --> 00:22:13.359 Um, and then learning that I had breast cancer. 00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:22.640 So I didn't feel like I don't know where the work ethic comes in, but I didn't feel like one, I wanted to miss work. 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:29.440 I was determined that I was gonna beat this cancer and that it wasn't gonna take me. 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:38.079 Um I saw what it cancer has done to my father and my sister, and I'd be damned if it was gonna do that to me. 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:47.200 So I got pissed at it and ended up becoming a survivor or cancer thriver, I'll say. 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:51.599 And it's been almost 10 years cancer-free. 00:22:52.960 --> 00:23:14.799 Yay! And um after that journey with breast cancer, um, it's interesting, you know, when you go through significant losses in your life and then you experience a disease or an illness, it changes your perspective on life, quite honestly. 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:23.440 So I was sitting at my table one day and um thinking about, you know, I feel like I want to make a bigger impact. 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:28.240 I want to be in service of people outside of my corporation. 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:31.440 And how can I go about doing that? 00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:54.240 And I met a young lady, I've known her actually for years, and I was sharing with her that I wanted to do something that could help women who were experiencing breast cancer find a community, feel supported, uh, people who may not have the same support system that I had going through it. 00:23:54.559 --> 00:24:03.759 And she had shared the cancer support community with me, and that her husband was on the board and that she would put me in contact with him. 00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:09.359 So after I talked to him, um, here I sit. 00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:21.119 I'm four going on four years being on the board for the cancer support community, and I've just loved every minute of my journey with them. 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:31.039 It brings me such joy and fills my cup all the time that I'm making a difference in people's lives who are going through cancer. 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:45.759 What I love about that organization is it it's there for all kinds of cancer, people that are experiencing all different kinds of cancers, and they take care of their caregivers and family, which is pretty phenomenal. 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:46.559 Beautiful. 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:48.799 Yes, yes. 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:52.079 So love the work that I get to do with them. 00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:53.039 Yeah. 00:24:53.440 --> 00:25:18.799 Now you also have taken this passion of in service of others, this love of horses, and created something truly unique that is like when I think about how quickly it has grown because it's it's uh it's clearly needed, right? 00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:20.880 And fascinating. 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:22.400 Just fascinating. 00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:26.160 Can you share a little bit about that and how did that come to be? 00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:27.599 Oh my goodness. 00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:42.559 So, you know, like I was sharing earlier as a small child how much I loved horses, and I've just always felt like in my core, I was meant to do something with horses, but I just didn't know what it was. 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:50.400 And um, after I was on the board a couple years with cancer support, I just felt like I wanted to do something else. 00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:55.440 Um, there was something else out there that I wanted to do and I wasn't sure what. 00:25:55.599 --> 00:26:05.359 And then it all of a sudden just one morning as I was sitting with my coffee and having a moment of quiet that I love to do in the mornings, right? 00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:08.720 Get centered and grounded before you start your day. 00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:16.400 And it just hit me to start Googling like volunteer work with horses, and that's what I did. 00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:19.359 And I always saw, it's interesting. 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:23.839 I um right where I live, Dreams on Horseback is like 10 minutes from my home. 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:28.559 And I always saw it, and I was curious, wonder what they do. 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:31.119 I need to stop there one day. 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:40.880 So finally, when they popped up on my Google search, I called them and I started volunteering there at Dreams as well. 00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:44.880 And I Dreams on Horseback has my heart. 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:47.039 Oh my gosh, I just love them so much. 00:26:47.200 --> 00:27:00.079 When I was there one day volunteering um with some traditional riding, um, I saw a veterans group and they were doing an equine class. 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:11.599 And I was asking the owner about that, and she was sharing with me how equine therapy helps individuals who have experienced trauma. 00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:21.920 So I said to her, have you ever thought about doing something like that for cancer survivors, cancer patients, caregivers? 00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:25.839 And she said, It's funny you would say that to me. 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:32.640 She said, I've been trying to figure this out for about five years now, and I can't quite figure out how to get that started. 00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:35.599 People are always asking me about that here. 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:40.000 There were a couple people that work there that were going through cancer at the time. 00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:42.559 So I said to her, Well, I think I can help. 00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:48.400 I sit on this board and I think I can bring you the two organizations together. 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:53.440 What would I have to do personally to be able to set something like this up? 00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:59.359 And she said, Well, you have to go through and get a few certifications to make this happen. 00:27:59.519

--> 00:28:08.000 So she shared with me what certifications in a matter of what task six months, I think I got four certifications. 00:28:08.400 --> 00:28:21.519 And that was, and then April of this year, we had our first cancer support program at Dreams on Horseback. 00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:26.240 And um, it's a full class of 12 people with a wait list. 00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:35.440 So it's it's had uh a lot of success and it's amazing work. 00:28:35.599 --> 00:29:01.119 Uh, it's all about the horse-human connection, and I get to witness just such magical things every Saturday, really, when I'm there, but with this cancer support class, right now we do it once one Saturday um a month, and we're looking for ways to raise money so we can offer it more. 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:07.680 But um, yeah, and I just I can't believe how it's all come to fruition. 00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:18.160 I just, it amazes me how you have a dream and a vision and you don't let go of it, it'll come true. 00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:23.759 It just takes belief and some patience, yeah, and putting it out there, right? 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:27.279 And putting it out there and having the patience. 00:29:27.359 --> 00:29:30.319 It's all about timing, yeah, all about timing. 00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:35.039 I mean, when I think back on my career, I don't know that I could have done this like 10 years ago. 00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:39.119 I wasn't in the right space to do, right? 00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:50.160 And yeah, and I think about your leadership and the journey you went through on top of what your family has gone through. 00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:56.480 Yes, experiences have of course made you who you are right now and when you're ready. 00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:58.559 You weren't ready then to your point. 00:29:58.799 --> 00:30:01.359 No, no, that's exactly right. 00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:08.079 I mean, shared stories, shared experiences connect people together. 00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:09.599 Absolutely, yeah. 00:30:09.839 --> 00:30:10.799 Absolutely. 00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:14.960 You mentioned the horse-human connection, yes. 00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:16.960 Tell me about that. 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:23.359 Well, horses you can get as woo as you want. 00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:24.000 I know. 00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:26.319 I'm like, uh, how do I offer some of this? 00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:27.599 This is woo. 00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:32.400 You you do you are very woo, which is why we're soul sisters, yeah. 00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:36.640 Um so horses are sentient beings. 00:30:37.119 --> 00:30:40.640 One could say all animals are sentient beings. 00:30:40.880 --> 00:30:50.640 Um, the thing that makes horses different from a dog, let's say, horses are prey animals. 00:30:51.119 --> 00:31:06.799 So they are constantly scanning their environment, they're always in the present moment, and they're always scanning to understand is something different about this environment, is something here gonna hurt me,

eat me, whatever. 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:28.160 So their energy systems are on, and they can feel the slightest difference in a vibration, and they can co-regulate with the human, so they can co-regulate their heartbeat with our heartbeat. 00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:41.839 So horses can sense when someone is being incongruent and when someone is being in their authentic self, and they behave in different ways. 00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:44.400 Um, and it's always so interesting. 00:31:44.559 --> 00:32:02.720 I think this is why this work works so well with people, because they have an animal with them that is not judging them, that is simply reading them and helping them to become more self-aware. 00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:09.519 And really, in doing this work, I'm just the facilitator for both of them, right? 00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:35.519 And because, and that's why it makes trauma vic horses equine therapy is so uh beneficial for people who've been through trauma because the horses can co-regulate and they can help a human, human's nervous system settle down when they're very anxious and just become more open. 00:32:35.680 --> 00:32:42.000 And that's where the emotions and all the healing that needs to come out starts to come out. 00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:59.680 Um, it it really is something beautiful to witness, and that's simply because horses are all about trust, and and you as a human, they don't automatically trust, they trust what you're showing them, right? 00:33:00.160 --> 00:33:05.200 And when you think about a dog, dog is all about unconditional love, right? 00:33:05.359 --> 00:33:27.599 Right, that's why dogs make great therapy, animals, when it comes to love and support, where a horse is all about trust and uh building that trust out in the world that we're in, and how do we as humans learn to trust our environments, learn to trust people that are around us? 00:33:27.759 --> 00:33:29.759 How do we break down those walls? 00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:33.680 It truly is just a magical thing to watch take place. 00:33:33.839 --> 00:33:38.480 And I I get to watch it happen every Saturday at Dreams on Horseback. 00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:41.519 It just truly, I'm getting goosebumps just talking about it. 00:33:41.759 --> 00:34:00.799 I've seen autistic, like non-verbal, autistic kids that um learn how to ride horses, uh, some within months start to speak and seeing their their parents cry, and I'm crying, and the kids like, what's going on? 00:34:00.960 --> 00:34:08.800 You know, I'm just saying the horse's name here, but it just it's amazing what what these animals can do for us. 00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:10.719 It's just amazing. 00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:14.800 That's why I think I'm just such an animal lover. 00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:21.199 They truly are God's creatures, and they're put on this earth to love and support us. 00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:23.440 Absolutely, absolutely. 00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:25.360 No, I'm getting chills. 00:34:25.679 --> 00:34:26.480 I

know, right? 00:34:26.639 --> 00:34:32.159 And I have absolutely no fucking patience for people who abuse animals, none whatsoever. 00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:35.199 None, no, no, no, no, mm-mm. 00:34:35.599 --> 00:34:37.599 Don't even get me in that rabbit hole. 00:34:37.679 --> 00:34:41.119 That's when I'm yeah, all I have an eye for an eye. 00:34:41.840 --> 00:34:44.159 Totally fires me up. 00:34:44.400 --> 00:34:47.679 Yeah, yeah, it's just there's no reason for it. 00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:48.559 None. 00:34:49.280 --> 00:35:03.119 Um, when you came to this realization about getting, okay, this is what I want to do, and I have to get these certifications. 00:35:03.440 --> 00:35:03.760 Uh-huh. 00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:06.079 But you were telling me about that. 00:35:06.400 --> 00:35:11.280 What came up was it was the same challenge your dad gave you. 00:35:11.679 --> 00:35:13.599 Oh, it so was. 00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:16.400 This is why I love you so much. 00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:18.639 You can connect to all these things. 00:35:18.880 --> 00:35:21.039 I never even thought about that. 00:35:21.280 --> 00:35:25.440 It's the same challenge, and you're like, fuck it, I'm gonna do it. 00:35:25.679 --> 00:35:26.719 Totally, yeah. 00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:39.280 And I think about everything that even just last week we were talking, and you're like, Well, I was given this big initiative, and I like okay, I'll figure it out, I'll get it done. 00:35:39.760 --> 00:35:42.800 Yes, like yeah, that's just what you do. 00:35:43.039 --> 00:35:53.119 I mean, think about your career over and over and again, and then then you're your cancer survivor, you're like, Yeah, I'll beat this shit, it's not gonna be me, right? 00:35:53.360 --> 00:35:54.159 Totally, yeah. 00:35:54.800 --> 00:36:08.239 Constant thread that you have through your experience of just raw courageousness and fearlessness, and you're fierce, you're just fierce. 00:36:09.199 --> 00:36:11.199 Who's your superpower person? 00:36:11.599 --> 00:36:13.280 Who's your superhero? 00:36:13.920 --> 00:36:16.239 Jeez, you know who this is. 00:36:17.519 --> 00:36:20.159 I send her to you on a regular basis. 00:36:20.960 --> 00:36:23.440 You send her to me on a regular basis? 00:36:27.599 --> 00:36:30.639 A Wonder Woman, yes, for sure. 00:36:30.880 --> 00:36:32.079 Love that woman. 00:36:32.239 --> 00:36:34.320 Yes, yes, Wonder Woman. 00:36:34.559 --> 00:36:35.840 What do you love about her? 00:36:37.679 --> 00:36:40.000 Just her courage and her strength. 00:36:40.800 --> 00:36:47.280 And I love that lasso lasso's people and they tell her the truth. 00:36:48.079 --> 00:37:09.679 I love everything about that, and I think that that's probably why I love the horse works, the equine works so much is because in their own special way, they lasso people and they get them to see their truth, yeah, in such a loving, respectful, non-judgmental kind of way. 00:37:10.159 --> 00:37:12.960 It's beautiful, and it's so safe. 00:37:13.280 --> 00:37:16.239 It is so safe, yes, yes. 00:37:16.559 --> 00:37:26.960 Now, I read somewhere about a horse's energy field, it's in and it's about 10 times larger than a human's, yes, right? 00:37:27.119 --> 00:37:34.559 Yes, so they can sense you before you're even close to them, yes, 20 feet away. 00:37:34.639 --> 00:37:52.960 They can start to sense heart rates and energy levels and what you're coming in with, and it's it's such a great practice of presence, you know, because when I am at the barn, I have to be a hundred percent present. 00:37:53.280 --> 00:38:05.280 Because, first of all, safety, they're like 1500-pound beings, they're huge, and if you're not paying attention, you could get stepped on or whatever the case may be, right? 00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:19.360 So, and I found moments in the barn while I'm with one of my equine partners, and my brain starts going off, and I do something stupid, and they put me in check right away. 00:38:19.519 --> 00:38:24.000 It's like, whoa, back in the present moment, yeah. 00:38:24.239 --> 00:38:35.920 So it's just such a good discipline when you're around them, and it's in such a gentle, like loving, non-judgmental kind of way. 00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:48.719 I mean, I walk out of that barn every week and I just feel so centered and grounded, and just yeah, I can take on another week in corporate America. 00:38:48.960 --> 00:38:50.079 The thought. 00:38:52.079 --> 00:38:57.440 And there it is, both totally in the nonsense of it all. 00:38:57.679 --> 00:39:18.400 Yeah, the not well, and I just think about the corporate America and the world just at large, it's just so noisy, and there's so much noise and and uncertainty, and just yeah, yeah, but but having that safe space, how beautiful. 00:39:18.639 --> 00:39:20.639 Totally, how beautiful. 00:39:20.960 --> 00:39:35.679 So, what is one of your number one, your number one moments being with, and this is about you, not anybody else, but you have a favorite horse, your little your man Ladd. 00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:37.840 Oh, I love Ladd, yes. 00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:40.639 We have a true connection, me and Ladd. 00:39:41.760 --> 00:39:45.760 When did you realize that you have a true connection with Ladd? 00:39:47.199 --> 00:39:52.719 When I started uh horseback riding lessons at Dreams on Horseback. 00:39:52.880 --> 00:40:09.039 So one of the trainers there, um, when I was sharing with her that I had this, uh I at the time I still wanted to own my own horse, but you know, now I'm told, well, you have 28 of your own horses, you don't need to actually own one. 00:40:09.280 --> 00:40:13.519 But I started, she talked me into horseback riding lessons. 00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:32.880 And I remember um the second time I got in the saddle, I was scared and nervous, and God bless lad, I was doing all the wrong things and I was confusing the hell out of him. 00:40:34.559 --> 00:40:47.039 And in one moment, he stopped and he took a deep breath, and as it

was just so interesting because as he was taking a deep breath, something in me told me to take a deep breath. 00:40:47.280 --> 00:40:57.840 So we were taking this breath together, and I released it, and I felt so I'm getting goosebumps, I felt so calm and grounded. 00:40:58.159 --> 00:41:06.000 And I remember the trainer looking at me and said, Did you just learn, did you just see what happened there? 00:41:06.159 --> 00:41:07.760 And I said, What? 00:41:08.000 --> 00:41:13.119 Because I was still kind of you know up in the nervousness of it all, but trying to settle. 00:41:13.199 --> 00:41:16.400 And she said, Lad just took care of you. 00:41:16.719 --> 00:41:30.480 You were in this space of confusion, you were confusing him, and he just stopped and planted his hooves in the ground, and the two of you together took a deep breath and released it. 00:41:30.559 --> 00:41:32.960 And she's like, Rana, he's got you. 00:41:33.440 --> 00:41:42.320 And from that moment on, he has been just an amazing horse partner for me, and I just love and adore him. 00:41:42.480 --> 00:41:57.920 Every time I go to that barn, I have to go see Ladd, and we have a moment together, and I think he's, you know, I can tell what by his ears, he's always happy to see me because I always have an apple or a carrot or some sort of treat. 00:41:58.079 --> 00:42:00.239 Yes, I do bribe him too. 00:42:01.920 --> 00:42:02.960 And that's okay. 00:42:09.039 --> 00:42:10.719 Totally, absolutely. 00:42:11.119 --> 00:42:15.119 So, and you know, he acts he's a lot like a toddler. 00:42:15.199 --> 00:42:30.800 I've heard stories from folks that he has uh bucked people off and he has bitten people before, but I've never experienced that, and I don't feel as I don't feel like that would ever happen with with me. 00:42:30.960 --> 00:42:34.400 It's just it's a connection, it truly is. 00:42:34.880 --> 00:42:36.880 Connection to my heart. 00:42:37.360 --> 00:42:38.000 Yeah. 00:42:38.239 --> 00:42:57.840 And you know what's interesting, Rana, is the journey that you've been on, the learning you've been on with your your cancer support community, and not only what led you up to there, and then where you're at now, is there are no roles or titles involved in any of it. 00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:02.719 No, no, there's not. 00:43:03.840 --> 00:43:07.519 No, and I kind of prefer it that way, right? 00:43:08.000 --> 00:43:16.639 Like you don't have to walk in as the executive to a corporation into your you know, the herd. 00:43:16.960 --> 00:43:30.800 Right your horses, exactly, yes, I'm a part of the herd for sure, nor do you, and you mentioned it before, you don't you have you're they know what you're bringing in before you know it. 00:43:31.119 --> 00:43:40.800 So you don't have to pretend to be somebody else or something, you're not there, you're true yourself, yes, absolutely, yep. 00:43:42.159 --> 00:43:48.320 Yeah, it's it's just an amazing, it's an amazing space to be in your life. 00:43:48.480 --> 00:44:19.440 I don't know exactly how it happens, but when it does happen, you get a sense of freedom from it all and liberation from it all, and I've learned that there are things much bigger and better out of these four walls in my office here, and that yes, I'm making a difference here, but I'm making a bigger difference outside of these four walls, and that's what matters to me more and more. 00:44:19.519 --> 00:44:22.320 That's my soul's work, definitely. 00:44:22.880 --> 00:44:25.039 Yeah, totally, totally. 00:44:25.199 --> 00:44:26.880 You took the words right out of my mouth. 00:44:26.960 --> 00:44:28.719 I just wrote down soul alignment. 00:44:29.360 --> 00:44:31.440 Oh, totally, yes, yeah. 00:44:31.679 --> 00:44:35.599 Like what you described was like, you know, you're in flow. 00:44:35.679 --> 00:44:39.760 Your soul is like, yes, you're doing the work that you were put here to do. 00:44:40.079 --> 00:44:44.880 And yeah, you get to do all this other work to prepare you for this work. 00:44:45.280 --> 00:44:46.960 Definitely, yes. 00:44:47.280 --> 00:44:47.840 Yes. 00:44:48.159 --> 00:44:55.519 Kind of going back to, you know, in young my in our younger days, you have you think about your career. 00:44:55.679 --> 00:44:56.239 How are you? 00:44:56.400 --> 00:44:58.079 How am I gonna pay the bills? 00:44:58.239 --> 00:45:00.000 How am I gonna make ends meet? 00:45:00.239 --> 00:45:05.599 And you find a career, and hopefully you find a career that can do all those things for you. 00:45:05.679 --> 00:45:11.280 So at some point in time, when I retire, I'm gonna be doing this full time. 00:45:11.920 --> 00:45:16.480 So, yes, yes, yes, I can't wait. 00:45:16.719 --> 00:45:21.920 Yes, oh my gosh, and we'll have to have you back on when that happens. 00:45:23.199 --> 00:45:26.639 Share all the things, absolutely. 00:45:26.880 --> 00:45:46.800 So, Ron, if one of our listeners wants to talk to you about your equine therapy, wants to learn more about um any programs that whether it's the cancer support community and or dreams on horsepack, how would they get that information? 00:45:47.679 --> 00:45:52.000 I would say go on LinkedIn and find my profile. 00:45:52.719 --> 00:46:05.119 My name uh is spelled Rana R-O-N-A, and my last name is Orbovich O-R D O V I C H. 00:46:06.000 --> 00:46:07.039 Excellent. 00:46:07.360 --> 00:46:11.039 Yes, excellent, and then just make a connection there, leave a note. 00:46:11.199 --> 00:46:19.599 Yep, give me a scam, leave me a message, and I'd be more than happy to reach back out to them and have a conversation. 00:46:19.840 --> 00:46:20.639 We would love that. 00:46:20.800 --> 00:46:25.519 We need many volunteers at dreams and at cancer support. 00:46:25.679 --> 00:46:29.760 So goodness, yeah, yeah, love to make the connections. 00:46:30.239 --> 00:46:31.840 Yeah, awesome. 00:46:32.079 --> 00:46:46.800 Well, we appreciate you joining us today, and thank you for sharing your journey and your beautiful stories, not only about your family and also about your equine partner. 00:46:47.440 --> 00:46:51.760 Oh, well, thank you, Tass, for giving me the honor to be on your podcast. 00:46:52.000 --> 00:46:57.360 So cool to watch you grow and flourish in your world as well, too. 00:46:57.519 --> 00:47:00.480 And I just love watching you, you're amazing. 00:47:00.800 --> 00:47:02.000 Back at you, babe. 00:47:02.159 --> 00:47:03.199 Back at you. 00:47:03.519 --> 00:47:04.320 Thank you. 00:47:04.559 --> 00:47:06.000 Yes, thank you.