my dream is dead and I just need to complain
For my entire life, since I was literally around 5 years old, I have wanted to be a pro barrel racer. For those who don't know, its a horseback riding sport, a rodeo event, where the fastest time wins. I have my own horse and we have done a few competitions but nothing big or exciting, just fun shows. I am 18 as of right now, and I know I seem young probably to a lot of people but in order to get into and be good at equestrian sports you have to grow up in it and start competing when you're like 10. I didn't get that luxury, and while I am INCREDIBLY grateful for my horse, I love him dearly, he's 20 now and has arthritis, so we can't compete anymore. I would MUCH rather him be healthy than me be selfish and compete anyways. Barrel racing was the most fun I have ever had in my entire life, and each competition we did was so so so much fun. I haven't done a competition in around a year or so now, and I didn't go to college for rodeo because I didn't grow up in it and wouldn't have made the team regardless, I ended up staying home for community college. I love community college honestly and again I'm so grateful for my horse. But my dream is crushed. I can't help feeling hopeless. It's too late for me, I can't go pro, I can't BE anything in that field anymore. I have 3 younger siblings and we don't have a trailer so I can't do more competitions even if my horse was able. I have no goals, I don't even want to ride anymore. I haven't wanted to do much of anything physical in so long because of this and I'm gaining weight and I just really feel like what's the point? My point was barrel racing, and that's not going to happen. What do I do without an ultimate goal? What is the meaning of life now? I spiral about this shit almost daily and I'm crying as I write this. I'm medicated, used to go to therapy, I have an amazing boyfriend and a career idea, but nothing will ever replace the passion I had before and I really just don't even know what to do with myself anymore. Why? Just why are we here if we can't live out what we feel we were born to do?
Posted Dec 8, 2025, 3:45 AM UTC