Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Starkweather.
Hi Christine, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I like to think of my life as a chronicle I titled “from French girl to farm girl”! My family is from France. I was born there. My father was a civil engineer and worked on many projects around the world, so I had the privilege of growing up exposed to various cultures, countries, and languages. I am fluent in French, Spanish and English.
I grew up in Mexico City, spending every summer in France to visit family.
I went to college in San Antonio Texas- Trinity University, as it was the closest from my family at the time. I settled in Houston upon graduation, and the adventures began…
I worked for an immigration attorney, an advertising agency, I was a fitness instructor for 26 years, I worked at Memorial Hermann and Texas Children’s hospitals as a Spanish interpreter, I owned a photo studio with my husband, I worked at Rice University School of Continuing studies in the language department, I am a marathon runner, and last but not least, I love and ride horses, and I share my passion as a therapeutic riding instructor for people with special needs, working in that capacity at Sire therapeutic horsemanship in Spring, Texas.
All those experiences listed have led me to be where I am today, and I use all the skills I was fortunate to acquire throughout the years!
As I lived enough life to navigate through some pretty traumatic experiences, I realized how powerful horses are in their healing and therapeutic nature. After riding for 15 years, I had my first serious injury from a riding accident on 1/3/2020- a fractured pelvis that kept me pretty much unable to do much for about 4 months. What a way to start a very weird year…
When I was cleared to go back to work, the facility where I worked shut down and I lost my job “because of Covid”!
That traumatic experience caused much self reflecting, and from that healing journey, I decided to start my own nonprofit organization to share the gift I was given: the great healing that can be experienced through horses in a peaceful nature environment. My husband, adult daughter and I created “Just Be & Just Breathe Ministries LLC”, where we aim to provide a loving supportive space and help people that are struggling with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, etc. to find their best selves, and Iive their best lives. That is me in a nutshell!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t call it a smooth road… But! Tremendous growth comes from dealing with adversity.
I had to overcome and heal from many personal struggles following some fairly traumatic events. The process opened the door for my desire to support others going through similar challenges, walking the tough road together, as those who walked the tough road to healing with me.
And let’s not forget starting a new career in the competitive horse world at 59 years old was very difficult…But so rewarding!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a certified therapeutic riding instructor and certified equine specialist for mental health and learning, certified by The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship- PATH Intl.
I work part time teaching horseback riding to people with a variety of special needs for Sire therapeutic horsemanship. Part of my job at Sire also involves training and conditioning horses to do their job.
I also own 7 horses and run my own nonprofit organisation, Just Be & Just Breathe Ministries, LLC from our ranch in Willis, Texas, where I guide people through equine assisted self-discovery and healing, utilizing the scientifically documented therapeutic nature of horses, and the peace that can be found in nature.
In this world in turmoil, finding peace and quiet to be still and listen to the guiding inner voice we all have is not easy, and I love facilitating that opportunity.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I have learned that we all desperately need a positive trajectory and purpose for our life. We all need to quiet the noise that constantly bombards us and sends us into anxiety and depression, which are both very detrimental to our physical and mental health.
Pricing:
- We operate on a voluntary donation basis, with a suggested $80 minimum per session
Contact Info:
- Email: christine@justbejustbreatheministries.com
- Website: www.justbejustbreatheministries.com
- Facebook: Just Be & Just Breathe Ministries LLC | @JBJBloveGodlovepeoplelovehorses
Image Credits
Hali Sims-Jadeson Photography
Christine Starkweather
